Skew Pong by Vladadamm

Post-Jam Version on Steam
Post-Jam Version on Itch.io
Skew Pong
It could be a simple Pong game if you wanted to, but where would the fun be in that ?
Add in some unstability to the playing area, allowing it to roll and rotate. Use gravity or push the walls sideways to give yourself the advantage and score against your opponent.
You can play either Player vs Player (same keyboard local coop) or Player vs AI. Or if you don't feel like playing, you can simply watch 2 AIs have a go at each other.
Controls
Keyboard
Player 1 : W/S or D/A
Player 2 : Up/Down or Right/Left
Gamepad is untested, but in theory you can play with 2 gamepads' joysticks (menus shouldn't work though)
If you want to play vs AI with Arrow pads controls, you'll have to play as P2 (and put P1 as Computer).
Team
Axel 'Vlad' Born - Developer
Ty1176 - Composer, Sound Design
Thanks to
@sought & Daviul for their suggestions and feedback over the duration of this Ludum Dare.
Listen to the Original Soundtrack

| Jam version (WebGL) | https://axelvborn.itch.io/skew-pong-ld |
| Jam version (Windows) | https://axelvborn.itch.io/skew-pong-ld |
| Post-Jam on Steam | https://store.steampowered.com/app/1816690/Skew_Pong/?utm_source=ldjam |
| Post-Jam on Itch.io (Windows) | https://axelvborn.itch.io/skew-pong |
| Post-Jam on Itch.io (WebGL) | https://axelvborn.itch.io/skew-pong |
| Original URL | https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/49/skew-pong |
Ratings
| Overall | 139th | 4.034⭐ | 31🧑⚖️ |
| Fun | 223th | 3.914⭐ | 31🧑⚖️ |
| Innovation | 245th | 3.793⭐ | 31🧑⚖️ |
| Theme | 158th | 4.179⭐ | 30🧑⚖️ |
| Graphics | 353th | 4.034⭐ | 31🧑⚖️ |
| Audio | 58th | 4.19⭐ | 31🧑⚖️ |
| Humor | 793th | 2.825⭐ | 22🧑⚖️ |
| Mood | 712th | 3.455⭐ | 24🧑⚖️ |
| Given | 24🗳️ | 34🗨️ |
I think it's also the first time I ever cursed audibly at a Pong AI.
It's nearly impossible to predict the course of the ball and react in time, which makes it all the better. Craziest Pong I've played in my life, and perhaps the best Pong.
Solid graphics and music to add taste to the experience.
10/10 would force my friends to play this game.
The sound and music are really good too! And the small option to customize color is a good detail too.
Great entry! Really fun and innovative :)
Hint: The angle of incidence equals to the angle of reflection
@panagiotis-iatrou Making an unbeatable AI in Pong is quite easy (even if it could be slightly more complex there as you cpuld ideally account for the game area turning around, gravity, paddles' position influencing the tilt and so trajectory, etc...). But having an AI that is too good and that the player can't beat kind of defeats the fun imo and that's why I wanted to keep it somewhat dumb. In fact, the current AI feels a bit too strong already and can already be very hard/frustrating to beat, especially when playing on an high unstability setting, even if it doesn't do any kind of real prediction.
Regardless, I had thought of making several AI difficulties or behaviours, but already had troubles balancing one during the jam time. If I happen to make a post-jam version, AI will definitely be one of the main point I'll adress, with ideally giving several AI difficulties options.
I'm also pleased with just how many little QOL things you got in there, like customizable colors-- little things you'd never think of for a 72 hour competition. It makes the game feel relatively feature complete.
Solid stuff. Thanks for the submission!
graphics are the only downfall