Venting Machine by EmberUshi

[raw]
made by EmberUshi for Ludum Dare 50 (COMPO)

Cover Image ld.png

Heavily inspired ​by Nanaca Crash, send a vending machine flying down the road, threatening cute girls, and yakuza who may speed up the projectile or slow it down!

It was a fun game to make, and I learned a couple extra things to mess around with. At some point I'd like to revisit this game adding proper animations, backgrounds, and music.

Tools: * LibGDX * Eclise * Aseprite * Chiptone

Ratings

Overall 352th 3.359⭐ 176🧑‍⚖️
Fun 354th 3.239⭐ 176🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 508th 2.796⭐ 176🧑‍⚖️
Theme 590th 2.583⭐ 177🧑‍⚖️
Graphics 175th 3.791⭐ 177🧑‍⚖️
Humor 187th 3.24⭐ 171🧑‍⚖️
Mood 364th 3.123⭐ 169🧑‍⚖️
Given 35🗳️ 50🗨️

Feedback

LDJam user 279610
04. Apr 2022 · 05:15 UTC
Distance: 354 on game two. Pretty happy about that! Fun concept, great art
Wogabi
04. Apr 2022 · 05:16 UTC
*jaw drops to floor, eyes pop out of sockets accompanied by trumpets, heart beats out of chest, awooga awooga sound effect, pulls chain on train whistle that has appeared next to head as steam blows out, slams fists on table, rattling any plates, bowls or silverware, whistles loudly, fireworks shoot from top of head, pants loudly as tongue hangs out of mouth, wipes comically large bead of sweat from forehead, clears throat, straightens tie, combs hair* Ahem, those sprites look very lovely.
sapantaha
04. Apr 2022 · 05:38 UTC
Got to 850m! Haven't played Nanaca Crash personally, but it does remind me a lot of some old flash games of the same genre. I really like the mid-air boosts since it's a simple addition that adds a lot of depth to the gameplay.
PashaLoban
04. Apr 2022 · 07:22 UTC
Cool game
oxnh
04. Apr 2022 · 09:03 UTC
1145m baby. It's fun but I feel like I'd like something more to do whilst the vending machine is mid air.
mixon00
04. Apr 2022 · 11:40 UTC
Very cool graphics. Funny gameplay. Great job! :thumbsup:
rex64
04. Apr 2022 · 11:53 UTC
Lovely art!
LDJam user 258516
04. Apr 2022 · 12:22 UTC
![VENDINGMACHINE.png](///raw/4d1/f3/z/4a5fa.png)
The sounds and animations were amazing, and they work very well together. It's also very satisfying to do the combos, especially in the air.

Unfortunately if it's not in full-screen the controls don't work very well.

Congratulations!
jess from online
04. Apr 2022 · 13:50 UTC
High score 1077m! Great, detailed pixel art, really a highlight of this. A bit difficult to understand when the "sometimes" you can hit it during mid-air is, I needed a lot of trial and error to get a sense of what the percent was for. Still, definitely had fun!
Balgorode
04. Apr 2022 · 14:07 UTC
Simple and fun, reminds me of home run contest in smash bros. And of course, great art ;)
foxwater
04. Apr 2022 · 14:18 UTC
Nice job! Very fun color palette and the characters are have a cool style! I think there was about 400m or so there where I just watched it bounce without having to do anything and it was still entertaining. I didn't fully understand the controls but it didn't stop me from enjoying it.
KewDev
04. Apr 2022 · 14:29 UTC
Nice entry! Amazing use of the color palette!
Eli Haun
04. Apr 2022 · 14:57 UTC
its simple, but.. oddly enjoyable
nethead
04. Apr 2022 · 15:57 UTC
![2022-04-04-105321_2560x1440_scrot.png](///raw/f01/63/z/4a85e.png)

