{"author_link":"\/users\/coleslaughter","author_name":"ColeSlaughter","author_uid":1013882,"comments":[{"id":1038006,"author_name":"Shasaur","author_uid":"shasaur","epoch":1713233039,"text":"Very slick art and neat mechanic. Took me a few minutes to figure it out but was fun after that :)","format":"md","likes":4,"spam":"N"},{"id":1038115,"author_name":"MissingPixel","author_uid":"missingpixel","epoch":1713233555,"text":"Fun game! took a while to get the hang of it, definitely would've benefited from some kind of tutorial. ","format":"md","likes":4,"spam":"N"},{"id":1038684,"author_name":"realwangziyang","author_uid":"realwangziyang","epoch":1713236766,"text":"It took me a while to learn the mechanic, but it's unexpectedly fun to play.Can't believe you made so many levels in such a short time!","format":"md","likes":4,"spam":"N"},{"id":1050616,"author_name":"Gnum_","author_uid":"gnum","epoch":1713310606,"text":"O MAY GOD IS VERY GOOOD!","format":"md","likes":2,"spam":"N"},{"id":1053712,"author_name":"Liniux","author_uid":"liniux","epoch":1713352416,"text":"It was hard to figure out how it works but after it it was really fun game","format":"md","likes":3,"spam":"N"},{"id":1054159,"author_name":"ValentinWB","author_uid":"valentinwb","epoch":1713356445,"text":"Ok it took me a little time to get the mechanic but it ends up working very well ! Congrats on the graphics, the palette, UI and in game visuals are very clean !","format":"md","likes":3,"spam":"N"},{"id":1055678,"author_name":"BadPiggy","author_uid":"badpiggy","epoch":1713371929,"text":"![SplitDecision 17-04-2024 20_57_53.png](\/\/\/raw\/8f7\/d2\/z\/641e9.png)\n\nScreenshotting for now since my name will probably disappear from the leaderboard soon lol\n\nAnyway, great game. The main mechanic took me a while to really get. It especially took me a while to understand that instead of clicking on a moving ball of light, you need to click on a point that the ball is moving towards and aim from there. However, I'm pig-headed so someone else might actually understand how this works more faster than me lol. Take this with a grain of salt\n\nThat said, I think the speed of the balls could be reduced a little more during slow-mo since it got annoying trying to aim and also get the direction when I first started playing. Mostly because I was still learning which directions of the mouse corresponded to the split directions for the balls. ( Although this is probably just a skill issue lol )\n\nOne of the biggest issues with games that focus on bouncing or reflecting objects is that they can often feel like they rely on luck above all else, but you guys mitigated that really well. The laser lights gave me a very clear idea of the direction that the balls will go. Admittedly though I think there was definitely a bit of luck needed at some points though ( But then again, this is also probably just a giant skill issue from my side so you can ignore it lol )\n\nThe presentation as a whole is very solid, let it be visually or audio-wise. The sound effect which plays when you shoot a white ball of light into the sun never failed to make me laugh a bit lol.\n\nOverall I think this is a very damn solid entry. Amazing work guys","format":"md","likes":4,"spam":"N"},{"id":1056978,"author_name":"LucaVazz","author_uid":"lucavazz","epoch":1713383588,"text":"First of: Really impressive tech art and graphics, just beautiful \u2728\n\nI'm adding to the chorus of taking a while to figure the mechanic out \ud83d\ude05\n\nHere's my hypothesis of it for anyone that's stuck:\n- You click and drag your mouse to define an \"edge\" along which a molecule gets split\n- The split molecules then get accelerated away from the \"edge\", on a perpendicular direction\n- The blue molecule spawns above \/ left of the \"edge\", the red molecule spawns below \/ right of the \"edge\"\n- The blue molecules are charged positively, the red ones negatively\n- If any two molecules of the same color collide, they combine to a bigger molecule of the same color\n- If any two molecules of different colors (red, blue and white) collide, they form a combined (i.e. bigger) white molecule\n- Red molecules score negative points, blue and white molecules score positive points\n\nI think a short hint at the beginning of the game \/ after x tries with a 0 or negative score would really help. Maybe even something vague like:\n> Try to consider how molecules move after splitting - your mouse drag does not control them directly.