{"author_name":"spitfire87","cat":"LD #30","comments":[{"author_name":"highlyinteractive","time":"August 26, 2014 5:00 am","epoch":1409047200,"text":"Good postmortem.","spam":"N"}],"epoch":1409046540,"likes":2,"metadata":{"p_key":"26560","p_author":"spitfire87","p_authorkey":"25586","p_urlkey":"61991","p_title":"Present & Future \u2013 PostMortem.","p_cat":"LD #30","p_event":"LD30","p_time":"1409046540","p_likes":"2","p_comments":"1","p_status":"UPD5","us_key":"25586","us_name":"spitfire87","us_username":"spitfire87","event_start":"1408665600","event_key":"24","event_name":"LD30"},"text":"

 <\/p>\n

\"Screenshot<\/a><\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.ludumdare.com\/compo\/ludum-dare-30\/?action=preview&uid=25586<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The LD30 is over, and I’m quite tired because this time i participated\u00a0alone\u00a0and\u00a0made huge mistakes managing my time. In the end i have created something interesting but not very playable at all.\u00a0\u00a0That the reason\u00a0why i wanted to write this\u00a0postmortem now my ideas are fresh and i clearly know what went right and what went wrong \ud83d\ude1b<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What went right : IDEA & GRAPHICS<\/strong><\/p>\n

The theme & goal: My first idea for the “connected world” theme was a time<\/strong>\u00a0connection involving our own planet. It quickly evolved and included some enviromental concerns\u00a0and climate change awareness. I sticked to it and im happy with the idea and its implementation.<\/p>\n

The graphics: After\u00a0polishing my idea, i had to pick a style. Since I worked\u00a0alone this LD, I quickly decided\u00a0for flat low poly style, which is a good decision.<\/p>\n

The terrain editor & procedural effects: It works well and im quite happy with the result. I can color vertices\u00a0depending on some factors and i also can raise and lower water level. It is enough to generate\u00a0some climate change effects.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What went wrong: TIME\u00a0MANAGEMENT<\/strong><\/p>\n

The graphics:\u00a0\u00a0Yes, graphics also went wrong\u00a0because its\u00a0implementation\u00a0consumed most of the time, and it is a huge mistake. The reason is im a bit greedy and exigent and it’s my first time using 3D. So….. i decided to make a\u00a0spheric procedural deformable\u00a0terrain. \u00a0Yeah, fuck logic, i should have\u00a0stick to conventional horizontal\u00a0terrain. I started to fight with 3D maths, meshes, vertices, shaders, etc… and quickly it become a tough war which consumed all my\u00a0time.<\/p>\n

The gameplay: My main idea was a “god simulator” where you can build and populate your present\u00a0world. Then, depending on the balance of the resources you used, some climate change and world destruction would happen to show you the future consequences of your creation. In the end I hadn’t time to implement this desired gameplay, so I ended putting 4 buttons just to show some of the planned effects (there was more designed, but far more complex to implement).<\/p>\n

The GUI & the sound: None. I had to put some unity ugly GUI\u00a0during last 10 mins just to have something i could upload.\u00a0The sound was even less fortunate.<\/p>\n

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Conclusions:<\/strong><\/p>\n

I’m very happy because i’ve learnt a lot. I’ve never touched 3D before and now i have a basic knowledge and i’ve lost my fear to it. Also, now i have a code-base to build a funny “god simulator” without the pressure and time restrictions of the Ludum Dare.<\/p>\n

Still, i need to learn to manage time way better. Hope the next time i can make a complete playable game. Cya!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>","time":"August 26th, 2014 4:49 am","title":"Present & Future \u2013 PostMortem."}