Loved it :D gave me a good does of nostalgia, reminded me of some old flash games I was addicted to. The character sprites are fantastic <3
Gonzo13
04. Apr 2022 · 16:08 UTC
Gosh! People made over 500m results :smile: I made only 180m max but the game is really funny. Pretty cool work!
Rinko
04. Apr 2022 · 16:53 UTC
I also got flashbacks from my childhood playing old flash games(≧◡≦)Graphics and whole aesthetic are great, very enjoyable.
Delightfullymad
04. Apr 2022 · 17:19 UTC
Fun game, great art, and cute girls. Great job!
eLeDe
04. Apr 2022 · 17:49 UTC
It is always fun to hit a vending machine (in videogames, of course :wink: ). Very nice work with graphics.
Swen
04. Apr 2022 · 18:36 UTC
1202m! Took me a bit to understand that you can kick it mid-air again.
Nice polished game, great job :D
Dan Smith
04. Apr 2022 · 18:56 UTC
Loved the colour palette, stands out from everything else. Fun game :)
Scrawny
04. Apr 2022 · 19:24 UTC
Looks great, classic formula, remember playing these games all the time. Style, execution, all fantastic. The name alone deserves an A+
Linnet5
04. Apr 2022 · 20:40 UTC
I like this! It reminds me of the home run contest from smash bros! :D
esayitch
04. Apr 2022 · 20:48 UTC
Enjoyed my few plays, the lovely art is just icing on top :D
Castitatis
04. Apr 2022 · 21:48 UTC
Amazing art! It reminds me of the old flash games I used to play!
AppoxGames
04. Apr 2022 · 21:55 UTC
Very enjoyable, 923m :) Reminded me of street fighter, or was it final fight? where you smashed the car. Really enjoyed it, well done!
Fromage
04. Apr 2022 · 23:23 UTC
I feel like there is something I'm not doing, heh. Graphics were cool and it was fun to watch that thing fly, though.
kbf123
05. Apr 2022 · 00:01 UTC
Nice! Used to play Toss the Turtle as a id and this reminds me a lot of that. Fun!
A particularly good run landed me at 1346m.
🎤 EmberUshi
05. Apr 2022 · 00:06 UTC
I'm so happy hearing everyone's score. I wish I'd included an online score board.
haztro
05. Apr 2022 · 00:57 UTC
Great entry! Loved the funky aesthetic - the palette and style really look awesome. The initial hit is super fun but I wasn't really sure what was happening after that - was still satisfying to see the distance go up haha. Nice work.
Maytch
05. Apr 2022 · 01:23 UTC
Wow not seen a game like this in the jam before, nice art style! Great work :)
LanaLux
05. Apr 2022 · 02:43 UTC
Cool art style! And fun concept. :)
anstabo
05. Apr 2022 · 03:08 UTC
269! Wonderful game, so much juice
AlekM
05. Apr 2022 · 03:43 UTC
Cool game. Though I have to agree with some coments above about being able to do more while the vending machine flies to its doom.
William Corrin
05. Apr 2022 · 05:28 UTC
So I just got finished playing another spacebar mashing game before playing this one, and the feedback I had left on the other game is something along the lines of "I wish there was some other element other than just mashing spacebar".

I think as simple as it is, holding up and down arrow to actually _choose_ the direction you mash in is a perfect way to add just a tad more to the gameplay. I played this for a solid 10 minutes or so until I hit about 500m. I had a lot of fun with it!

You have this really unique art style going with the cyberpunk-esque designs and the mortal kombat style animations of the character beating up the machine.

I also really enjoyed the "bonus" punches that you can do after it goes flying - the only thing is, there isn't really much of an indication that even exists to do. I didn't even realize until I accidentally hit the spacebar when reaching for my coffee (lol).

So yeah, really solid game. The only things I would change are:
- convey to the player that they can hit spacebar after shooting the machine initially for the extra bonus shots
- I would like a short description of what each character along the track does when you run into them. I figured it out that the one person with the cig stops the machine, one of them kicks it, one of them punches it, etc., but I think a little menu where you can scroll through the profiles and see their "attributes" with a blurb about what kind of a person they are, would really tie the whole theme together as well as give the player insight on what to avoid.

Great work!
cassowary
05. Apr 2022 · 07:50 UTC
I really like the artstyle and the character designs. It's really visually distinctive. It's also fun, reminds me of home run contest too.

I wish there was a little title screen or something, when I press up/down/space not in fullscreen it makes the page scroll, and the countdown starts as soon as you run the game, so it's hard to enter fullscreen mode on the first go-round. I also wish it was a bit more clear when you are allowed to do the midair punches -- I ended up just mashing space, which seemed to sort of work, but I wasn't sure?