\n\nWith a bit of tweaking and maybe a tutorial level at the beginning this feels like it could become a very solid mechanic!","format":"md","likes":3,"spam":"N"},{"id":1057152,"author_name":"Momo_Hunter","author_uid":"momo-hunter","epoch":1713384944,"text":"Very nice game, well done. I still don't understand what defines my points. I get that you get positive points for blue and white molecules, but do you get more points for having bigger or smaller molecules or do you just get more points if you split the molecules more so that the amount that reach the sun increases?","format":"md","likes":3,"spam":"N"},{"id":1058178,"author_name":"atmospherium","author_uid":"atmospherium","epoch":1713396679,"text":"I hate that people keep knocking me off the leaderboards. That's really rude. \n\nBut other than that, thoroughly enjoyed this game. Interesting mechanics with a lot of flexibility for trial and error. Those graphics are SUPER slick. It feels like a very big change of pace from what I expect from you guys, but each of you executed perfectly. Only complaint is that I wish there was audio. But I'll forgive you this time.","format":"md","likes":4,"spam":"N"},{"id":1058632,"author_name":"GuitarBro","author_uid":"guitarbro","epoch":1713405284,"text":"Really dig the aesthetics of this game, but as other have mentioned, would really benefit from a tutorial (or at least some text instructions) since it's got pretty unique gameplay (which is cool). Music and SFX were minimal but fit well since it matched the aesthetic. The inclusion of leaderboard was a nice touch since it was pretty quick to complete. Other than that, my only significant critique is that I feel the connection to the theme of summoning is pretty weak which is ok, of course, just room for improvement in that regard. Generally, a very polished and unique experience overall (well done!), just perhaps a little lacking in content and connection to the theme.","format":"md","likes":3,"spam":"N"},{"id":1058820,"author_name":"LDJam user 342640","author_uid":"342640","epoch":1713407984,"text":"Super well polished, super unique, super fun - managed to get myself on the leaderboards even, which I was proud of :)\n\nIt's suuuuuuper nitpicky but I wish the music didn't restart every time you reset the level, takes you out of the zone a bit when you can't listen to more than ~10-15 seconds of a song before the next one starts lol\n\nDefinitely wanna see more of this game!","format":"md","likes":3,"spam":"N"},{"id":1059086,"author_name":"Foursay","author_uid":"foursay","epoch":1713413919,"text":"Nice work on this one! The splitting mechanic adds a fun challenge, making you think about trajectories and timing. It feels random yet not too much, thanks to the momentum-based gameplay. I actually had more fun in the later levels when merging was easier and I could create more 'diamonds.' Overall, great job as usual!","format":"md","likes":3,"spam":"N"},{"id":1059186,"author_name":"Ian McD","author_uid":"ian-mcd","epoch":1713417758,"text":"super clean! Great work.  