The Useless Clock Machine by ch4b13r
https://kingdox.itch.io/the-useless-clock-machine
This game is based on the behavior of "The Useless Machine". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Useless_machine
To escape the meanings of the universe has created a machine capable of killing time, but to enable it requires a strange security measure fight between the machine and you to see who will possess the powers of time.
You must left click on the stars and every 10 seconds it will check if you have more than the machine.
You win if you keep more stars active than the machine for 3 rounds.
- Thanks to Kenney
Ratings
| Given | 9🗳️ | 2🗨️ |
1. "To escape the meanings of the universe has created" -> is a word missing?
2. the first download link (‘The_Useless_Clock_Machine.zip - 26834103 bytes’) is apparently the same as the second (Mac) one, seeing "MACOSX" and ".app" inside the ZIP, and the fact that the sizes are exactly equal
3. the appearance of the title screen is beautiful and classy! :) Much care, there
4. nice, in-game links! Informative; I also took at the link from the game page: I knew of Marvin Minsky, but am unsure about his specific machine. Looks like a little creature getting emerging from his shell :)
5. the colourful graphics are to the point and do their job, really managed to play intuitively fast enough, although this is a speed game
6. managed to win by 3-0 on my first attempt! I think the player is at an advantage because the mouse can move through the screen, while the handles have to circle around
7. victory screen: nicely presented, I like the sober black and white (which is in contrast with previous colours!)
8. trying to lose to see what happens :)
9. ah, clicking does not necessarily trigger both handles to toggle direction! I wonder how they work precisely…
10. lost (on purpose): all right, you can quickly restart, which is reasonable :)
**Takeaway:** this is a short and simple yet clearly presented game; in particular, the timer is clever (because it is big and located near the action, while not bothersome). I also like the originality of resorting to such a machine concept! I think some sounds could have been welcome, machinery/clockwork ones, for example. :) The graphics have a nice style. I think the connection to the theme could have been stronger, as the time duration is merely used as that of the rounds, instead of a more ‘twisty’ idea. Also, a ‘criticism’ would be that it is so short, but I guess this is intended; it looks like a proof of concept. Big suggestion: have several different ‘useless machines’, which you have to beat each in one (or several?) 10-second challenge each! This would connect the game even more to the theme while adding variety and more lifespan.
Nice little informative experience (I did not know Marthe Troly-Curtin by the way, I think; some more research on the table for me XD), it is great that you explained the inspiration for your thought process! :)
PS: I forgot to say I think the cover/thumbnail is cute! :)
Game would be great on mobile so you can touch the stars better :)
And the thing I really like is that, although it is very easy to understand the basic concept of the game, it is actually really hard for me to wrap my head around the exact behavior of the opposing player. It seems like the arms are moving in a pretty simple pattern, but I can't really derive a counter-strategy that follows the arms... my only hope is to look for red stars that are forming and quickly click them. If I try anything else--something like, watching the arms and trying to see which stars they will be taking in the future--I tend to have a harder time and to lose more often.
I think that's pretty cool. The mechanics are extremely simple but it is nonetheless not possible for me to quickly build an intuition for them.
Thank you :)