click on the image to play

Unlike my two first attempts, for which the workflow was as calm as a windless sea, this third Ludum Dare was an emotional roller-coaster.

• Slept 40 minutes the night before the event, 800 km road trip => Best condition ever to start the jam.
• D1: 12 hours doing a first prototype to finally realize it sucks => Day lost, need brilliant idea
• D2: 18 hours left, came with the final idea. Torch light in the dark? Good, because I don’t have time to work on art. Dark is good, it hide ugliness. The main character doesn’t move, brilliant!! The enemies’ teleport in the darkness? No move animation. What the heck do I wait to start?
• Ho wait, family dinner… A man must eat
• Deadline – 12 hours (3.00 pm): Breath, warm-up… and go !
• Deadline – 6 hours (9.00 pm): I’ll never make it…
• Deadline – 4 hours (11.00 pm): cut this features, and this one, and simplify this… Keep it simple, stupid.
• Deadline (3.00 am): Will I really dare put this game in the compo? Or work 24 more hours and compete against entire teams.

I truly hesitated to post my entry. I had maybe too high expectations for this third attempt, or I was too tired to think clearly.  Maybe afraid of the feedbacks. I had forgotten how friendly, welcoming, and constructive this community is…

What went good

• I finished my little game on time.
• The Pixel art needs polish (a lot) but at least is effective
• The mechanisms are simple yet full of future opportunities
• I create faster, I focus easier on the present task
• I’m not afraid to cut features if needed
• Post deadline promotion.
• Never give up
• I had fun

What went wrong

• That’s the third time I say it, and it will be the last: it miss sound!! Neither time nor skill to implement it. Need to learn. Shame for a game playing on a “creepy” atmosphere
• Waste a day on useless idea : should have took more time at the beginning to sort best ideas (newbie mistake)
• Need more sleep
• I must remember my life doesn’t (completely) depend on it.

Conclusion

It should have been worse. As always, it’s a pleasure to take part in this event. The theme was great, the community as awesome as usual. Can’t wait to do it again.

Ho, you want try my game? This way: http://ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-32/?action=preview&uid=40976