Simple idea polished really well","format":"md","likes":3,"spam":"N"},{"id":1060569,"author_name":"willhoit","author_uid":"willhoit","epoch":1713451548,"text":"Nice job. simple fun game with lots of replay value - took me a couple tries to understand how my interactions modified the light though.","format":"md","likes":3,"spam":"N"},{"id":1063116,"author_name":"VPhyre","author_uid":"vphyre","epoch":1713496607,"text":"Very beautiful game. It took me a while to understand how I should play, but then I did. I spent a good few minutes trying to get my name on the rankings haha.\n\nCongratulations, good work!","format":"md","likes":3,"spam":"N"},{"id":1063360,"author_name":"Snory","author_uid":"snory","epoch":1713506220,"text":"Holy moly, that UI is slick. \n\nI would add some tutorial, not \"tutorial\" like a lot of text, but I think this game would benefit from the progression tutorial. For example \"Split these\" .., once you split them \"now the blue give you .. \" and so on as it took me a while to figure out what is going on and even after that I was not sure how to achieve proper score.\n\n[edit]: I just noticed the ton of text in description of the game, it helps, but..still, i would put it directly to the game. :)\n\nThe game mechanic is well thought off yet simple, which I admire most.","format":"md","likes":3,"spam":"N"},{"id":1063382,"author_name":"SonnyBone","author_uid":"sonnybone","epoch":1713507279,"text":"Got addicted to this but honestly not feeling a huge connection to the theme. Having said that, there's a really really badass idea in here somewhere but I'm not sure how to go from what you have to whatever that would be. The idea of keeping the red ones out and splitting them to make more scoring orbs is just a really fun idea. I feel like I don't have enough control over the outcome, so I end up with some lucky shots. It's like a reverse pinball where you want the ball to miss the paddles unless it's a red ball, then you want to keep it in play. The best thing about your idea is that it has actual legs and can be extended beyond the jam. Like I said, there's something really badass in there somewhere and you're really close to finding it. There's more than one person in here hoping to see more of this. Add me to that list! ","format":"md","likes":3,"spam":"N"},{"id":1063384,"author_name":"thomz12","author_uid":"thomz12","epoch":1713507360,"text":"Very good game! It's pretty difficult to get the hang of it, but it's very polished otherwise!\n\nDoes it relate in any way to the theme? I couldn't quite figure that out.\nAnyway, great job! ","format":"md","likes":3,"spam":"N"},{"id":1063387,"author_name":"UngarBlapp","author_uid":"ungarblapp","epoch":1713507526,"text":"Great stuff!\nLike the style and aesthetic very much and the music\nis a perfect part of that.\ntook me a couple of minutes to get the hang of the play mechanic\nbut once I got going I really enjoyed it!\nI was almost playing for a ranking there for a bit! haha!\nGreat Work!","format":"md","likes":3,"spam":"N"},{"id":1063409,"author_name":"Tetracold","author_uid":"tetracold","epoch":1713508901,"text":"I really dig the clean minimalistic style and also the music was good! Interesting and clever use of the theme as well!\n\nit took me a little bit to understand how the scoring works but once I got it became pretty fun! I got a pretty high score on one of the levels, but I am not very good with handling the crystals but it's a very fun concept for a simple arcade-y game!\nreally solid entry, I enjoyed it a lot!","format":"md","likes":3,"spam":"N"},{"id":1064025,"author_name":"MrGaberson","author_uid":"mrgaberson","epoch":1713532040,"text":"Visuals and gameplay are amazing! I still have 0 idea how the splitting mechanic relates to summoning though","format":"md","likes":3,"spam":"N"},{"id":1064031,"author_name":"Borabee","author_uid":"borabee","epoch":1713532408,"text":"Very nice game. The UI especially is so polished and impressive! I really liked the mechanics, although I didn't do very well, but I enjoyed playing either way.","format":"md","likes":3,"spam":"N"},{"id":1064323,"author_name":"atmospherium","author_uid":"atmospherium","epoch":1713540168,"text":"Apparently