Trebuchet Post by zgragselus
Postal service has ran out of money! So they came up with an idea - instead of postmen, use a trebuchet!
This small game is a simulator where your goal is to drop packages at target points designated with a flag. There are just obstacles in the way.
The controls are explained in the game - but it's better to reference them here: - Use Left/Right arrow key or A/D to rotate (aim) trebuchet - Use left mouse button and move mouse to rotate camera around - Press space to start launching procedure, release space to release package during launch procedure
It takes multiple seconds after package has stopped before trebuchet is reloaded again.
Happy firing!
Not to forget - credits: - Sounds and music are from Pixabay - Voice over is AI-generated - Graphics, shaders and game are made by me
NOTE: This is an extra category entry, I'll make it in a Ludum-Dare simple way - whenever you leave a feedback, I'll give a feedback to your game and 1 another random game from the list on home page.
UPDATE: As this is Extra entry - I did do an update. There is a v2 version available for download. This version improves the following:
- It is now possible to skip animation at any point (even while projectile is flying). Keep in mind that skipping projectile before it stops means that it is not counted when it falls near target (it has to stop first!)
- Trebuchet is now reloaded and does not reset its direction.
There is still an original version (next to updated - with _v2) on Itch link. On my own site, I'm hosting the newest version. Keep that in mind!
| Link | https://www.otte.cz/ld53/LD53_TrebuchetPost.zip |
| Itch.io | https://zgragselus.itch.io/trebuchet-post |
| Original URL | https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/53/trebuchet-post |
Ratings
| Given | 48🗳️ | 67🗨️ |
I wish there was a way to skip the post-shot animation, as it just took too much time.
I like the trebuchet mechanic, it feels fun to learn and its satisfying landing the perfect shot. I think there's potential here, however... I think the biggest problem for me that made me not want to play more was that missing is just too punishing. It takes a while to learn the mechanic, but everytime I miss I'm forced to watch this cutscene that's way too long. Even if the package just hits the ground immediately, the cutscene is still there.
@apoly Thanks! I've added a small patch that allows to skip the post-shot animation. I have also updated the last level detail distance (decreased it to 25% from original - too big - value).
@milano23 Thanks! The rotation reset is annoying once you have to fire multiple times. I've updated that in v2 version for future players.
@aderpychickenstudios Thanks! There is a small patch that maintains rotation after reloading the trebuchet. I've also added a Skip button to the top (you can skip already in flight - or at any point after (before trebuchet is reloaded), but that way you won't get score if it would hit).
@francis Thanks! I've pushed small patch that allows you to skip the cutscene at any point. Of course if you would hit, but skip way too early - it won't count (package needs to stop before score is updated).
@ylaxus @phyrocast @blo Thanks for playing!
@patrick-leonard Thanks! I got inspired a bit by Besiege style, yeah.
The first thing I thought of was how in medieval times the amount of people who could operate trebuchets were few and far between, and that they were all stupidly wealthy because of how valuable their knowledge was. I laughed a lot.
As far as the game is concerned, you captured the "a peasant tries to launch a trebuchet" feeling exactly... and I laughed again.
I think my complaint is that the game gets dull fast since the amount variation in what your doing is small.
The UI will also often blend into the sky making it difficult to read, and the camera rotation seems to be very fast making it a bit awkward to rotate.
However, the graphics were great the transitions looked really nice and the trebuchet itself functioned really well. I did play all the way through and had a good time, but if it was to be expanded further it would need to start introducing some new mechanics.
Great job overall though!
Took me a while to figure out I had to click the skip text to skip.
Would be kind of interesting to make it kind of a mini-golf game where you have to shoot it from where it landed and you can only damage the package so much.
Could you share the math you used for throwing the package, as well as the physics for the box bouncing around. I know a lot of it is part of the physics in the object, but I am not sure the math is.
Again, just a great job.
1) Remove the long span of the camera, it should be faster than 2 times. Too much interpolation.
2) Pull out the skip on a separate key, and if the player misses, immediately skip the move.
3) Speed up trebuchet rotation
4) During the flight, bring the camera closer to the box, this will add dynamics.