{"author_link":"\/users\/joaog","author_name":"JoaoG","author_uid":1153863,"comments":[{"id":1165856,"author_name":"LDJam user 282870","author_uid":"282870","epoch":1759840052,"text":"The game is fun. The controls need some work and the movement of the character needs work. Other than that for a jam you did a great job","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":1166386,"author_name":"pschichtel","author_uid":"pschichtel","epoch":1759844810,"text":"I like that you went a little meta. Why did you opt out of theme? I would have given 10\/10.","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":1166448,"author_name":"Artalasky","author_uid":"artalasky","epoch":1759845356,"text":"I like the idea, but it's really hard to control the character and navigate corridors. It would be great to have grid-based movement.","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":1170345,"author_name":"JoaoG","author_uid":"joaog","epoch":1759887805,"text":"@pschichtel That's a great question, I don't really know either! The only category I didn't opt-in for evaluation was the audio, but thank you for the positive feedback anyway!","format":"md","likes":0,"spam":"N"},{"id":1170356,"author_name":"JoaoG","author_uid":"joaog","epoch":1759888011,"text":"I just corrected the mistake with the evaluation categories, haha, I'm truly not sure what went wrong. @pschichtel ","format":"md","likes":0,"spam":"N"},{"id":1170585,"author_name":"JoaoG","author_uid":"joaog","epoch":1759894223,"text":"@beebster-games, @artalasky Thanks for the feedback! I admit the controls definitely needed more polish, but it was truly the best I could do. The player's movement is really clunky (intentionally) \ud83d\ude05\ud83d\ude02","format":"md","likes":0,"spam":"N"},{"id":1170707,"author_name":"GuyInGrey","author_uid":"guyingrey","epoch":1759897192,"text":"This is a really fun concept and indeed very meta. I also agree the character controls need a bit of work (e.g. using a circle collider instead of the square it appears to be). I was at times frustrated at something that would spawn, I'd immediately go straight for it, but it'd despawn right before I got to it. This happened quite often. I did enjoy playing though! Nice work, and I'm glad you balanced your life and didn't give up taking care of yourself. Bravo","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":1171058,"author_name":"blatalzar","author_uid":"blatalzar","epoch":1759905777,"text":"The controls feels a bit frustrating, but the game is easily understandable and works quite well!","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":1172964,"author_name":"YurisCat","author_uid":"yuriscat","epoch":1759936995,"text":"Hahahaha this is so funny, I hope he is well, thank you for such a funny work","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":1176651,"author_name":"tangling","author_uid":"tangling","epoch":1760020853,"text":"like this :)","format":"md","likes":0,"spam":"N"},{"id":1176657,"author_name":"GonulGaye","author_uid":"gonulgaye","epoch":1760020959,"text":"To be honest, I didn't understand it at first, but then I figured it out easily. It's acually a really cute game.","format":"md","likes":0,"spam":"N"}],"format":"md","images":["ld58\/wayback-placeholder.png"],"links":[{"url":"https:\/\/joaog.itch.io\/pac-a-job","text":"HTML5 (web)"}],"metadata":{"g_key":"89916","g_author":"1153863","g_event":"LD58","g_eventkey":"112","g_subevent":"JAM","g_urlkey":"428590","g_title":"Pac a Job","g_status":"WAYBACK","g_place":"99999","g_commentcount":"11","g_site2_node_id":"421312","g_hide":"N","g_has_icon":"Y","g_rqueue":"0","g_random":"0"},"nds":{"n_key":"421312","n_urlkey":"428590","n_parent":"415614","n_path":"\/events\/ludum-dare\/58\/pac-a-job","n_slug":"pac-a-job","n_type":"item","n_subtype":"game","n_subsubtype":"jam","n_author":"153863","n_created":"1759769060","n_modified":"1778277828","n_version":"1334200","n_status":"WAYBACK"},"node":{"_collation":{"body_sanitizer":"TextUtils::SanitizeHTML via existing importer","event":"LD58","removed_author":false},"_superparent":9,"_trust":3,"author":153863,"body":"#### _Disclaimer & Inspiration:_\n##### The game is lightly inspired by the true story of Mike Kasprzak. The \"Pinky and the Brain\" reference birthed the player's name, Mike Pinky (who uses the Brain's image), and the game's central theme.