when I left my comment earlier I had your itch site muted so I didn't hear any sounds. So I clearly am a professional LD rater. I just needed you guys to know that, not only am I a professional Split-Decision player, but that I also know how websites work.","format":"md","likes":3,"spam":"N"},{"id":1067955,"author_name":"fabula_rasa","author_uid":"fabula-rasa","epoch":1713651230,"text":"The visuals are great. All the animations, colors, particle effects - very polished! The minimalistic style really works. \nIt can be fun to play in two ways - plan your moves meticulously or just wing it, slice and watch the show :grin: It's not really in the theme (unless I'm missing something), but everything else is really polished. Impressive!   ","format":"md","likes":3,"spam":"N"},{"id":1067980,"author_name":"zyntist","author_uid":"zyntist","epoch":1713652452,"text":"Original idea, very creative mechanic and the art is stunning. Sound is on point and graphics are so polished. Loved that you implemented the leaderboard. Nailed it!!","format":"md","likes":3,"spam":"N"},{"id":1072697,"author_name":"LDJam user 250426","author_uid":"250426","epoch":1713944057,"text":"i played this for like 4 hours lmao nice  \nidk about those #1 scores tho look like haking xD\n\n![Split Decision.png](\/\/\/raw\/a32\/d3\/z\/64c11.png)","format":"md","likes":3,"spam":"N"},{"id":1073917,"author_name":"Romulo_Developer","author_uid":"romulo-developer","epoch":1714086081,"text":"I really liked the simple yet clean design that the graphics convey. The music as well really creates an atmosphere. And although the game is short, I found myself replaying levels trying to beat my personal best or trying to enter the global leaderboard. If anything, I think a tutorial would be welcome. Really noice!","format":"md","likes":3,"spam":"N"},{"id":1078691,"author_name":"MateusBoga","author_uid":"mateusboga","epoch":1714765910,"text":"Great game as always! This one was very interesting, and I enjoyed playing it on stream ^^ Here's the VOD: https:\/\/www.twitch.tv\/videos\/2136428351","format":"md","likes":2,"spam":"N"}],"format":"md","images":["ld55\/wayback-placeholder.png"],"links":[{"url":"https:\/\/jared-slawski.itch.io\/split-decision","text":"Link"},{"url":"https:\/\/jared-slawski.itch.io\/split-decision","text":"Link"}],"metadata":{"g_key":"92831","g_author":"1013882","g_event":"LD55","g_eventkey":"120","g_subevent":"JAM","g_urlkey":"438912","g_title":"Split-Decision","g_status":"WAYBACK","g_place":"197","g_commentcount":"29","g_site2_node_id":"383255","g_hide":"N","g_has_icon":"Y","g_rqueue":"0","g_random":"0"},"nds":{"n_key":"383255","n_urlkey":"438912","n_parent":"383062","n_path":"\/events\/ludum-dare\/55\/split-decision","n_slug":"split-decision","n_type":"item","n_subtype":"game","n_subsubtype":"jam","n_author":"13882","n_created":"1711581242","n_modified":"1779264450","n_version":"1233869","n_status":"WAYBACK"},"node":{"_collation":{"body_sanitizer":"TextUtils::SanitizeHTML via existing importer","event":"LD55","removed_author":false},"_superparent":9,"_trust":10,"author":13882,"body":"\n![splitdecision_Splash4k.png](\/\/\/raw\/cbe\/e1\/z\/62e18.png)\n\n### To summon the light back into a dying star, you must first split the universe.\n\nSeparate and merge light to feed the stars of the system in Split-Decision. Light moves pretty fast so you will have to be quick and strategic with the use of time dilation at your disposal!\n\n# How To Play\n## Split to Win\n![splitExample.gif](\/\/\/raw\/a36\/3\/z\/646b2.gif)\n\nStart a level by slicing at one of the glowing particles to split it in half.  Split particles are very volatile, so you'll only have 10 seconds after the initial split to guide them into the star's core for points!\n\n## Any Way You Slice It\nThere are multiple ways to slice a particle!  