{"author_name":"invader","cat":"LD #36","comments":[],"epoch":1472664180,"likes":3,"metadata":{"p_key":"3299","p_author":"invader","p_authorkey":"40361","p_urlkey":"38766","p_title":"Modus Catapultus on LD36 Jam","p_cat":"LD #36","p_event":"LD36","p_time":"1472664180","p_likes":"3","p_comments":"0","p_status":"UPD5","us_key":"40361","us_name":"invader","us_username":"\/author\/invader\/","event_start":"1472169600","event_key":"35","event_name":"LD36"},"text":"
Attack enemy forts and catapults with your catapult and supporting units. Use special stones to build\/reinforce forts and spawn new catapults.<\/div>\n
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Movements<\/em> – WASD or Cursor Keys<\/div>\n
Shoot<\/em> – E\/Space hold and release<\/div>\n
Switch stones<\/em> – Q\/Shift<\/div>\n
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Retreat to friendly forts for fixes and resupply.<\/em><\/div>\n
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Jam Entry Page<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\n
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\"Screenshot<\/div>\n
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Development Log<\/strong><\/div>\n
@40m into competition (and 4:40am in the morning here) I read the theme and posted that I’m going to participate<\/div>\n
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@4h – after crawling web for inspiration, looking at Da Vince sketches, reading about Antikythera mechanism, Rome warfare among other stuff I went to sleep feeling that I have some understanding of a game to build. It is supposed to be a top-down naval warfare game.<\/div>\n
***<\/div>\n
@8h – waked up, reviewed the sketches and considered the scope to be totally unrealistic. So I’ve changed direction into land-based warfare and simplified it a little.<\/div>\n
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@9h – changed direction once again to a side-view scrolling artillery-like game that supposed to be about catapults<\/div>\n <\/div>\n
@14h – have first boxes moving around the screen.<\/div>\n
@18h – spent time on tech, that should have been in the toolbox at the beginning – like camera view and rudimentary physics<\/div>\n
@20h – stopped and went to bed<\/div>\n
***<\/div>\n
@30h – development continues<\/div>\n
@32h – first shoots have been fired. What should have taken just 2-3 hours (theme selection, basic setup and rudimentary mechanics) actually took more than a day to develop.<\/div>\n
@40h – I started to realize that even the basic mechanics can’t be completed on time.<\/div>\n
@47h – decided to target the jam<\/div>\n
***<\/div>\n
@62h – back from work and on track again. Reevaluated the concept, removed some features, layered out 12-step program to make that game playable.<\/div>\n
@71h 50m – PANIC, since I’ve just completed all necessary features and having some troubles scp-ing that on the server (As it turned out – I’ve been DoSed at the time)<\/div>\n
@72h – I’ve managed to release the game and started to update the Jam post entry for better readability.<\/div>\n
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Total hours logged in development and playtesting:<\/div>\n
Day 1 – 14h<\/div>\n
Day 2 – 16h<\/div>\n
Day 3 – 9h<\/div>\n
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What Went Right<\/strong><\/div>\n
Almost nothing actually.<\/div>\n
* I’m glad I’ve switched the initial concept, since that allowed me to release some moderately playable prototype at least for the jam deadline.<\/div>\n
* Also good that I’ve sticked to Vanilla JS and dropped the idea of using full-features JS game engine – last time I’ve participated 1 year ago (LD33) I failed miserably because spent too much time struggling with technology.<\/div>\n
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What Went Wrong<\/strong><\/div>\n
* I wasn’t ready for the theme. Tools I’ve selected were better suited for some retro-styled art and I didn’t see at the time how that can work with Ancient technology.<\/div>\n
* I wasn’t ready whatsoever in general. Good idea would’ve been to participate in one of miniLDs and in warm-up weekend. Also, it would make sense to get familiar with possible theme list, analyze it and consider at least remotely what kind of game can be done with that particular theme.<\/div>\n
* Most activities of Day 1 should have been fit into 2-3 hours at most.<\/div>\n
* I probably could have squished couple more hours in development. But more could be achieved by better readiness and better focus on things that are important.<\/div>\n
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Tools Used<\/strong><\/div>\n
JavaScript + 2d Canvas proved to be simple and reliable to provide needed functionality. No surprises as far as I can remember. All game shortcomings are caused by me, since I haven’t been able to deliver more elaborated art and sound content and left striking holes in the gameplay itself – the decision to block fire on entities overlap is one of these ‘dirty rules’ that ended up in the posted game. And it looks really stupid now, once I play it.<\/div>\n
Aseprite is not fitting well for that kind of game.<\/div>","time":"August 31st, 2016 12:23 pm","title":"Modus Catapultus on LD36 Jam"}