LudumData

The Red Crystal by Bastienre4

[raw]
made by Bastienre4 for Ludum Dare 48 (COMPO)

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Hello!

Welcome in my first Ludum compo ever!

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Features

  • Enter the mine and seek it's secrets.
  • Understand what happened with the previous crew.
  • Narrative game.

Controls

  • WASD to move.
  • Left Click to interact.
  • Right Click to exit full screen text.

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Todo tomorrow

  • I'll build the game on WebGL and macOs, along with an il2cpp (for better performances) windows version.
  • I'll release a better package of the sources (I think the Reaper session won't work in this one).
  • I'll do a walkthrough video of the game

Sources

  • The sources are meant to be opened with Unity 2021.1.4.
  • Some packages are not included (Rewired, Volumetric Light Beam, DOTween, DOTween PRO)
  • Reaper session need the following VST : Massive X, Noisy.
  • You can see the full development via the replay on my twitch channel.

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Team

  • I worked alone this time. I made everything from scratch in 48h with my my cat.
  • I streamed all the dev, you can find the replay on my twitch -and see the cat mentioned above!- ( https://www.twitch.tv/bastienre4 )

https://youtu.be/CeVNYJlxAwU

Thank you and I can't wait to hear what you think of the game and what you understood :smile:.

Source code https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dBJ_jaxMJ3zZwdeNhPr7w-yWLmsmp8dq/view?usp=sharing
Windows (original version) https://drive.google.com/file/d/14HB3QQtrnm4SSTXeID2R4X-dGmdre4Mb/view?usp=sharing
Original URL https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/48/the-red-crystal

Ratings

Overall 248th 3.705⭐ 41🧑‍⚖️
Fun 606th 3.077⭐ 41🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 700th 2.75⭐ 40🧑‍⚖️
Theme 419th 3.632⭐ 40🧑‍⚖️
Graphics 209th 3.821⭐ 41🧑‍⚖️
Audio 101th 3.842⭐ 40🧑‍⚖️
Humor 585th 2.016⭐ 33🧑‍⚖️
Mood 78th 4.013⭐ 41🧑‍⚖️
Given 45🗳️ 56🗨️

Feedback

RuslanCH
26. Apr 2021 · 10:49 UTC
very dark
sharkmax218
26. Apr 2021 · 10:57 UTC
I agree. It really dark, but it add atmosphere.
Kitsomo
26. Apr 2021 · 10:59 UTC
reaaaally stressful! It got me scared 2-3 times
Kieron Woodhouse
26. Apr 2021 · 11:11 UTC
Great job. Really tense and atmospheric. The head bob was a bit disorientating for me - would appreciate an option to turn it down or off in future. But thanks for the game and well done!
Hilvon
26. Apr 2021 · 11:14 UTC
A nice little "Walkng simulator" game with horror elements.

Really liked the finalle. A bit sad that you can't play a sensible person and GTFO, but the theme kind of obliges to go deeper.

Graphics are nicely enhanced with post processing.

Soundscape is fitting.

The elevator ride is a bit too long for my taste, but that is not too much of problem.

The biggest problem of this game is the genre. A Walking sim is not the most engaging genre to play, and the story is too short to engage by itself.

Still a solid Compo entry.
XeduR
26. Apr 2021 · 16:44 UTC
Unless I am mistaken, this is a COMPO entry, but in your video you are clearly working for 72 hours, which would make this a JAM entry.
🎤 Bastienre4
26. Apr 2021 · 16:51 UTC
No it's a COMPO entry. At the origin I wanted to go for JAM (hence the timer set to 72h) but I changed it afterward. You can really check the videos to make sure of that ;)
asdehielo
27. Apr 2021 · 12:51 UTC
Nice looking game, can't help but give props for doing a 3d game in such little time. The story got me interested enough to play till the end.

