This is going to be my first Ludum Dare. I’m pretty nervous.

Here are my choice for tools, libraries, etc. so far:

• Language:  C++
• IDE:  Visual Studio Express 2012
• Libraries:  SDL
• Art:  GIMP
• Platform: Windows

My goal for this competition is just to complete a game, and keep it simple. I want to work on scope control and focus. It will be a plus if I get any decent scores. I’m going to be spending most of my time until the start time making sure I can quickly bash out the basic code for setting up the windows, rendering, update, etc.

Here’s my game plan from the start time so far:

• Friday Night –  Saturday Night

1. Get basic program up and running [window, rendering, update, fps control, input].
2. Create a basic game state control [nothing too complicated].
3. Get something moving based of of input.
4. Plan the game elements I want to implement.
5. Break the game elements into there gameplay atoms, and check the scope of the game.
6. Start implementing the high priority gameplay atoms, such as movement, attacking, GUI, etc.
7. Get the core gameplay implemented.

• Sunday

1. Start polishing the game, and looking for bugs.
2. Add more/extend features if QA is finished early enough.
3. Finish quality control at least 2-3 hours before the end time.
4. Submit.

My current idea is to create a dungeon crawler style game, assuming it works with the theme. My priorities for the game are as follows:

1. Core Gameplay
2. Basic Art
3. Extended Gamplay
4. Polished Art
5. Sound/Music

I will be hosting my game on my website here:

http://benshutt.com/[Projects]/LD48-26/

Tags: 2D, C++, first compo, LD #26, LD#26, ld48, ld48_26, SDL, Visual Studio 2012