Tiny Detective by Spaint

made by Spaint for Ludum Dare 54 (JAM)

Madam Penny is one of the richest residents of a small community of little creatures. Every year she arranges a lottery with the opportunity to win an invitation to a big party. You're one of the lucky ones who got his paws on that invitation.

You're an ex-policeman working as a private investigator. You thought this was your chance sit back and relax at Penny's party, but the night had a few surprises in store for you. Even though this "big party" was hosted in a quite limited space, the madam of the house was found dead in her room...

Luckily, you grabbed your trench coat and detective hat with you.

Screenshots

2023-10-03 050033-TinyDetective.png

2023-10-03 050046-TinyDetective.png

2023-10-03 050139-TinyDetective.png

Controls

WASD - Move

Space - Jump

F - Interact

TAB - Inventory

J - Thought cabinet

ESC - Pause

Changelog

New version - Fixed camera. Probably. Kinda.

Credits

Kro - Code, level design

Root - Code

Spaint - 3D models

Depression - Script, dialogues

Seb - UI Design

Itch.io	https://spaint.itch.io/tiny-detective
Mega	https://mega.nz/file/oXxWhBzT#tb8aNKUpShrPXEWpzcJ3zXpGbEPMtLZYeeaRVHXhbkQ
Original URL	https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/54/tiny-detective

Ratings

Overall	542^th	3.595⭐	39🧑‍⚖️
Fun	573^th	3.446⭐	39🧑‍⚖️
Innovation	618^th	3.297⭐	39🧑‍⚖️
Theme	951^th	3.014⭐	39🧑‍⚖️
Graphics	397^th	3.892⭐	39🧑‍⚖️
Humor	128^th	3.882⭐	40🧑‍⚖️
Mood	179^th	4⭐	39🧑‍⚖️
Given		50🗳️	59🗨️

Feedback

Erroneous

03. Oct 2023 · 00:49 UTC

This was a great game! I loved the detective gameplay, loved piecing everything together. Super fun! However, the camera was a bit janky, but thats really my only complaint. Good job!

LDJam user 313326

03. Oct 2023 · 00:50 UTC

The camera was a little bouncy but once i got used to controlling it, it was manageable. The music is good and models look good as well. It was nice to see features like dialogue trees and an inventory.

DrinkWhD

03. Oct 2023 · 00:53 UTC

Really cool

Syntaxxor

03. Oct 2023 · 01:07 UTC

I loved the vibe of this game! The moment I realized you could ask characters about the items was a mind-blower. Was pretty hooked on the story up until the end!

Only real complaint is that I found a glitch that let me climb up to where I could see into the outside lol

Whysguy52

03. Oct 2023 · 01:17 UTC

YAY! I DID IT! I solved it! This was super adorable and loved it!

I hope this doesn't come off the wrong way but

1) separate the text when choosing because it can be difficult to distinguish one option from another. maybe spacing or something?

2) i would recommend binding the camera to the bears head and not his feet. When the camera collides with the wall, is slides allll the way down to his feet. You probably just bound it/made it a child of the base character object but it wouldn't hurt to put an empty game object near his head and child the camera to that instead.

otherwise, this was awesome! super adorable characters. I'd love to pick your brain on how you animate, model and render some time. all of my 3D assets look super terrible and blocky and not smooth. Oh well. i'll learn eventually.

Derek Glennon

03. Oct 2023 · 01:26 UTC

Fun mystery! Models are very funny

Team Watt

03. Oct 2023 · 01:43 UTC

I had a blast, thank you. I solved the case and I like the dinosaur. Keep it up!

interface

03. Oct 2023 · 01:48 UTC

I struggled a lot when starting. The camera bouncing to the bottom at his feet, and everything being gray I didn't even realize I could get out of the room at first... Once I got past that and got the hang of it, it went much better.
I didn't solve the mystery though. Not sure what that potato cat at the top was all about lol

Pyshnyy

03. Oct 2023 · 11:08 UTC

This game looks great. I love the level design, especially small things like the potato-cat for curious people. Although I have to say my curiosity almost got me stuck in the sink...

Some people have already mentioned the main problem in my opinion, which is the camera. Other than that, I did enjoy the game :)

LDJam user 262766

03. Oct 2023 · 21:26 UTC

You make a great job but of cource you have a problem but I believe you could fix it

CptDrusha

03. Oct 2023 · 22:29 UTC

Great detective story! Mood, music, models is very nice. Thanks for the settings menu. But camera is a little bit annoying(

twigjam

04. Oct 2023 · 04:25 UTC

Camera is a big enough struggle that I personally had to stop playing, BUT someone else from our team has been having a blast with the game and posting screenshots for the rest of us to enjoy, comedy 11/10 lol. I love the 3d models a lot, the button monocle on the bear is such a good touch. Also the music slaps and fits the tone perfectly!

whoaitstom

04. Oct 2023 · 04:27 UTC

I loved the lines in the "thought cabinet", great little game! Camera was a little weird but I was able to play around it pretty easily.

GreenPig

04. Oct 2023 · 04:53 UTC

Really good game, loved the models and the atmosphere. Camera doesnt really work as i expected so that was a bit weird. Also would love to set the controls because for me reaching J was very weird. But loved the game anyways. Great work.

Human Writes Code

04. Oct 2023 · 09:42 UTC

The 3D assets and writing for this were great. Like a few other commenters, I had a bit of trouble with the camera but it wasn't a huge deal. The music suited the game play perfectly.

Good job!

rolferm

04. Oct 2023 · 16:54 UTC

Incredibly stylish!

limered

04. Oct 2023 · 17:18 UTC

Nice Game. Cute models. Esspecially the bear looks funny. My problems with the game are written down already by the others.

Keep it up. I liked your Game!

alexis8

05. Oct 2023 · 12:09 UTC

didn't succeded but had a lot of fun playing, good job.

LaserPanzerWal

05. Oct 2023 · 19:55 UTC

The Graphics are nice, the idea is, too. I'm not quite sure how the game fits with the theme, but thats not too much of a concern. The dialogue control is a bit weird though, I ended up just clicking my way through everything and pretty much solved the case by chance.

KnightGames

06. Oct 2023 · 15:29 UTC

I think this game has a lot of potential, I had fun! well done

Tunasandwich

07. Oct 2023 · 12:23 UTC

I liked the mood and the choice of background music ! The design of the detective bear is cool too.

Magalix

08. Oct 2023 · 17:30 UTC

Good job. A well polished game with everything a detective game needs.

Also you can trickjump ?? Insane. And use the trickjump to discover an easter egg ? Even more insane wtf

![catato.png](///raw/00a/c5/z/6008c.png)

Case closed.

minjutin

09. Oct 2023 · 15:46 UTC

I like this dark version of Toy Story lol. The project itself feels quite ambitious, it must have been hard to create this in 72 hours. Obviously, it could be more polished (especially player and camera movement) but nevertheless, you have done your part well. I want to know more about this twisted toy universe

DSK

14. Oct 2023 · 12:10 UTC

Very interesting puzzle game, nice job:)

Satyre

17. Oct 2023 · 18:31 UTC

Very unique game. I like the graphics style you chose and the story itself. The camera sometimes got me stuck on finding a way to continue, but strangely fits the feeling I had playing the game :)

knightoftheday

20. Oct 2023 · 14:53 UTC

Awesome detective game! Great art style and music. Nice story.