\n\n## _\ud83c\udfae How to Play_\nHelp Mike Pinky upgrade his r\u00e9sum\u00e9 and secure a job before his notebook's old, \"addicted\" battery dies!\n\n## _Instruction:_\n\n_Start Game:_ Click \"Play\" on Mike Pinky's notebook taskbar (inside the game).\n\n_Access Menu:_ Click the orange \"M\" icon in the bottom-left corner.\n\n## _How to play:_\n_Up arrow_ \u2b06:\u00a0Move up.\n\n_Left arrow_ \u2b05:\u00a0Move to the left.\n\n_Down arrow \u2b07:_\u00a0Move down.\n\n_Right arrow \u2b05:_\u00a0Move to the right.\n\n\n## \ud83c\udfaf Objective\nNavigate the labyrinth to collect Skills and Diplomas, upgrading your r\u00e9sum\u00e9 and increasing the number of job applications you send (your final score).\n\nSimultaneously, you must collect Energy to keep the notebook battery charged and dodge the Clocks that rapidly drain your life (the battery).\n\nThe faulty battery is your ticking clock: when it reaches zero, the game is over!\n\n-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n##### So, I don't know, but I swear I didn't mark it for the AUDIO to be evaluated, since the game doesn't have audio...\n-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\nPac-a-Job\u200b is a maze game blending survival and tension, where the player must guide Mike Pinky to upgrade his r\u00e9sum\u00e9 and secure a job before time runs out.\n\nThe main objective is to collect Skills and Diplomas by studying throughout the maze. This action increases Mike Pinky's job prospects because, by upgrading his r\u00e9sum\u00e9, he simultaneously increases the number of positions he can apply for.\n\n-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n#### _About This Game Jam Experience: Reflections on a Healthier Process_\n\nThis edition was quite different for me. Besides working solo on a Jam after some time, I accomplished a few things I never would have imagined doing a few years ago: I worked with total calmness, without rushing or pressure, without skipping routine daily tasks, without pushing myself too hard, without giving up sleep, and by keeping some time for fun and rest. But, most importantly, I did everything with the realization that I had nothing to prove to anyone.\n\nI also fulfilled some long-standing development goals, such as simulating a screen within the game view and challenging myself to create non-pixel art. And, I intentionally chose not to produce or add sounds, as I prioritized the time I had left for my rest. Honestly? I don't regret it.\n","comments":11,"comments-timestamp":"2025-10-09T14:42:39Z","created":"2025-10-06T16:44:20Z","files":[{"author":153863,"id":45479,"name":"$$embed-45479.zip","node":421312,"size":584103,"status":64,"tag":0,"timestamp":"2025-10-07T03:27:11Z"},{"author":153863,"id":45481,"name":"$$embed-45481.zip","node":421312,"size":582387,"status":64,"tag":0,"timestamp":"2025-10-07T03:28:45Z"},{"author":153863,"id":45484,"name":"$$embed-45484.zip","node":421312,"size":582390,"status":64,"tag":0,"timestamp":"2025-10-07T03:45:47Z"},{"author":153863,"id":45510,"name":"$$embed-45510.zip","node":421312,"size":582485,"status":64,"tag":0,"timestamp":"2025-10-07T05:05:43Z"},{"author":153863,"id":45511,"name":"$$embed-45511.zip","node":421312,"size":582485,"status":64,"tag":0,"timestamp":"2025-10-07T05:06:44Z"},{"author":153863,"id":45514,"name":"$$embed-45514.zip","node":421312,"size":582484,"status":64,"tag":0,"timestamp":"2025-10-07T05:08:29Z"},{"author":153863,"id":45524,"name":"$$embed-45