Solid entry, great job!
Brad Make Games
27. Apr 2021 · 18:23 UTC
The game is visually really good and has great atmosphere. The audio was also pretty well made but I think it was a bit lacking when it comes to things going on around the player. As for gameplay the movement was clunky and the player didn't stop right away when I let go, and there wasn't much besides exploring. Overall not a bad entry.
IAAndrei
27. Apr 2021 · 18:30 UTC
Pretty good game, although I had gotten stuck (couldn't move or interact again) when interacting with a book which showed some text about the miners which found a red crystal, after alt-tabbing. Great work!
jk5000
27. Apr 2021 · 18:34 UTC
This a really interesting and fun little game. The sound effects/music gives the game an interesting atmosphere, that is slightly scary, but without it gets horrifying scary. The games darkness do sometimes make it really difficult to see what you are doing, and that makes parts of the game really difficult to play. And for me the player movement also felt a bit weird, but I am not totally sure what the issue was. But anyway overall is this still a very well made compo game. Well done.
Sodaro
27. Apr 2021 · 18:35 UTC
The atmosphere is cool and the post-processing effect is neat! It felt a bit jarring when the same book as in the "lore"-menu was opened in the ending, was kind of confused at that point. All in all, nice entry! :)
🎤 Bastienre4
27. Apr 2021 · 18:47 UTC
@iaandrei you have to press left click or escape to close the book ;)

@sodaro it's done a purpose. It's to convey the fact that you became the crystal in the end.
Sodaro
27. Apr 2021 · 19:04 UTC
@bastienre4 Ah ok, that explains it! I might have skimmed over some lines, my bad :smile:
chris-delta
27. Apr 2021 · 19:16 UTC
Very cool, your goal here was clearly to pursue a certain atmosphere. The environment is quite nice and is serviceable in that (I really appreciated the moment of turning around and finding everything suddenly red), but the audio was incredible!

My only criticism is that it's a pure walking sim, I would have enjoyed some more monster activity, but 48 hours is 48 hours and that clearly wasn't your priority.

How'd you produce the sounds? There's a lot of little noises in there that I personally couldn't have found two things to bang together to make.
🎤 Bastienre4
27. Apr 2021 · 19:33 UTC
@chris-delta Thank you very much! It means a lot to me.
Yeah, I planed way more monster interactions but as you guessed, time was the key factor here haha.

For the sounds it's mostly:
- My bike chain
- My squeaky chair
- My flat hallway that has an incredible reverb and a door that closes loudly. VERY loudly.
Sorangon
27. Apr 2021 · 20:00 UTC
Really nice atmosphere ! Some moments were a little scary ^^ ( but just a little meh è.é )
incobalt
28. Apr 2021 · 02:37 UTC
I love me a narrative driven game. Good job! You're quite talented in the art department! Also: thank you for not relying on a silly jumpscare. I like the way the monster was presented, and it felt very atmospheric. The creeping dread is much more interesting to me than the sudden shock, so thank you! I will say that I was frustrated that I couldn't pick up any pickaxes. I'll also say that some of the notes in the second notebook are just too out of place for the mood you're going for! The music and the sounds were wonderful. It's short, but you built up the atmosphere so well that I didn't mind that (and short is good for compo anyway!). Pet peeve: Make sure there's a way to exit the game! I got to "Thank you for playing" and had to Alt+F4 to get out. It really frustrates me when people do that.
coyotethursday
28. Apr 2021 · 03:14 UTC
I really liked the atmosphere of this game! The chromatic aberration + grain worked really well, and you did a great job on the colors
coyotethursday
28. Apr 2021 · 03:14 UTC
I really liked the atmosphere of this game! The chromatic aberration + grain worked really well, and you did a great job on the colors
Lorwon
28. Apr 2021 · 08:21 UTC
That's a really nice looking game. I'm really impressed that you managed to do that for the compo. The atmosphre is amazing. Really good job !
🎤 Bastienre4
28. Apr 2021 · 09:28 UTC
@dninosores @lorwon Thank you, it means a lot to me.

@incobalt Thank you. Yeah, I'm not really happy with the notebook style, but I started writing them way too late. And I promise you, next jam I'm doing an exit button. :)
PythooonUser
29. Apr 2021 · 05:16 UTC
This one was a bit hard one the eyes. Everything was too close together. Other than that you created a really moody and mysterious atmosphere. The story was interesting :)
NinjaCatz
29. Apr 2021 · 13:08 UTC
Not a bad idea for a game. Probably, it should have been served with horror, but the music did not fit a little, and I could not feel the atmosphere of the horror of the mine. Good job anyway.
rhitakorrr
30. Apr 2021 · 04:36 UTC
This was a nice little experience. Some good spooky vibes going on. Enjoyed the visual effects and most of the audio, though there was a wobbly bass sound that happened every once in a while that felt out of place to me. Movement was a little wonky too, but that wasn't really a problem since there was no running or fighting or anything.

