SpaceEx by Tangible Games
SpaceEx is a game about a space courier. It's like a courier, but... in space!
Update: Added a map with all stations for your convenience!
You have only two buttons to control the game - F and J
And once you have to use enter and twenty something keys to enter your name, but it doesn't count. It's not about gameplay, it's about scoring, and we have ONLINE SCORES!
Let's not waste your time, go on and play SpaceEx!
Update 16.12: Windows version added
Updated version for OS X. No changes to gameplay, art or story. Two small changes, as far as we know, both aren't violating the terms of the Jam:
- your score is shown in any case, even if you haven't made the top 12 list.
- user names with spaces don't prevent display of top scores
Update: Added a map with all stations for your convenience!
You have only two buttons to control the game - F and J
And once you have to use enter and twenty something keys to enter your name, but it doesn't count. It's not about gameplay, it's about scoring, and we have ONLINE SCORES!
Let's not waste your time, go on and play SpaceEx!
Update 16.12: Windows version added
Updated version for OS X. No changes to gameplay, art or story. Two small changes, as far as we know, both aren't violating the terms of the Jam:
- your score is shown in any case, even if you haven't made the top 12 list.
- user names with spaces don't prevent display of top scores
| Windows | http://files.tangiblegames.com/LD34.zip |
| OS/X | http://files.tangiblegames.com/gameLD34_SpaceEx.zip |
| Original URL | https://ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-34/?action=preview&uid=25746 |
Ratings
| Coolness | 92% | 2 |
| Overall(Jam) | 3.33 | 508 |
| Fun(Jam) | 3.10 | 568 |
| Graphics(Jam) | 3.48 | 505 |
| Humor(Jam) | 3.30 | 212 |
| Innovation(Jam) | 3.17 | 497 |
| Mood(Jam) | 3.17 | 553 |
| Theme(Jam) | 3.71 | 480 |
The limited number of sprite frames to represent the direction of the vessel caused me some problems though, because it made it a little hard to tell just how much of an effect a brief hold of a thruster was going to have, until I discovered that I had held too long. The feedback the game is providing the player is limited, in other words.
Also, there seems to be an asymmetry with the two thrusters or the center of gravity or something. Holding the right thruster alone with gradually produce an ever expanding spiral, but holding the left thruster alone will quickly result in a wild spin in one spot. Going straight still works as expect, but trying to adjust the vessel's angle is tricky because adjusting clockwise behaves differently than counter-clockwise.
One other minor suggestion: Provide some visual indication around the target station (like a glowing/strobing ring?) in addition to the arrow. This is just in case an intermediate station is in the direct path toward the next station. If the player isn't watching the arrow super carefully, they're likely to head straight for the intermediate station, wonder why they're not docking, and only eventually notice the arrow is still pointing elsewhere.
Good job, keep it up!
Good work with your game ;)
I recorded while I played the game, it's uploading to this URL: https://youtu.be/tXdjd8jHWbI
Only concern - F & J as controls? strange choice.
Controlls aside this is a nice concept and well executed. I giggled a couple of times while reading the story :P
I'd also suggest a bigger view so you'd be able to react to meteors better. They're pretty hard to dodge when they're suddenly on screen. :P
Lastly, and yours wasn't the first, but when you package your game to send to others who are playing maybe name it something other than "LD34.zip". Kinda hard to keep track of all these games when they're all named the same. :P
Good job!
I know you skipped judgment for audio, but I could see this game being a lot more humorous with the right sounds.