Venus and the Flies by fractalbear

[raw]
made by fractalbear for LD34 (JAM)
Venus is hungry, very hungry!

Feed her flies, but don't be too greedy now...

Left and right arrow keys to control.

(download recommended)

Ratings

Coolness 36% 1857
Overall(Jam) 3.31 533
Fun(Jam) 3.09 573
Graphics(Jam) 3.69 382
Humor(Jam) 2.34 677
Innovation(Jam) 3.33 367
Mood(Jam) 2.98 718
Theme(Jam) 4.34 34

Feedback

NidzaKornjaca
15. Dec 2015 · 13:28 UTC
I love the venus model and animations!
The stem and leaves generation looks pretty cool too.
Wish it had some audio though, would add a ton moodwise.
Leaghorn
15. Dec 2015 · 13:55 UTC
Very cool idea. Lacks the motivation though. There should be some goal or some life bar or something. But great execution.
cynicalmonkey
15. Dec 2015 · 14:04 UTC
graphically its great, the controls could feel a little faster and i think that would make it more fun. the lack of sound really took away from the overall through, i liked the growing mechanic but felt as a game it really only kept my attention for a minute.

maybe some kind of goals could appear, instead of dying you could shrink when you don't have enough flies, and you have gaps you have to be small enough to fit through sporadically or creatures you have to be big enough to scare away,
SkullPixel
15. Dec 2015 · 14:29 UTC
Wow. I have no clue how that procedural generation stuff works, but well done!
Didi
15. Dec 2015 · 15:21 UTC
While I was thinking about the jam theme I remebered about this film, 'Little Shop of Horrors'. Cool
🎤 fractalbear
15. Dec 2015 · 18:45 UTC
Thanks so much for playing guys! Yeah totally agree I need to add more gameplay and music/sound would be awesome. Hope you enjoyed the visuals though :)
Blake_Lead
15. Dec 2015 · 19:26 UTC
Great feeling with this game. Well done !
uncade
15. Dec 2015 · 19:36 UTC
I enjoyed this, it kinda feels like a small interactive art piece.
the-arrival
15. Dec 2015 · 19:58 UTC
it definatly would need some progress/life/foodbar. right now i have no idea what i´m.... wait, a fly *nomnomnom*
DrFallos
15. Dec 2015 · 21:56 UTC
Well this is experience! Alright, yes, no audio and score or something, but damn, look at this epic ending and monster-plant growing animation. You did a really nice job, I mean it.
🎤 fractalbear
15. Dec 2015 · 22:12 UTC
That you so much for the kind words guys, massively appreciated :D
🎤 fractalbear
15. Dec 2015 · 22:19 UTC
That you = Thank you! Editing comments would definitely be a good feature...
Anachron
16. Dec 2015 · 00:03 UTC
Nom nom nom!
metalchouchen
16. Dec 2015 · 12:44 UTC
Really nice rendering of the plant! Congrats!
TRAB
17. Dec 2015 · 04:27 UTC
I enjoyed this game a lot! It felt very satisfying to chomp my way through clouds of flies with my ever-growing jaws. I got HUGE, and could really feel the weight dragging down on me. Wish there was some indicator, though, how close I was to death at any given moment. Maybe a gauge or something at the bottom. Anyway, loved the low-poly style! Nice work incorporating both themes so well, too!
TRAB
17. Dec 2015 · 04:29 UTC
I enjoyed this game a lot! It felt very satisfying to chomp my way through clouds of flies with my ever-growing jaws. I got HUGE, and could really feel the weight dragging down on me. Wish there was some indicator, though, how close I was to death at any given moment. Maybe a gauge or something at the bottom. Anyway, loved the low-poly style! Nice work incorporating both themes, too
blackmagic
17. Dec 2015 · 12:06 UTC
As prev said, a subtle motivationnal hint, a bit more backdrop would make it deeper. Very nice entry.
bazkur98
17. Dec 2015 · 13:27 UTC
At first I thought it would go on forever and with no score visible I wasn't having much fun. But then when I finally stopped being able to reach any flied I realised I could lose so I went back and tried again. Not bad, I would have enjoyed more if there was sound and a score.
Gins
17. Dec 2015 · 13:34 UTC
Great animation! Feels really good to chomp these pesky flies :3
monetai
17. Dec 2015 · 13:37 UTC
A really good feeling, simple but really cool !
Thank you !
zzapp
17. Dec 2015 · 13:39 UTC
Really cool game and nice idea.
retrogradeorbit
17. Dec 2015 · 13:43 UTC
The plant is great. The spawning and growing leaves. the twisting of the trunk. Found myself just staring at it. Maths is beautiful.
argosenpaikun
17. Dec 2015 · 13:45 UTC
Nice concept and very indeed creative, I hope it can be more extreme :).

