My Ludum dare this time was different from any previous entry. Earlier I had pretty clear ideas about the outcome, each theme was suited for me… but this time…. this time my 72 hour jam went pretty differently. Here’s some thoughts.

Day 1: “I think I just start drawing some pixel dudes”

• Realize the theme Connected Worlds gives me zero ideas
• Mind blank. Resort to plan B.
• Plan B: draw pixel vikings with a mighty beard
• Pretend that the theme is “Isolated” and start developing a survival game !!! POST-MORTEM REFLECTION: THIS WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP. I WOULD NOT HAVE AN LD48 JAM ENTRY IF I HADN’T STARTED WORKING ON SOMETHING !!!
• Realize vikings don’t live on an isle. They will live in a woods. Now. They want to build a settlement, a viking long house. For some reason.
• Get some ideas about the gameplay mechanics.
• Draw more pixel vikings and stones and whatnot.

Day 2: “I think I need to start coding…”

• Read bit of viking mythology, realize that Midgård and Valhalla would be good… realize that drawing new art has a great impact on where this game is going
• Work on mechanics: building, characters, long term goals (viking house), short term aid (food). Plan conflict (Valhalla creatures could attack them…?)
• Start writing code (it was very strange that I started writing code on the second day, I drew art and planned the concept the whole first day and half of the second day or so.)

Day 3: “Leeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrroooooooooooooooooooooyyyyy!!!”

• Concept is clear: Vikings want to build a long house settlement. They will encounter conflicts, bad weather and valhalla creatures. They will need to mine raw resources (wood, stone) and turn them into tools, buildings.
• Realize there’s no way all that can fit in
• Go on full LEEEEEEEEROOOOOY mode and get all the most important items in.
• Cut features.
• Forget UI. For example, selecting the “next item to build” was done using key E. I thought about that for like 2 seconds.
• Cut more features. Write code. Draw viking move animations. Finish strong.
• Who cares that Class instance of CameraHolder keeps track on resources which BuildingObject asks after receiving a message from some 3rd connected object. Also: Characters are now items too.
• Skip in-game instructions. Skip testing. Hope scoring works.
• SUBMIT THE ENTRY!

…and realize that right mouse click opens a context menu. That’s a pretty bad idea when right click is supposed to command the selected character.

But at least it’s done. I couldn’t get Valhalla creatures, nor bad weather, nor ice giants in… but it’s playable. Has goals. Some thinking. And those mighty bearded vikings.

And the most important step was to start working on something.

If you wanna try out my LD jam entry “Midgord Vikings”, feel free to play the web version or download here. If you have time, please test & comment. Thanks for reading.