Overall, I like the game! I scored about 512 at my best. Not super impressive, but I'm still proud of it. :o
Shadowcast
05. Apr 2022 · 08:40 UTC
After destroying my beloved spacebar I finally got a 1000+. Very addicting. Love it.
Skyward4d
05. Apr 2022 · 09:34 UTC
Love the throwback to old "launching" flash games.
The colour palette was really distinctive and the art style was neat as well. I really liked the sprites. A little repetitive but the physics were really satisfying and I played it for several attempts (758m was my best).
homeworld
05. Apr 2022 · 10:04 UTC
Got to 739, great fun! Simple but addictive, and very cute art style. Good job!
AlbertOZ
05. Apr 2022 · 12:23 UTC
Finally the game that I can play!
ZooHair
05. Apr 2022 · 13:46 UTC
the art is stunning. and the game is fantastic.
ChewieCB
05. Apr 2022 · 15:45 UTC
Great art (loved the cyan/magenta heavy palette), simple but satisfying gameplay that reminded me of old flash games. Nice job!
LDJam user 2331
05. Apr 2022 · 16:09 UTC
Loved the art style and it reminded me of old flash games I used to play! :D My main feedback is on the mid-air punches and perhaps better telegraphing (or explaining) how they work. I ended up doing one by accident before realizing what the percentage and arrows were referring to- it added extra depth and became much more fun after figuring that out. :)
Griggy
05. Apr 2022 · 16:36 UTC
Reminds me of the flash games I used to play in middle school. Great work.
Mishoulin
05. Apr 2022 · 16:53 UTC
Love the art style! The "venting" machine was out of the frame most of the play though. Would be cool to see it actually show up in space! Fun concept!
Kizu
05. Apr 2022 · 18:07 UTC
Liked tha art style! Really nice graphics :) simple gameplay but it was satisfaying
Yeti Kid
05. Apr 2022 · 19:34 UTC
Really loved the graphics in this! Used to play games like this when I was at school so great nostalgia! The punch and kicks were super satisfying!
LDJam user 139668
05. Apr 2022 · 19:35 UTC
Didn't much figure out how exactly to play, but I did it 755m!
circle
05. Apr 2022 · 20:11 UTC
Hey! Hey! This game is awesome! You should totally update it post jam!

Also, easy 5/5 on mood. The aesthetic is absolutely delightful! Whole thing is super classy too, really well polished with POW and BOP images! I'd normally provide some critique or something, but I'm pulling a blank! I just really like everything about this game. It's really satisfying to hit mash hitting the vending machine, and then seeing all the colorful characters as it flies into the distance is so fun! Each of the characters clearly has a lot of personality, and the whole thing just feels really good! Amazing job on this one! Overall it's really quality stuff, especially considering this is a compo entry.
Dj Depressive
05. Apr 2022 · 21:02 UTC
Short but sweet! Very cool character design and simple yet mechanics :) Could use some frame of reference for how well you're performing but I guess that's something you figure out as you test a few rounds. I hit the perfect highscore ;)
![firefox_Ww689LAoau.png](///raw/253/d/z/4cd9a.png)
LDJam user 224670
05. Apr 2022 · 23:32 UTC
Ayyy took me way too long to figure out I didn't need to mash to charge up my midair hit, but I got a few lucky shots in and made it to 1311. Gg!
Heiach
05. Apr 2022 · 23:36 UTC
Amazing graphics/pixel art and concept. I've never played the game this was inspired by, but once I realised I had to punch lots at the start, I soon got the hang of it!
Ossi
06. Apr 2022 · 01:02 UTC
Love that art style and color palette choice! I would have never thought punching and kicking a vending machine would be so much fun lol. Great work!
vivyhasadream
06. Apr 2022 · 01:13 UTC
very cool art!
I wasn't sure if I understand how to play the game, but I made to 450+, and it feels very cool and relaxing to watch.
Good job!
OldDog
06. Apr 2022 · 01:48 UTC
funny game ; just click the space button so simple
realicraft
06. Apr 2022 · 02:33 UTC
good game; only complaint is that it *seems* like it's going to use the cyan-magenta-white CGA pallet, but then it doesn't
🎤 EmberUshi
06. Apr 2022 · 04:21 UTC
@realicraft I'm now powerful enough to use CGA only. That's craft suitable for elder gods.

So I used CGA + grey, yellow, and purple. ┐( ̄ヮ ̄)┌
bufalloo
06. Apr 2022 · 06:02 UTC
Awesome character sprites
LDJam user 288322
06. Apr 2022 · 06:18 UTC
I tried using technique and it failed. Then I spammed space and got to 1000m lol. 10/10 very fun game!
KirKami
06. Apr 2022 · 10:30 UTC
Nice art and this stuff reminds of old flash games, like ones where you shoot turtle from cannon
Cakestorm
06. Apr 2022 · 11:21 UTC
Nice work! The game was simple, but it still worked very well, and it was great fun to play over and over to get the highest score possible. It was very easy to figure out what to do as well, so good work on communicating the controls and gameplay to the player. Artstyle-wise, I loved how each character looked, and how distinct each one was as well; they all had their own personalities, which was great to see, and it's particularly impressive considering the almost-CGA palette, so well done!
Pitxardo
06. Apr 2022 · 11:46 UTC
I love the art, although I didn't understand well what to do to get better score.
LDJam user 258850
06. Apr 2022 · 18:32 UTC
The character designs are awesome! I love simple games perfectly executed :) great submission!
xCarl
06. Apr 2022 · 22:10 UTC
Cool art style. Simple and fun game! Good job!
Copito
06. Apr 2022 · 22:33 UTC
nice art style felt pretty old school like something from an ancient pc in cga or something. Hard to give any feedback on the gameplay felt pretty polished!
mwillsey
07. Apr 2022 · 02:46 UTC
Stylish take on a classic genre. Great work! :)
6smith
07. Apr 2022 · 03:03 UTC
i liked when she kicked the vending machine
caeonosphere
07. Apr 2022 · 05:28 UTC
I claim the new high score! Cool art!

