{"author_name":"PurpleMoustache","cat":"LD #26","comments":[],"epoch":1367084760,"likes":0,"metadata":{"p_key":"44885","p_author":"PurpleMoustache","p_authorkey":"20308","p_urlkey":"80543","p_title":"Solitary","p_cat":"LD #26","p_event":"LD26","p_time":"1367084760","p_likes":"0","p_comments":"0","p_status":"UPD5","us_key":"20308","us_name":"PurpleMoustache","us_username":"purplemoustache","event_start":"1366934400","event_key":"16","event_name":"LD26"},"text":"

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I have been using Twine to make games all throughout my 1 Game A Month personal challenge. When it came to doing my first ever Ludum Dare, I was a combination terrified, and excited. I had an idea ready for just about every theme. Except\u00a0Minimalism.<\/p>\n

The path of events that led to Solitary, was similar to this: panic, mild nausea, writing an idea, trying to go to bed, can’t go to bed due to a better idea, 2 hours of working on that idea, sleep, work, 6 mile walk, finish.<\/p>\n

Solitary is not as straightforward as some of the other “Minimalism” games that have come out so far, so I thought I would share my thoughts.<\/p>\n

Originally, the game was going to be a short, text based “Escape the room” type deal, you were given a bottle of water, and an energy bar, and that was it. The “bear minimums”. This turned out to be a terrible idea. Then I started thinking. I had played Porpentines “Howling Dogs” the other day, and what left the biggest impression on me was the sense of confusion and terror you get in the first 5 minutes. Where am I? Why am I in this room? Why am I being forced to do things? I wanted to make a game that expanded on that same sense of hopelessness, and keep people asking questions before the big reveal. The big reveal could have been done better, but the more I poked at it, the worse it got, so I kept it as it was.<\/p>\n

The game is minimalistic by having no sound, or visuals. The hyperlinks are just bolder than the regular text. This was thanks to a CSS Stylesheet I found through Porpentines Twine resource page. The room that serves as the central hub is very minimalistic. It contains a bed, a locked door, and walls. Thats it.<\/p>\n

Originally, there was going to be a subtle branching path system based on your daily actions in the room, but that didn’t seem to fit the theme, so it was scrapped.<\/p>\n

I also used minimal time, the grand total worked on the project is about 6 hours, much shorter than the 48 hours.<\/p>\n

I hope you all enjoy the game.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.ludumdare.com\/compo\/ludum-dare-26\/?action=preview&uid=20308<\/p>","time":"April 27th, 2013 12:46 pm","title":"Solitary"}