Hold left click and swipe across the screen to execute a speedy slash, or hold right click (or the Spacebar) to enter \"focus mode.\"  In focus mode, your left-click slashes can be much more precise, but be careful not to over-use it!\n\n![speedSplit.gif](\/\/\/raw\/a36\/3\/z\/646b4.gif)\n\n![slowSplit.gif](\/\/\/raw\/a36\/3\/z\/646b5.gif)\n\n## Points of Power\n![splitdecision_scoreguide_720.gif](\/\/\/raw\/a36\/3\/z\/646b6.gif)\n\nNot all particles are created equal!  Whenever you split a particle, you create a positive and negative charge that will impact how many points your receive (or lose!) upon colliding with the star's core.  The bigger the particle, the greater the value!  See if you can find the best strategy to maximize your points and topple the leaderboard!\n\n\n\n**Credits:**\n\n**Programmer:** \n* Jared Slawski \n\n**Artists:** \n* Andrew Rudd \n* Stephen Rudd\n","comments":29,"comments-timestamp":"2024-05-03T19:51:50Z","created":"2024-03-27T23:14:02Z","files":[],"files-timestamp":0,"grade":{"grade-01":48,"grade-02":48,"grade-03":48,"grade-04":48,"grade-05":48,"grade-07":40,"grade-08":45},"id":383255,"love":0,"magic":{"cool":84.993968982552,"feedback":60,"given":28.625,"grade":46.428571428571,"grade-01-average":3.957,"grade-01-result":197,"grade-02-average":3.837,"grade-02-result":239,"grade-03-average":4.261,"grade-03-result":31,"grade-04-average":2.446,"grade-04-result":1180,"grade-05-average":4.304,"grade-05-result":179,"grade-07-average":2.211,"grade-07-result":999,"grade-08-average":3.767,"grade-08-result":403,"smart":-4.098590771716},"meta":{"allow-anonymous-comments":"1","author":[13882,126652,126651],"cover":"\/\/\/content\/cbe\/e1\/z\/62c5f.png","grade-06-out":"1","link-01":"https:\/\/jared-slawski.itch.io\/split-decision","link-01-tag":[42337],"link-02":"https:\/\/jared-slawski.itch.io\/split-decision","link-02-tag":[42336]},"meta-timestamp":"2026-05-20T08:07:30Z","modified":"2026-05-20T08:07:30Z","name":"Split-Decision","node-timestamp":"2024-04-19T05:25:11Z","parent":383062,"parents":[1,5,9,383062],"path":"\/events\/ludum-dare\/55\/split-decision","published":"2024-04-16T01:49:57Z","scope":"public","slug":"split-decision","subsubtype":"jam","subtype":"game","type":"item","version":1233869},"text":"\n![splitdecision_Splash4k.png](\/\/\/raw\/cbe\/e1\/z\/62e18.png)\n\n### To summon the light back into a dying star, you must first split the universe.\n\nSeparate and merge light to feed the stars of the system in Split-Decision. Light moves pretty fast so you will have to be quick and strategic with the use of time dilation at your disposal!\n\n# How To Play\n## Split to Win\n![splitExample.gif](\/\/\/raw\/a36\/3\/z\/646b2.gif)\n\nStart a level by slicing at one of the glowing particles to split it in half.  Split particles are very volatile, so you'll only have 10 seconds after the initial split to guide them into the star's core for points!\n\n## Any Way You Slice It\nThere are multiple ways to slice a particle!  Hold left click and swipe across the screen to execute a speedy slash, or hold right click (or the Spacebar) to enter \"focus mode.\"  In focus mode, your left-click slashes can be much more precise, but be careful not to over-use it!\n\n![speedSplit.gif](\/\/\/raw\/a36\/3\/z\/646b4.gif)\n\n![slowSplit.gif](\/\/\/raw\/a36\/3\/z\/646b5.gif)\n\n## Points of Power\n![splitdecision_scoreguide_720.gif](\/\/\/raw\/a36\/3\/z\/646b6.gif)\n\nNot all particles are created equal!  Whenever you split a particle, you create a positive and negative charge that will impact how many points your receive (or lose!) upon colliding with the star's core.  The bigger the particle, the greater the value!  See if you can find the best strategy to maximize your points and topple the leaderboard!