Pumpkin Panic by HitchH1k3r

[raw]
made by HitchH1k3r for Ludum Dare 52 (COMPO)

Reading the local newspaper for your pumpkin fixated town, you come across an ad for an old pumpkin patch. It's been closed for years, but maybe you can buy it and start growing pumpkins again.

Still questions about why it closed in the first place trouble you, Hopefully you don't find yourself in a Pumpkin Panic, and instead focus on...

Growing Gourds Growing.PNG

Keeping Up With The Local News KeepingUp.PNG

Automating Your Farm Automating.PNG

Buying Upgrades BuyingUpgrades.PNG

...but you better harvest your pumpkins, before something harvests you.


Controls

  • Interact - Mouse + Left Mouse Button

Helpful Info

  • Every in game morning (60 seconds of real time), a newspaper will be delivered. The newspaper offers upgrades that will help you and your farm.
  • You can hold up to 5 newspapers at once (so feel free to let your automated farm do some work while you stretch or go for a walk).
  • The game has an ending, see if you can reach it.

Known Bugs

  • None so far (Jan. 8, 2023)

Version History

Jan. 8, 2023 :: v1.0 - Compo. release

Ratings

Overall 121th 3.587⭐ 25🧑‍⚖️
Fun 114th 3.587⭐ 25🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 274th 2.87⭐ 25🧑‍⚖️
Theme 36th 4.261⭐ 25🧑‍⚖️
Graphics 159th 3.543⭐ 25🧑‍⚖️
Audio 177th 3.13⭐ 25🧑‍⚖️
Humor 165th 2.7⭐ 22🧑‍⚖️
Mood 173th 3.25⭐ 24🧑‍⚖️
Given 9🗳️ 32🗨️

Feedback

rjerez192
08. Jan 2023 · 21:09 UTC
You think you can add a HTML or OSX version?
🎤 HitchH1k3r
08. Jan 2023 · 22:06 UTC
@rjerez192 Good idea, unfortunately my build setup would make it very tricky to do. An HTML build would require me to link raylib with emscripten (and I have not been able to get that to work for this setup). A macOS version would be much easier (the game does a few Win32 calls, but I could probably take them out or replace them)... unfortunately I don't have any computers that can run macOS right now, and I have no way to cross compile the game. :cry:

**If there is significant interest** in a macOS port I could possibly setup a VM (if you are an Apple lawyer VM stands for "Voice Mail" -- as in I will have my friend compile it and they will call me to tell me about it).
rjerez192
08. Jan 2023 · 22:39 UTC
@hitchh1k3r Thanks for going the extra mile and explaining.I was able to get my hands on an old windows laptop to test it.

At first the gameplay is simple and fun. The "helpers" sometimes wander on the water which I don't think is really useful. Later on it gets too repetitive and your hand gets tired of too much clicking. I see potential for adding more features.

The explanations on the newspaper were clear enough that you easily understand what each upgrade does. Nice work on that.
vinzBad
09. Jan 2023 · 09:15 UTC
DAY 100: The PUMPKINS are growing faster than I can click them. White hot PAIN flashes through my finger joints everytime I harvest another one. I CAN NOT STOP. THE PUMPKIN PATCH MUST GROW.

Thank's to the Reaper upgrade my hand finally got some rest... Really like your game, It's simple yet addictive. In the beginning I often forget to plant after tilling, maybe a better visual marker for unplanted, tilled soil would be a good addition to your game.
vinzBad
09. Jan 2023 · 09:22 UTC
Oh no that ending screen is scary.
LDJam user 244504
09. Jan 2023 · 17:34 UTC
That's what I call an Harvest game in it's purest form lol. Really fun and interesting ! These pumpkins grew and spread too much that it got out of hands and now my hand hurts ! :chart_with_upwards_trend:

Good job on this entry ! :tada:
🎤 HitchH1k3r
09. Jan 2023 · 20:12 UTC
@vinzbad I think I must have added a bug at some point, I swear the seedlings used to be bigger (it was probably a camera change). I agree that the tilled soil and baby pumpkins look too similar though. Yes, the ending screen was intended to be frightening (it doesn't actually do anything, and pumpkoins were a gag of my own creation)... I was trying to do a few even scarier things, but I struggled to get them working, I do not think I would be a good malware author.

@gcake I'm seeing a lot about finger pain, so I guess my plan to make a Cookie Clicker inspired game was a success!
Oliver
13. Jan 2023 · 22:54 UTC
Interesting game, I like how the focus shifts in the beginning from manually tilling planting and harvesting pumpkins and over to letting the farm do the job by itself.
The graphics were nice and simple. Great job!
island-jam-2-group-3
13. Jan 2023 · 22:54 UTC
Just to be sure: the game can't be maximized? I missed it taking the full screen ^^U Other than that nice entry!
LDJam user 141701
13. Jan 2023 · 23:46 UTC
Very nice job! Despite it's simple nature, this game was able to scratch that 'cookie clicker' scratch!

The idea to make newspapers 'forever lost' once closed was an interesting idea. It always kept me guessing how many pumpkins I would need before clicking on it.

In my opinion, the end screen is sort of in bad taste. Game James favor HTML5 games enough, and it would be terrible for some kind of malware to spread through an event like this. I downloaded and ran your executable in good faith, and I'm a bit disappointing what you did with that access, even if you intended it as a joke.
ayperosia
14. Jan 2023 · 00:20 UTC
Really fun! I saw pumpkins and had to try it, was simple le but addictive! Would love to have it on my phone, it's an effective and enjoyable auto clicker type game :smile:

Would be nice to have a way to get the game into full screen. Would've been nice to have a clearer indiction that the pumpkins were planted after tilling - took me a second to realize they weren't at the start. The end screen didn't actually show me how many pumpkins I'd planted & watered :( both said 0
Phibian
14. Jan 2023 · 00:32 UTC
10/10 Game. Very well done, very addicting, clean visuals and sound design.

In other unrelated news, my doctor said I suddenly have carpal tunnel.
lzxh
14. Jan 2023 · 00:34 UTC
Fun game. The graphics were nice. The progression of the farm was great, but I feel like the prices of the upgrades should be higher because I was easily able to afford everything in the shop after a certain point. There was a weird flicker on my screen, don't know if it was intentional or just a bug. The newspaper idea was fun. Also I agree with @vinzBad, the ending is very scary.
Matank
14. Jan 2023 · 01:57 UTC
Really awesome game! My only (minor) issue is that the first time I got offered the reaper upgrade was on day 8 (not sure if that's fixed or if I just had bad luck), and I finished the game on day 9, so for most of my game I still had to do the tedious work of clicking the pumpkins... (but it was still fun! :smile:)
🎤 HitchH1k3r
14. Jan 2023 · 04:29 UTC
Thank you all for the feedback!

@oliver I am glad you enjoyed the progression of the farm and the simple graphics.

@island-jam-2-group-3 Sorry about that, the game currently does not have the option to be maximized. I was originally going to do the game a bit different (more pixel art) and I out hard coded screen size in the source. I will definitely consider changing that in any future updates.

@ayperosia If I do any future updates, I will look into adding a way to get the game into full screen and making a clearer indication that the pumpkins have been planted verses tilled soil. Now that you mention it I don't think I ever added the code to count pumpkins planted and watered... It slipped my mind in the bustle of the jam. I apologize for the confusion.

@phibian I apologize for any hand pain caused by playing the game. ^_^

@lzxh The flicker on your screen could have been a bug in my code (I think I may have seen it a few times in development -- when harvesting a pumpkin), I will look into it. I am glad you enjoyed the newspaper idea and the game overall.

@matank I apologize for the timing of the reaper upgrade in your game, it is mostly random. I did think up a better way to do it after the compo. (using a shuffled "deck" of upgrades that gets drawn from, and then reahuffled). If I do any future updates (and in future games) I will look into implementing something better.
🎤 HitchH1k3r
14. Jan 2023 · 04:30 UTC
@sirlich Thank you for the feedback on the game. I apologize if the end screen caused any confusion or concern. The commentary on analytics in games was intended to bring attention to the common practice of data collection in games, including Unity's use of analytics in both paid and free versions of their engine. I understand that the use of these analytics without consent can be uncomfortable, and I share your disgust with the practice. The "pumpkoins" were also intended as a playful comment on the issue of crypto mining in the background of applications. I apologize if the inclusion of this element in the game was perceived as inappropriate, and I understand if it detracted from your overall experience. Thank you for understanding my intentions behind the game and for giving me your feedback.
Magnanix
15. Jan 2023 · 04:25 UTC
Data collection, a very spooky thing XD. Like the game, very comfy and quick - though my clicking hand may be in a bit of pain (water bucket OP).
Thanks for the entry!
LDJam user 297867
15. Jan 2023 · 12:57 UTC
Didn't expect the ending!
Very nice game, though watching the automation bots felt somewhat frustrating due to their ineffectiveness
Zirrrus
15. Jan 2023 · 15:02 UTC
That was great, loved the ending!
gamebuilder
23. Jan 2023 · 22:09 UTC
A relaxing game once the helpers begin to take over. Though as with others, my hand began to ache. A small price to pay. Interesting concept and it definitely nails the theme. @sirlich raises some good points about the end screen. Otherwise, a fun game and very good work I must say.