![ss.png](///raw/8d0/41/z/4d4c5.png)
caeonosphere
07. Apr 2022 · 05:28 UTC
I claim the new high score! Cool art!

![ss.png](///raw/8d0/41/z/4d4c5.png)
Essence
07. Apr 2022 · 13:50 UTC
In this game the venting machine dose indeed get kicked, perfect.
Langotriel
07. Apr 2022 · 14:54 UTC
Yo, I'm about to break my space bar. Good thing I have 2 keyboards :D I only got into triple digits; not sure if 1000+ is possible but I didn't manage it. Fun concept and wonderful execution, considering you did it all yourself! Impressive!
Forgin Bits
07. Apr 2022 · 15:08 UTC
![2022-04-07 17_06_56-Venting Machine_ a Ludum Dare 50 Game by Ember 🐮 Ushi.png](///raw/817/34/z/4d5fb.png)

That's good right ? :laughing: pretty fun color palette and fun smash space game, reminds me of the home run minigame in Smash Bros as someone mentioned or that game where you knocked a penguin with a base ball bat as far as possible. Very fun ! Great job
Phillip Scott
07. Apr 2022 · 22:38 UTC
506M nice art liked the combo in the air! good job!
PixelTaku
08. Apr 2022 · 06:22 UTC
Simple concept, good execution, nice retro graphics, wish there was a bit more to it, overall pretty good job, especially considering this is a compo game!
Hohoho
08. Apr 2022 · 17:56 UTC
Cool game! Had fun playing a few rounds. Artstyle caught the eye indeed.
Renge
08. Apr 2022 · 18:20 UTC
Nice art style, That's what made me check out this game! I was a little confused by the gameplay and ended up just mashing buttons (probably cause I don't know the game this was inspired by), but still got a pretty high score of about 700m. Really nice work for the timeframe!
ruthiepee
09. Apr 2022 · 13:32 UTC
591m! :) I definitely didn't understand what I was doing the first time but once I figured out it was a launcher style game I got super excited. The concept, taking your frustrations out on a faulty vending machine, is really clever. I love the very 80s/early computer color palette too. Overall stylish and fun, great job!
Skleembof
09. Apr 2022 · 19:15 UTC
Simple fun and funcitonal = perfect jam game.
Reminds me of old flash games that were very simple but had endless replayability.
alks
09. Apr 2022 · 20:05 UTC
Nice work! Really simple but rewarding! Reminds me of Smash ultimate :D
Jackaljk
09. Apr 2022 · 20:45 UTC
![hi.jpg](///raw/528/93/z/4daf3.jpg)

This is my highscore! No arrows pressed at all, merely mashed spacebar like a never mashed before. Is that intended? Loved the game, takes me back to playing yeti sports as a child! Nice job.
Stalemeat
10. Apr 2022 · 02:29 UTC
Cool little game. I was confused at first with how to keep the machine going but after playing it again it made since. It's a complete game good job!
Borabee
10. Apr 2022 · 03:07 UTC
1112m! This was a really fun and complete game for 48h! Clever concept, great art and polished mechanics. It took me awhile to understand the controls and also that some girls help me while others get in the way, but once I understood how to play I felt like I could keep playing it forever!
Trexxak
10. Apr 2022 · 19:23 UTC
Was sold on the sexy sprites, stayed for the gameplay. Really liked the added gameplay layer of letting the characters along the way give the machine a further boost!
Shrillwhip
11. Apr 2022 · 19:50 UTC
I love your art and character designs. This was a cute take on the homerun contest type genre of games, but nothing you really haven't seen before. Still, the gameplay is fun and the art and characters are enough to keep my interest.
namnam
12. Apr 2022 · 07:00 UTC
I love the character design and your style of pixel art. Some upgrade a bit like in learn to fly would have been nice since i get the feeling that i don't have so much controle over what happening exept for maching the button.
Ruud Cremers
13. Apr 2022 · 14:52 UTC
Simple concept. You polished what you were going for instead of adding half finished features. Took a few attempts to figure out how to get it far. The artwork stood out the most for me!
UkuleleFury
13. Apr 2022 · 18:24 UTC
Lol, what a great idea! And clever title. The mechanics are so simple, and yet, there is still some skill and strategy involved. You can't help but smile when you play this. Nice art too!
LDJam user 261538
14. Apr 2022 · 02:07 UTC
I came here to check if my score of 75m was good or not..... I shouldn't have checked. xD