LudumData

Message Received? by Ydindamin

[raw]
made by Ydindamin for Ludum Dare 59 (JAM)

main.png

Search the galaxy for a mysterious alien signal before it's too late!

Check the links below to play it on itch.io or just CLICK HERE

Gameplay:

Search the galaxy to find the signal's originating system:

  • WASD / arrow keys to navigate between systems
    • Keep pressing to queue up to 3 moves at once
  • Hold space to place a listening station
    • Each listening station detects the approximate distance to the signal, projecting a visible ring at that range
  • Place up to three stations and triangulate the signal

Once your stations locate the signal's system of origin, place a new station at that system to confirm you've found it. Then enter the star system to locate the source.

Search the system for the source of the signal:

  • WASD / arrow keys to move
  • Shift to boost (generates heat)
  • Space to emit a scan pulse (generates heat)
  • 'L' disables heat safeties (excess heat will damage your ship)

Once you locate the source, approach and land to investigate further.

Reach the source, decode the signal, translate the message:

  • Click a character in the message on the left to show an alien word on the right
  • Attempt to translate the word by typing letters, then press Enter to submit
    • Successfully translating a word reveals the character you clicked
    • The alien word on the right begins with the character selected from the message on the left

Translating the signal will surely reveal some reality-shattering message...

Team:

  • ydindamin
  • gullyfoyle
  • timhugh

Backstory:

We picked a pretty ambitious scope while also challenging ourselves to our first 3D game, and that turned out to be a lot. Some ideas we would have liked to get to but didn't have time:

  • In phase 1, the enemy AI would see and chase the player if they got too close
  • In phase 2, enemies would occasionally pass through the system and attack you if they see you
  • We thought it would be really cool if you could enter in and out of systems to gather resources that would aid you in searching for the signal
  • General graphical polish, sound effects, etc. Just all the assets we didn't have time to make

Screenshots:

phase1.png

phase2heat.png

phase3.png

itch.io https://timhugh.itch.io/message-received
Original URL https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/59/message-received

Ratings

Overall 644th 3.237⭐ 21🧑‍⚖️
Fun 672th 2.947⭐ 21🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 214th 3.737⭐ 21🧑‍⚖️
Theme 150th 4.184⭐ 21🧑‍⚖️
Graphics 635th 3.237⭐ 21🧑‍⚖️
Audio 569th 2.118⭐ 19🧑‍⚖️
Humor 609th 2.167⭐ 20🧑‍⚖️
Mood 705th 3.056⭐ 20🧑‍⚖️
Given 14🗳️ 10🗨️

Feedback

Eridani
Apr 21st · 02:31 UTC
I really enjoy the concept of placing beacons to triangulate a signal. It would be really cool if the beacons showed some kind of visual when you have all three placed to help locate the signal
Trav
Apr 21st · 07:15 UTC
I like the idea that you have, but I couldn't work out how to find the place. If it was faster to move the ship I would have tried to guess a bunch of places.
🎤 Ydindamin
Apr 21st · 20:35 UTC
@trav,
Thank you for playing! Placing a station will project a glowing ring at the range it detects with each ping, though sometimes it isn't visible right away if it's very far.
And unfortunately we ran out of time before we could make any in-game instructions, but moving is usually much faster if you queue multiple moves at once by just tapping multiple directions in a row.
Thanks again for playing though, we really appreciate it!
🎤 Ydindamin
Apr 21st · 20:38 UTC
@eridani, thanks for playing! The station readouts are at the bottom right of the screen, and they will show which ones have been built. Is that kind of what you mean? Either way, thanks again for playing!
4farandbeyond
Apr 22nd · 01:19 UTC
Phase 1 was quite fun and interesting. Seems to have a lag issue when spreading out the particles for the scans though. Phase 2 I didn't understand, am I tracking the green arrow that circles me? and the lag was a lot more noticable since it was preventing me from moving as the scan went out. Very nice, and thematic concept though!
Mekuire
Apr 22nd · 06:54 UTC
I don't understand how to play this game. I place stations at the points, and they get destroyed. Plus, they take forever to set up. The game lacks sound effects and hints.
CodeChomper
Apr 24th · 02:31 UTC
I loved phase one, I the organic like grid made it fun to hunt down the signal! Phase two was harder every time I found the signal I would crash and die. I never got to try one of the typing puzzles. Over it was great entry by a fellow Godot user!!
Ryrumeli
Apr 26th · 04:33 UTC
The first phase had a bit of a lag whenever there were particles on screen, I found the way to move and plan routes very intuitive with three steps ahead, it felt polished, albeit a bit slow. Second Phase was graphically interesting but I couldn't get past it. I can see the ambition and good ideas, just maybe some form of guidance and onboarding would have helped to elevate the experience.
LDJam user 233347
Apr 27th · 17:43 UTC
Unique idea with the signals and art style. Couldn't get to the source though.
Also, is it just me or is there almost no audio? I mean, some effects, but no background music or similar? (I know - in space no one can hear you screem and whatnot :smirk: )
Rentem
Apr 27th · 17:50 UTC
Unfortunately the game was lagging and crashed twice for me. Once in 2. and once in 3. phase. I love the concept and the art was fitting.
Gurtek
May 03rd · 16:16 UTC
I love the concept. I was able to triangulate the signal during the first phase but it was unreachable (there was no trail to go in the correct system).

On my second run, I was able to go in the correct system, detect the signal, but the satellite was too fast and I was not able to stay near it.

The first phase often freezes. I think it come from all the points that are added. Maybe it should be done in an async way ^^. I like the navigation feeling of the first phase.

I was finally able to go to phase 3 in my third run but my game crashed. I love this game and I think that it will be very fun when polished !

![Phase3.PNG](///raw/fc1/25/z/730d4.png)
lloydlobo
May 03rd · 18:36 UTC
I had a lot of fun playing this. It took me a while to figure out that you need to press space to set up signals. I really enjoyed the movement mechanics, where you lock into targets to travel. After a while, the blue signals converged into smaller and smaller circular areas.
However, my game instance got stuck and I saw the following console error:
```
Uncaught TypeError: Cannot read properties of null (reading 'currentTime')
at SampleNode._pause (index.js:1:157346)
at SampleNode.pause (index.js:1:154413)
at SampleNode.pauseSampleNode (index.js:1:152555)
at Object.sample_set_pause (index.js:1:164637)
at _godot_audio_sample_set_pause (index.js:1:169708)
```
Good job overall.

![timhugh.itch.io_message-received.png](///raw/c88/26/z/730ea.png)
Quackqack
May 04th · 09:30 UTC
Pretty cool, I liked being able to queue up my moves, made the game a lot more fluid.