Other than that, I enjoyed some little details like the eyes appearing after you pick up the key as well as the entire ending sequence.

Gotta say, though, I *really* wanted to pick up a pickaxe just because they were lying around.
MarkVeligod
30. Apr 2021 · 15:01 UTC
For one developer its awesome result. I would add button exit in the end game. Great job !
Spatia
30. Apr 2021 · 18:44 UTC
Amazing! The horror mood was so perfect, good job!
LDJam user 223588
30. Apr 2021 · 20:16 UTC
A great athmosphere !
BytingGames
30. Apr 2021 · 20:20 UTC
Really good! You did great building that atmosphere with the soundscape. Having the player shake his head when walking and hearing matching step sound effects intensifies the immersion. I like that you settled for a low poly look - I dig it. And as long as it's consistent it can also make up for a scary environment.

I must say I'm a bit releived, that nothing got to chase me^^ but with the expectations that something would I felt a bit led down at the end/reveal :)

I wonder if you have been inspired by Amnesia, cause that humming in the background and the notes reminded me of it^^

Didn't get why you would have to close notes with right click, the left mouse button seems to have no use here, so why not use it?

You delivered a very well rounded package here, awesome!
SoarenDev
30. Apr 2021 · 22:17 UTC
Really great job here !
You understood and used the "codes" of the horror game genre very well, and the mood is completely there.

Your whole little game feels complete and smooth (I mean everything works well together) so really great job on achieving this result in 48h o/
🎤 Bastienre4
01. May 2021 · 10:13 UTC
@spatia @rendy Thank you so much!

@markveligod Thank you very much. Indeed I won't forget the exit button next time! :D

@bytinggames Thank you for your awesome feedback. IIRC, you can use both buttons to close the notes :).

@soarendev Thank you sir, you made my day :)
AndrewAPrice
01. May 2021 · 13:08 UTC
I loved it! Great graphics, story telling, and atmosphere.

I like the little touches like the bobbing of the character as you walk. The game feels very polished.
miej
01. May 2021 · 22:31 UTC
neat game, took me a little while to figure out how to get out of the note-read interaction though. hit many keyboard buttons before finding out the 'e' did the trick. overall impresive work though!
MikoziQ
02. May 2021 · 19:24 UTC
Quite spooky, had a good (yet short) time!

Pros:

- Me like story-driven games with some lore
- Subtle, yet visible presence of monsters
- Nice, well lit environment
- Good soundques and ambient sounds with a bit of thrilling music
- Quite engaging story, wish there was more
- Actually, quite spooky

Cons:

- Wish it was longer

Overall, solid compo entry. Good job!
Ve_ret
04. May 2021 · 21:20 UTC
The game creates the right atmosphere, a well-chosen palette of colors, music also gets into the mood))
Great job for one person in such a short time))
Taylor Carroll
06. May 2021 · 15:41 UTC
Solid atmosphere and great use of lighting. Impressive 3D work solo, especially in the time crunch. One of the better games I've played so far for sure.
radmccool
10. May 2021 · 03:27 UTC
i really enjoyed the aesthetics of this game. making rocks seem spooky is no easy feat, but that loveley material used really helped juice the dread. i also liked how in a later section it seems previous miners tried to barricade the crystals, it made me thinl the crystals were consciously growing towards people in the cave
shp
10. May 2021 · 14:24 UTC
Very nice and moody, really good for compo. The sounds were excellent and the flat shaded style worked well here.
Quetzakol
13. May 2021 · 11:53 UTC
I loved the atmosphere of this game! It's dark and mysterious but it didn't feel too scary / horrific, which I liked. It was a bit short but I enjoyed the narration, the sounds and graphics.
Bipmo Bopmo
16. May 2021 · 23:53 UTC
Phenomenal atmosphere and sound design! The only thing I'd change is the style of some of the journals-- while it was great for the most part, the writing style sometimes didn't match the tension of the gameplay (like the 'cray cray'). Loved it overall!
José Bonilla
18. May 2021 · 18:49 UTC
Good entry. The atmosphere/mood is nice as well as the graphics. The lore is cool. I couldn't finish it. I think the UI could be a little more polished, but obviously the time constraint for the compo is restrictive. Good work!