{"author_name":"mrexcessive","cat":"LD #30","comments":[],"epoch":1408938900,"likes":2,"metadata":{"p_key":"26849","p_author":"mrexcessive","p_authorkey":"20788","p_urlkey":"62285","p_title":"Phew! Keyboard controls by the skin of my teeth","p_cat":"LD #30","p_event":"LD30","p_time":"1408938900","p_likes":"2","p_comments":"0","p_status":"UPD5","us_key":"20788","us_name":"mrexcessive","us_username":"mrexcessive","event_start":"1408665600","event_key":"24","event_name":"LD30"},"text":"

http:\/\/www.ludumdare.com\/compo\/ludum-dare-30\/?action=preview&uid=20788<\/a><\/p>\n

It’s a glorified Lunar Lander. \u00a0Had to abandon original control scheme halfway through day 2, which was fun (!not), the final engine control is much more\u00a0how I think the Apollo mission retro controls worked, setting power and time then firing a burn.<\/p>\n

Of course you have to do it repeatedly for this, but it is a\u00a0game…<\/p>\n

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I used Construct2 this. \u00a0Also spent far more time than usual on look and feel, which I think was a good decision, though as a typical programming-first developer I do find it tough to admit that visual polish is important and the ‘brilliant’ idea will just vanish into the murk without it (not that this is an original idea ofc.) \u00a0I found time spent was about 20% each for design, coding and testing\/bug-fixing and 40% on graphics and polish.<\/p>\n

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All the planets are based on an iPhone photo I took of a weather windowsill tile out the back. \u00a0Gimp\u00a0filters ftw!<\/p>\n

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Built with Construct2, Gimp, BXFR, Audacity and a (small this time…) amount of piano playing.<\/p>\n

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Testing with 4 hours to go late last night (UK timezone) found a few minor things – and I realised that\u00a0the harder levels were fine on Touch devices, but bad on\u00a0with Mouse control… so added keyboard shortcuts, updated the help & other pipeline stuff… sigh. \u00a0Three releases in final minutes,\u00a0just one more thing Columbo.<\/p>\n

\"ShotConnectTheWorlds5\"<\/a> \"ShotConnectTheWorlds4\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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As always thank you for the fun LD and see you next time!<\/p>","time":"August 24th, 2014 10:55 pm","title":"Phew! Keyboard controls by the skin of my teeth"}