{"author_name":"csanyk","cat":"LD #23","comments":[],"epoch":1335228660,"likes":0,"metadata":{"p_key":"56115","p_author":"csanyk","p_authorkey":"10473","p_urlkey":"91835","p_title":"Postmortem: Bactarium","p_cat":"LD #23","p_event":"LD23","p_time":"1335228660","p_likes":"0","p_comments":"0","p_status":"UPD5","us_key":"10473","us_name":"csanyk","us_username":"\/author\/csanyk\/","event_start":"1334880000","event_key":"10","event_name":"LD23"},"text":"

play it!<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

I’ve written an extensive 3-part postmortem<\/a> on my web site, narrating my thought process as I worked through the weekend on my compo project, and describing in detail some of my programming techniques (no code, download my source to see that).<\/p>\n

Here’s the uber brief synopsis:<\/p>\n

What went well:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Really liked the bacteria behavior.<\/li>\n
  2. Good use of translucent graphics.<\/li>\n
  3. Very happy with the effects I achieved using stochastic functions.<\/li>\n
  4. The controls ended up working out pretty well — this was the first time I’d done a game where the controls are so indirect, and you control hundreds of objects.<\/li>\n
  5. Performance is good despite having a few thousand objects in play.<\/li>\n
  6. <3 Game Maker for rapid development<\/li>\n <\/ol>\n

    What went wrong:<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Didn’t get to complete all the features I’d planned.<\/li>\n
    2. Spent a lot more time debugging and tweaking the controls than I ever imagined I would need to.<\/li>\n
    3. Game is short. \u00a0<1min\/play is pretty typical.<\/li>\n
    4. Could be more depth to it, if I’d made it a little more complex by including some of the features I’d hoped to complete.<\/li>\n
    5. h8 Game Maker for debugging.<\/li>\n <\/ol>\n

      What I’d like you to know:<\/strong><\/p>\n

        \n
      1. This is the second weekend in a row that I built a game! \u00a0I’m taking a break next weekend:)<\/li>\n
      2. I’m really happy that I participated and completed my project.<\/li>\n
      3. I am looking forward to doing more of these.<\/li>\n
      4. Can’t wait to see people’s comments, find out how I ranked, and try other people’s games out!<\/li>\n <\/ol>\n \n

        Tags: Bactarium<\/a>, Chris Sanyk<\/a>, postmortem<\/a><\/p>","time":"April 23rd, 2012 7:51 pm","title":"Postmortem: Bactarium"}