Nice job btw.
ragnta
17. Dec 2015 · 13:46 UTC
Good game, good graphics. Unfortunately, the game does contains information about my score or life or anything. :( I haven't goal. Another negative thing is the sound. :(
🎤 fractalbear
17. Dec 2015 · 13:50 UTC
Thanks so much for the feedback! I deliberately didn't include score as I wanted this to be more of an experience rather than a traditional game, but I can see now more feedback (of some kind) is needed to guide the player. Totally agree sound and a nice backdrop are really needed and hope to add them soon :)
Trasevol_Dog
17. Dec 2015 · 13:55 UTC
Give me a score!!! This fly crunching feels so nice but it would be so nicer if it made a number go up! Looks amazing too. Great!
recursor
17. Dec 2015 · 14:01 UTC
It would be nice to have a goal, score, or an indication of how big the plant grew when you die. I like the concept and I think adding sound effects and some goal or scoring would take it up a few more notches. Neat idea.
🎤 fractalbear
17. Dec 2015 · 14:02 UTC
Yeah you're right! Gonna add a score :D
simon.parzer
17. Dec 2015 · 14:20 UTC
I really liked the procedural low-poly plant! Its definetly missing a background though - mood-wise and for making the flies more visible. Also missed the opportunity for munchy sounds or some procedural music ;) Some obstacles and a goal/motivation would spice up the gameplay.
Soka
17. Dec 2015 · 14:21 UTC
Pretty neat game, low replayability tho :( at least for me, the graphics are awesome tho so good job on that <3 and was fun while it lasted, you can always have some "fly murderer" moments
ToloaGames
17. Dec 2015 · 14:49 UTC
A High Score system would be a necessary addition. I like the swarming flies though. And you combined the themes which is cool.
nosfer
17. Dec 2015 · 15:08 UTC
My game is also about growing flower! I love the tech around your game. I also agree player needs some kind of motivation like health bar and maybe changing speed.
Zanzlanz
17. Dec 2015 · 15:09 UTC
Very cool little game! I really love how it grows. And pretty much the same as the other comments said - needs replayability ;)
Digitaldude555
17. Dec 2015 · 15:41 UTC
Great take on the theme, probably the simplest game I played so far but pretty entertaining. I love the design of the venus fly trap. It doesn't seem to have any sound though.
NuggetTeam
17. Dec 2015 · 15:45 UTC
Nice game. Gameplay is great.
Astro Cat
17. Dec 2015 · 15:56 UTC
Nice plant)
DevDad
17. Dec 2015 · 16:26 UTC
What makes this game so good is that it is simple in its gameplay.
RyanMan56
17. Dec 2015 · 16:34 UTC
Cool to see the animation and growth of the plant, is challenging to catch the flies at first. Good job! :)
IAmSpencer
18. Dec 2015 · 06:04 UTC
man, that vine visibly twisting really makes this games feel polished, nice job!
Galvesmash
19. Dec 2015 · 04:09 UTC
Great game man! I really liked the low-poly art style and the particles of blood popping out of the blue dots (fairies to me).
The twisting plant sure adds some mood to the game!

To bad it didn't have any music or points!

Great job man, keep up with your great work!
Once again thanks to play our game!
EwChap
19. Dec 2015 · 06:16 UTC
I sure felt like a twisting growing Venus fly trap. Cool concept would love to see it taken further.
MartianGames
22. Dec 2015 · 12:24 UTC
Gorgeous graphics, relaxing, beautiful experience overall.
JenniNexus
22. Dec 2015 · 12:34 UTC
Liked it a lot! The download gave me a 404 error though (tried it after the webGL version lagged.
UncleChris
23. Dec 2015 · 22:03 UTC
I agree - cool animation, and the lack of some form of motivation - Health to gain/lose as eat/grow. Escaped flies. Also, sound would help set the mood more. Awesome models, and game play (what was there) was rather cool.
Jupiter_Hadley
30. Mar 2016 · 13:50 UTC
Really nice idea! I included it in my Ludum Dare 34 compilation video series, if you’d like to check it out :) https://youtu.be/S5oK4fsls3Q