{"author_name":"dcth","cat":"LD #18 - Enemies as Weapons - 2010","comments":[{"author_name":"stqn","time":"August 29, 2010 8:00 am","epoch":1283086800,"text":"Not bad for a one button game :).","spam":"N"}],"epoch":1283071440,"likes":0,"metadata":{"p_key":"69227","p_author":"dcth","p_authorkey":"2339","p_urlkey":"105030","p_title":"Postentry & postmortem","p_cat":"LD #18 - Enemies as Weapons - 2010","p_event":"LD18","p_time":"1283071440","p_likes":"0","p_comments":"1","p_status":"UPD5","us_key":"2339","us_name":"dcth","us_username":"dcth","event_start":"1282262400","event_key":"4","event_name":"LD18"},"text":"

Postentry<\/strong><\/p>\n

So I finish!!!!\u00a0Yeah, a little late, but I’m done.<\/p>\n

I know it couldn’t compete in the jam, but following that ultramotivational posters, I know this must get done.<\/p>\n

Cause I cant work the next 24 hours on the jam (monday agenda), I decide to pause my project and restart it the next weekend. So you can\u00a0play AWARENESS here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"screenshot1\"\"awareness<\/p>\n

Postmortem<\/strong><\/p>\n

The obvious subject I must talk is my entry delay. Since I didn’t design anything in the first 24 hours, this rans everything away; also I knew early that, surely, I couldn’t enter on the compo either the jam (cause I already had my Monday arranged). The only think I miss about not been applied were having a wide voting and people comments.<\/p>\n

The theme was a little bit hard to take from frontside, and my newcomer nervousness hindered me to adopt any design idea. I must admit that this isn’t one of my best game ideas (I doubt the whole thing while coding) but if I want to finish this game, I must convince myself and trust the instinct.<\/p>\n

I was distracted a lot, I went to the movies (to see predators), redrawing images 4 times, and spent hours on wikipedia ‘researching’… that adds presure when you don’t have your design ready.<\/p>\n

The design <\/strong>results in simple ideas:\u00a0a\u00a0short game (less than 5 minutes to play), use simple mechanics appealing on player’s physical dexterity, and allow him to ‘play’ with fake physics.\u00a0Aestheticaly I wanted that to make the player feels in control of the situation, even if he must react to the attacks; and provide an attractive challenge curve with little rewards.\u00a0The theme and graphics were\u00a0inspired by the\u00a0course of the golden flower<\/a> images<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Coding <\/strong>and drawing <\/strong>wasn’t a problem (even if they look messy). Besides an awful angle calculation issue, I feel confortable with flixel (it isn’t the 7th wonder, but helps you to work fast).\u00a0I felt confortable with the tools. The pipeline was very straight when things were clear: idea + calculation + draw (x4) + code + recalculation + code + (doubt) + grapich retouch + audio + code glace; and lot of playtesting.<\/p>\n

What do I learn and should do\/avoid on next LD’s (and other projects):<\/p>\n

– Finish what you start. Even if deadline is over, or the idea isn’t good enough for you damn perfectionist.<\/p>\n

– I must practice rapid\/random gamedesign.<\/p>\n

– Avoid distractions, use them as a weapon to clear your mind and let him think alone.<\/p>\n

Questions for you<\/strong><\/p>\n

Did you quit the compo, or didn’t finish on time? Why?\u00a0Do you agree with my first conclusion? Sounds fair for you?<\/p>\n

And did you play my game? What do you think about it?<\/p>","time":"August 29th, 2010 3:44 am","title":"Postentry & postmortem"}