Decay by KeithSwanger

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

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Debt, Depression, Disease, Distress, Decay

At least one is inevitable

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Decay is a life simulator where you attempt to juggle many facets of life while falling deeper and deeper into despair

Tips

  • Use WASD to move

  • Visit two places each day before returning home

  • Stick to the roads to find places

  • If you get lost, head to the bottom left, you'll find your home there

Changelog: (Apr 26 2021: Fixed ailment spawn rate)

Ratings

Overall 274th 3.667⭐ 47🧑‍⚖️
Fun 618th 3.06⭐ 44🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 257th 3.58⭐ 46🧑‍⚖️
Theme 126th 4.07⭐ 45🧑‍⚖️
Graphics 527th 3.322⭐ 47🧑‍⚖️
Audio 216th 3.577⭐ 41🧑‍⚖️
Mood 25th 4.261⭐ 46🧑‍⚖️
Given 56🗳️ 32🗨️

Feedback

LJFMX
26. Apr 2021 · 07:49 UTC
A little too real at times. Theme was met very well -- albeit horrifyingly.
Zomk
26. Apr 2021 · 07:54 UTC
Nice game (especially audio :)) but are u ok?
bemmu
26. Apr 2021 · 12:24 UTC
Last time you got third place for humor. I guess you were aiming for something totally different here!
iMan
26. Apr 2021 · 18:52 UTC
Great interpretation of the theme, it's a serious issue that needs to be addressed more often! I was a bit confused by the buildings on the first day, I barely noticed what had changed. The text at the end of the day helped, however I felt like it wasn't entirely accurate sometimes (I went to the office building but got a dialogue saying that money was a concern). Traveling through the map like that didn't feel the best, but maybe that's what you were going for? Perhaps some signs or reducing the darkness would help - it helped with the mood but was a bit much when I wanted to move around.

It's a creative concept, so nicely done!
jitspoe
27. Apr 2021 · 04:47 UTC
The graphics may not be realistic, but you've nailed the spirit of the US healthcare system. Feels funny ranking this high on mood, but that's what I did. :D Big mood.
manlymanton
27. Apr 2021 · 05:58 UTC
Really clever interpretation of the theme, it made me kinda sad tho :/ In all seriousness, different systems that needed balancing out felt very tense and worked really well with the mood and the story that you were trying to tell.
Quasarium
27. Apr 2021 · 06:26 UTC
I think this game was fun, even though it may be dark for others. The game idea was very thought out and was very unique which made this game very interesting. One thing you could change is some of the textures, for me they look a little too cartoony for the mood, but if that is the artstyle, than I cant think of any others. Overall great game 4/5!
wizard sino
27. Apr 2021 · 15:55 UTC
well now i'm sad.

(that's a compliment)
NoelOskar
27. Apr 2021 · 20:23 UTC
Big sad
Vimlark
27. Apr 2021 · 20:25 UTC
Way too real. But really well done.
jujuformatic
27. Apr 2021 · 20:29 UTC
Nice game, I feel so well after playing this game ;)
AssertFailure
27. Apr 2021 · 20:42 UTC
Very innovative take on the theme. I really liked the grim atmosphere.
anticdope
27. Apr 2021 · 21:31 UTC
I was made immediately sad by this game, so well done there. it seems like you put a ton of thought into balancing the stats which is always difficult in 72 hours! Overall a great submission.
lectvs
27. Apr 2021 · 21:52 UTC
Mood and atmosphere are through the roof in this game! The gameplay was simple but conveyed your message effectively. Really liked the questions at the start.

I believe my LiquorDisease% speedrun is still uncontested. :smirk:
Threeli
28. Apr 2021 · 00:20 UTC
Debt it is, simulator indeed. I really enjoyed the audio, and you balanced the game well. I know this is going to sound either sadistic or disingenuous, but I really hope you continue to work on it. The map felt a little desolate (which might've been intentional) but I think it could help to further the feeling of isolation. Surrounded by people and buildings and none of them help / offer functionality etc.