\n\n\n\n**Credits:**\n\n**Programmer:** \n* Jared Slawski \n\n**Artists:** \n* Andrew Rudd \n* Stephen Rudd\n","title":"Split-Decision","wayback_recovered":true,"wayback_source":{"capture":{"original":"https:\/\/api-jam.ludumdare.com\/vx\/node2\/get\/392501+392502+392503+392504+392505+392506+392507+392508+392509+392510+392511+392512+392513+392514+392515+392516+392517+392518+392519+392520+392521+392522+392523+392524+392525+392526+392527+392528+392529+392530+392531+392532+392533+392534+392535+392536+392537+392538+392539+392540+392541+392542+392543+392544+392545+392546+392547+392548+392549+392550+392551+392552+392553+392554+392555+392556+392557+392558+392559+392560+392561+392562+392563+392564+392565+392566+392567+392568+392569+392570+392571+392572+392573+392574+392575+392576+392577+392578+392579+392580+392581+392582+392583+392584+392585+392586+392587+392588+392589+392590+392591+392592+392593+392594+392595+392596+392597+392598+392599+392600+392601+392602+392603+392604+392605+392606+392607+392608+392609+392610+392611+392612+392613+392614+392615+392616+392617+392618+392619+392620+392621+392622+392623+392624+392625+392626+392627+392628+392629+392630+392631+392632+392633+392634+392635+392636+392637+392638+392639+392640+392641+392642+392643+392644+392645+392646+392647+392648+392649+392650+392651+392652+392653+392654+392655+392656+392657+392658+392659+392660+392661+392662+392663+392664+392665+392666+392667+392668+392669+392670+392671+392672+392673+392674+392675+392676+392677+392678+392679+392680+392681+392682+392683+392684+392685+392686+392687+392688+392689+392690+392691+392692+392693+392694+392695+392696+392697+392698+392699+392700+392701+392702+392703+392704+392705+392706+392707+392708+392709+392710+392711+392712+392713+392714+392715+392716+392717+392718+392719+392720+392721+392722+392723+392724+392725+392726+392727+392728+392729+392730+392731+392732+392733+392734+392735+392736+392737+392738+392739+392740+392741+392742+392743+392744+392745+392746+392747+392748+392749+392750+392751+392752+392753+392754+392755+392756+392757+392758+392759+392760+392761+392762+392763+392764+392765+392766+392767+392768+392769+392770+392771+392772+392773+392774+392775+392776+392777+392778+392779+392780+392781+392782+392783+392784+392785+392786+392787+392788+392789+392790+392791+392792+392793+392794+392795+392796+392797+392798+392799+392800+392801+392802+392803+392804+392805+392806+392807+392808+392809+392810+392811+392812+392813+392814+392815+392816+392817+392818+392819+392820+392821+392822+392823+392824+392825+392826+392827+392828+392829+392830+392831+392832+392833+392834+392835+392836+392837+392838+392839+392840+392841+392842+392843+392844+392845+392846+392847+392848+392849+392850+392851+392852+392853+392854+392855+392856+392857+392858+392859+392860+392861+392862+392863+392864+392865+392866+392867+392868+392869+392870+392871+392872+392873+392874+392875+392876+392877+392878+392879+392880+392881+392882+392883+392884+392885+392886+392887+392888+392889+392890+392891+392892+392893+392894+392895+392896+392897+392898+392899+392900+392901+392902+392903+392904+392905+392906+392907+392908+392909+392910+392911+392912+392913+392914+392915+392916+392917+392918+392919+392920+392921+392922+392923+392924+392925+392926+392927+392928+392929+392930+392931+392932+392933+392934+392935+392936+392937+392938+392939+392940+392941+392942+392943+392944+392945+392946+392947+392948+392949+392950+392951+392952+392953+392954+392955+392956+392957+392958+392959+392960+392961+392962+392963+392964+392965+392966+392967+392968+392969+392970+392971+392972+392973+392974+392975+392976+392977+392978+392979+392980+392981+392982+392983+392984+392985+392986+392987+392988+392989+392990+392991+392992+392993+392994+392995+392996+392997+392998+392999+393000?authors&parents&superparent"},"object":"objects\/sha256\/df\/df36f6f1be7204cddb5795aab5da901a9295f1a03806e75b10bc15b38a37243c","record":"shard-2\/json-live-urgent-v3\/records\/db9ccb94c178277a95b0956edde0d6ab34ed4957d3299612a1e1bdec27981419.json","sha256":"df36f6f1be7204cddb5795aab5da901a9295f1a03806e75b10bc15b38a37243c","source":"https","stored_at":1784022507}}