524.zip","node":421312,"size":582611,"status":73,"tag":0,"timestamp":"2025-10-07T05:24:38Z"}],"files-timestamp":"2025-10-07T05:24:38Z","grade":{"grade-01":12,"grade-02":12,"grade-03":11,"grade-04":9,"grade-05":9,"grade-06":2,"grade-07":9,"grade-08":9},"id":421312,"love":0,"magic":{"cool":79.420981533171,"feedback":8,"given":5.125,"grade":10.428571428571,"grade-01-average":2.95,"grade-02-average":2.9,"grade-03-average":2.556,"grade-04-average":3.714,"grade-05-average":3.286,"grade-07-average":3.571,"grade-08-average":3,"smart":-6.4585653306515},"meta":{"author":[153863],"cover":"\/\/\/content\/709\/52\/z\/6e72d.png","grade-06-out":"1","link-01":"https:\/\/joaog.itch.io\/pac-a-job","link-01-name":"HTML5 (web)","link-01-tag":[42336]},"meta-timestamp":"2026-05-08T22:03:48Z","modified":"2026-05-08T22:03:48Z","name":"Pac a Job","node-timestamp":"2025-10-07T04:11:37Z","parent":415614,"parents":[1,5,9,415614],"path":"\/events\/ludum-dare\/58\/pac-a-job","published":"2025-10-06T21:58:59Z","scope":"public","slug":"pac-a-job","subsubtype":"jam","subtype":"game","type":"item","version":1334200},"text":"#### _Disclaimer & Inspiration:_\n##### The game is lightly inspired by the true story of Mike Kasprzak. The \"Pinky and the Brain\" reference birthed the player's name, Mike Pinky (who uses the Brain's image), and the game's central theme.\n\n## _\ud83c\udfae How to Play_\nHelp Mike Pinky upgrade his r\u00e9sum\u00e9 and secure a job before his notebook's old, \"addicted\" battery dies!\n\n## _Instruction:_\n\n_Start Game:_ Click \"Play\" on Mike Pinky's notebook taskbar (inside the game).\n\n_Access Menu:_ Click the orange \"M\" icon in the bottom-left corner.\n\n## _How to play:_\n_Up arrow_ \u2b06:\u00a0Move up.\n\n_Left arrow_ \u2b05:\u00a0Move to the left.\n\n_Down arrow \u2b07:_\u00a0Move down.\n\n_Right arrow \u2b05:_\u00a0Move to the right.\n\n\n## \ud83c\udfaf Objective\nNavigate the labyrinth to collect Skills and Diplomas, upgrading your r\u00e9sum\u00e9 and increasing the number of job applications you send (your final score).\n\nSimultaneously, you must collect Energy to keep the notebook battery charged and dodge the Clocks that rapidly drain your life (the battery).\n\nThe faulty battery is your ticking clock: when it reaches zero, the game is over!\n\n-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n##### So, I don't know, but I swear I didn't mark it for the AUDIO to be evaluated, since the game doesn't have audio...\n-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\nPac-a-Job\u200b is a maze game blending survival and tension, where the player must guide Mike Pinky to upgrade his r\u00e9sum\u00e9 and secure a job before time runs out.\n\nThe main objective is to collect Skills and Diplomas by studying throughout the maze. This action increases Mike Pinky's job prospects because, by upgrading his r\u00e9sum\u00e9, he simultaneously increases the number of positions he can apply for.\n\n-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n#### _About This Game Jam Experience: Reflections on a Healthier Process_\n\nThis edition was quite different for me. Besides working solo on a Jam after some time, I accomplished a few things I never would have imagined doing a few years ago: I worked with total calmness, without rushing or pressure, without skipping routine daily tasks, without pushing myself too hard, without giving up sleep, and by keeping some time for fun and rest. But, most importantly, I did everything with the realization that I had nothing to prove to anyone.\n\nI also fulfilled some long-standing development goals, such as simulating a screen within the game view and challenging myself to create non-pixel art. And, I intentionally chose not to produce or add sounds, as I prioritized the time I had left for my rest. Honestly? I don't regret it.