Dark stuff, but I liked it. Great work.
MacDoom
28. Apr 2021 · 02:32 UTC
Died on my way to the hospital. I like how reallistic is about liquor helping me with my distress. Also my financial situation vs healthcare prices are a critical sociological critic. The mechanics are very well thought and the atmosphere is really appropiate for the game's feel. Superb mood. Also the character generation remined me of ultima games. Very interesting approach to a game! Good work!
JUSTCAMH
28. Apr 2021 · 12:05 UTC
Hey Keeeeiith, thanks for submitting your game to the stream the other day! Here's the vod if ya wanna rewatch, I hope my feedback was helpful!

https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1002310964
Simpathey
28. Apr 2021 · 16:13 UTC
Wow what a mood. I really enjoyed this game.
Adam_B
28. Apr 2021 · 17:19 UTC
Wow. I like the dark atmosphere. Well done!
fingamer
28. Apr 2021 · 18:58 UTC
Whoa.

Very cool. This game IS a mood. Interesting interpretation of the theme. I liked how realistic it was. The dark atmosphere is perfect. I also like the audio and pixel graphics are always nice :).

Great entry, well done!
Rongefilet
28. Apr 2021 · 19:35 UTC
I prefer the Decay Crew.

Really though that was harsh, cool entry, I need a shower now
thomasward
28. Apr 2021 · 23:48 UTC
Quite deep and very disturbing. More of an experience then a game. I don't know how to rate it. xD
Roikku
28. Apr 2021 · 23:52 UTC
Quite moody!
marcmagus
29. Apr 2021 · 17:15 UTC
Thanks for bringing your game by my stream to try out Monday night. If you'd like to watch my reactions again you can find the highlight at https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1005053861
Togis
30. Apr 2021 · 10:04 UTC
I uploaded our gameplay of your game on youtube, you can find it here: https://www.youtube.be/watch?v=1F0Ywiy2Mt8&t=9486s

Thanks for being part of the stream, it was amazing! :smile:

This game is very depressing, whatever you do, you have to do down ^^
It was a very innovative way to implement the theme: balancing gauge of sadness to reach the bottom.

I strangely enjoyed ruining my life!
NoahRo
30. Apr 2021 · 21:29 UTC
I was unprepared for those questions at the start :P
Cool entry!
saoi-games
01. May 2021 · 07:54 UTC
I liked your little game. It is very sad and depressing. I made the mistake the first time of ratign how i actually felt at the begining, and thus the game was not playable. I tried again with a very happy player. I still struggled to keep everything balanced.

Ihad to learn trial and error on why I would visit specfic shops. I was avoiding liqor but then later realized that is one of the only ways that you can decreased the distress.

Thank you for sharing your game!
Ava Skoog
02. May 2021 · 19:14 UTC
That was something. Big on the atmosphere, music, vignette, texts, all contributing. I take it it's not possible at all to "win" and that that's the point? I'd say that's a good use of the theme. From a gameplay perspective I struggled a bit with knowing where to go to fill some of the meters, but maybe there were some that couldn't be filled too, again by design? You did really well at setting a mood with this! Just hope you're okay!
🎤 KeithSwanger
02. May 2021 · 20:35 UTC
@ava-skoog Thanks, Ava! The "win" state is 10 decay. Decay increases 1 per day, so the goal is to keep all other bars from reaching 10 before then. All the other bars can be managed by visiting certain buildings. Thank you for appreciating the mood and relation to the theme. And thanks for playing :)
AdamCYounis
04. May 2021 · 07:52 UTC
This was dark. I did feel compelled to play twice, and I "won" on the second try. I played this on stream, so you know how I feel about it. My favourite aspect was how well you nailed the tone across the mechanics and production values. Thanks for the game!
OcO
04. May 2021 · 23:31 UTC
Visit 2 places a day before going home? That's one more place than I can manage to go per day haha!

I enjoyed the atmosphere and the struggle, having the starting questionnaire play into the game is very smart.
Aquasheep3000
05. May 2021 · 00:50 UTC
I enjoyed this modification of The Sims. I am glad to see EA made it more real. I would buy the DLC, but I spent all my debts on the hopsital and then died.
Gno Evenimente
05. May 2021 · 04:13 UTC
I enjoyed this. Quite depressing but very moody and a bit true to real life. Great music and overall mood.
etrealjunior
05. May 2021 · 16:04 UTC
Congratulations on your game, bringing a game that involves the psychological is always a box of surprises, a big hug, and I await your evaluations regarding my game.
CJGladback
18. May 2021 · 01:34 UTC
Thank you for letting me play this on stream (forever ago)! [Here's that link](https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1007876502?t=0h34m30s) if you ever want to rewatch. I mentioned on stream my confusion with the combined assumption in my head that green and pick-ups are good and not understanding that the end-of-day message wasn't direct results from what I'd already done. But overall, a very...consistent mood you struck here. :sweat_smile: