![\":)\"](\"http:\/\/ludumdare.com\/compo\/wp-includes\/images\/smilies\/simple-smile.png\")
<\/p>\n Well this was my first Ludum Dare and it was awesome. \u00a0I didn’t quite complete a finished game but I came really close and I learned a lot. \u00a0All in all, a better basic strategy would have helped me finish my game, no matter what the final quality would be. \u00a0 So now I have this idea of what to learn and practice before the next Ludum Dare. \u00a0Here are my thoughts \u00a0on process\/strategy to follow:<\/p>\n
1. \u00a0Setup<\/p>\n
– an intro screen<\/p>\n
– a how to play screen or text block on your intro, including controls description<\/p>\n
– tries counter (if your game style has lives or limited tries) in a HUD<\/p>\n
– scoring display in a HUD – depending on your tools, set up the containers where you’ll display some gameplay stats<\/p>\n
This should be fast and get you up and running with the basics.<\/p>\n
2. \u00a0Next implement basic game play conditions and update your above scoring.<\/p>\n
If you get stuck on a game play mechanism or feature and end up coming close to the deadline, this should be where you cut features and finish with a basic playable game.<\/p>\n
3. \u00a0graphics, music, sound<\/p>\n
Once you have the basics in 2, you can add some flavor graphics and sound.<\/p>\n
After 3 you can go back and forth between #2 and #3 and the rest is just making your game better and better, but you have a “finished” game at any point in time. \u00a0At least this is my current theory, I’ll tell you how it works out next time. \u00a0<\/p>\n
And of course please vote on my game: UFO Invaders Love Steak<\/a>. \u00a0Sorry, you can’t save the cows.<\/p>\n ![\"UFOsLoveSteak\"](\"http:\/\/www.ludumdare.com\/compo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/UFOsLoveSteak-300x225.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>","time":"April 30th, 2013 3:13 am","title":"You can\u2019t save the cows"}