\n","title":"Pac a Job","wayback_recovered":true,"wayback_source":{"capture":{"original":"https:\/\/api-jam.ludumdare.com\/vx\/node2\/get\/421001+421002+421003+421004+421005+421006+421007+421008+421009+421010+421011+421012+421013+421014+421015+421016+421017+421018+421019+421020+421021+421022+421023+421024+421025+421026+421027+421028+421029+421030+421031+421032+421033+421034+421035+421036+421037+421038+421039+421040+421041+421042+421043+421044+421045+421046+421047+421048+421049+421050+421051+421052+421053+421054+421055+421056+421057+421058+421059+421060+421061+421062+421063+421064+421065+421066+421067+421068+421069+421070+421071+421072+421073+421074+421075+421076+421077+421078+421079+421080+421081+421082+421083+421084+421085+421086+421087+421088+421089+421090+421091+421092+421093+421094+421095+421096+421097+421098+421099+421100+421101+421102+421103+421104+421105+421106+421107+421108+421109+421110+421111+421112+421113+421114+421115+421116+421117+421118+421119+421120+421121+421122+421123+421124+421125+421126+421127+421128+421129+421130+421131+421132+421133+421134+421135+421136+421137+421138+421139+421140+421141+421142+421143+421144+421145+421146+421147+421148+421149+421150+421151+421152+421153+421154+421155+421156+421157+421158+421159+421160+421161+421162+421163+421164+421165+421166+421167+421168+421169+421170+421171+421172+421173+421174+421175+421176+421177+421178+421179+421180+421181+421182+421183+421184+421185+421186+421187+421188+421189+421190+421191+421192+421193+421194+421195+421196+421197+421198+421199+421200+421201+421202+421203+421204+421205+421206+421207+421208+421209+421210+421211+421212+421213+421214+421215+421216+421217+421218+421219+421220+421221+421222+421223+421224+421225+421226+421227+421228+421229+421230+421231+421232+421233+421234+421235+421236+421237+421238+421239+421240+421241+421242+421243+421244+421245+421246+421247+421248+421249+421250+421251+421252+421253+421254+421255+421256+421257+421258+421259+421260+421261+421262+421263+421264+421265+421266+421267+421268+421269+421270+421271+421272+421273+421274+421275+421276+421277+421278+421279+421280+421281+421282+421283+421284+421285+421286+421287+421288+421289+421290+421291+421292+421293+421294+421295+421296+421297+421298+421299+421300+421301+421302+421303+421304+421305+421306+421307+421308+421309+421310+421311+421312+421313+421314+421315+421316+421317+421318+421319+421320+421321+421322+421323+421324+421325+421326+421327+421328+421329+421330+421331+421332+421333+421334+421335+421336+421337+421338+421339+421340+421341+421342+421343+421344+421345+421346+421347+421348+421349+421350+421351+421352+421353+421354+421355+421356+421357+421358+421359+421360+421361+421362+421363+421364+421365+421366+421367+421368+421369+421370+421371+421372+421373+421374+421375+421376+421377+421378+421379+421380+421381+421382+421383+421384+421385+421386+421387+421388+421389+421390+421391+421392+421393+421394+421395+421396+421397+421398+421399+421400+421401+421402+421403+421404+421405+421406+421407+421408+421409+421410+421411+421412+421413+421414+421415+421416+421417+421418+421419+421420+421421+421422+421423+421424+421425+421426+421427+421428+421429+421430+421431+421432+421433+421434+421435+421436+421437+421438+421439+421440+421441+421442+421443+421444+421445+421446+421447+421448+421449+421450+421451+421452+421453+421454+421455+421456+421457+421458+421459+421460+421461+421462+421463+421464+421465+421466+421467+421468+421469+421470+421471+421472+421473+421474+421475+421476+421477+421478+421479+421480+421481+421482+421483+421484+421485+421486+421487+421488+421489+421490+421491+421492+421493+421494+421495+421496+421497+421498+421499+421500?authors&parents&superparent"},"object":"objects\/sha256\/00\/00e41d5794b3ed512732debb8da5e33c11a58c2d0e5f321ec56c941c37510ecc","record":"shard-2\/json-live-urgent-v3\/records\/84a3cf15d52d3156df4eee4e7da17914c6bcf42c491a51eafc4063319e91b7e2.json","sha256":"00e41d5794b3ed512732debb8da5e33c11a58c2d0e5f321ec56c941c37510ecc","source":"https","stored_at":1784022542}}