Not Clowning Around! by Wilson Taylor
DISCLAIMER:
Wacky video game clown suicide is a joke. Real suicide isn't. The National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255 if you're in America or visit https://www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/ if you're outside America. There's someone that can talk to you right now.
DISCLAIMER 2:
This game is a work of fiction! A Tom Collins without soda water is just a modified Gin Gimlet! Don't let anyone tell you otherwise!
A clown walks into a bar... except this is no laughing matter!
He's got a gun to his head! Oh jeez! You've gotta talk this clown down!
Fix him a drink, see what he likes!
Throw the drink at him, you're not getting anywhere near a clown with a gun!
Give him some sage advice and a ear to talk to! Better not be insincere!
And just pray... PRAY... that the cops show up before anything happens!
A GAME BY WILSON TAYLOR
Check out my other games, available on Itch!
This game is a submission for Ludum Dare 46, specifically the Compo! The theme is "Keep It Alive", and I've always thought of Clowns as "It"s.
Ratings
| Overall | 306th | 3.657⭐ | 56🧑⚖️ |
| Fun | 560th | 3.241⭐ | 56🧑⚖️ |
| Innovation | 165th | 3.792⭐ | 55🧑⚖️ |
| Theme | 128th | 4.094⭐ | 55🧑⚖️ |
| Graphics | 583th | 3.358⭐ | 55🧑⚖️ |
| Audio | 318th | 3.377⭐ | 55🧑⚖️ |
| Humor | 72th | 3.849⭐ | 55🧑⚖️ |
| Mood | 211th | 3.63⭐ | 52🧑⚖️ |
| Given | 16🗳️ | 24🗨️ |
I really like the art style and the idea for the theme is also pretty cool.
I do think its a bit hard, though. I never made it once even on the easiest difficulty.
Thank you so much! I'm not typically an artist, but it's nice to see someone likes my stuff!
@charliegray @soupornoghosh
Hahaha, I seem to be getting that a lot! But I'm glad you guys enjoyed it!!
Easy mode is not that easy, I don't even dare to try "nightmare"
@stolen-biscuit just remember that a martini is NOT 1 part gin/vodka to 1 part vermouth! That's how you get a weird, slimy martini! My trick is that I fill the shaker up with ice, pour a bottle's lid's amount of vermouth in, do a light shake and then strain out the rest of the vermouth that isn't stuck to the ice cubes! Then add your desired amount of gin/vodka and pop in an olive or two!
The drinks book was a little cluttered for me initially but once I got into the groove it was fine.
Nice gameplay - a few simple elements combined really well eh. Nice
I did enjoy trying to speed read through the prompts and responses and pick out the important information. Some very funny 'slip of the tounges' hidden in there
that last point's a damn good one.
@polypickle thanks! glad you noticed!
I felt like I was fighting the cannon to get it to shoot where I wanted it to at the velocity I wanted it to. It didn't feel right. I got a hit nonetheless!
8/10 I feel prepared for the real deal.
I mean either way, not trying to dissuade you, but I thought that maybe you missed it.
Anyway, thank you for trying it regardless!
Wish the text in the tutorial was a bit easier to read. It was also hard reading the textbox with the timer going down but I guess that's part of it. Great job!
- instead of suicidal, maybe he's just sad.
- instead of a gun, have him holding a balloon that pops
- instead of serving him drinks/cocktails, have it be making different kinds of pies or something with multiple ingredients that you have
I think that could still have the same frantic gameplay folks are enjoying, but just wihtout the subject matter and maybe appeal to a different audience. Thanks for hearing me out! 😎
I got lucky on the first try as i knew the cocktail. Was harder on the second when you have to read two things at the same time. And not just hmm hmm at the guy!
I love the panic of doing 3 thing at the same time, the cognitive work load is intense and the music is keeping you on your toes.
> The recipe book is unreadable in the good way ( hard to read at first, meaning you have to focus even more )
> The script is very good, I must try a text based game next time!
> I don't like the canon though. It feel off ( i mean it goes well with the clown, but with the bar...) its input button is supposed to represent what ?
Having visual cues would maybe help making it less frustrating, I mean I am one hell of a bartender I know how to use it, and it would make one more thing to look at.
Amazing entry. Wish you the best
@dhim those are really good notes! If I revisit this at any point, I'll have them written down!
The idea of the game is interesting, but playing it felt a bit tough. Difficulty curve was clever and I respect the game for what it is, disregarding the bizarre contrast between "ha ha funny clown suicide" and "suicide isn't a joke."
I feel that. Honestly I do.
But I'd rather have a small bit of unpleasant and strange contrast below the game area than to hear that someone found this game right before blowing the big one and think that I didn't try to say anything about it.
I mean, this is a DARK game, let's be honest.
PLEASE, I beg you, there are other great Ludum Dare games to play, do not take the ungodly amount of time it would take to beat Nightmare Mode!! D:
But I'm glad you like it!! :)