{"assets":[],"author_link":"author\/gameproducer\/","author_name":"sandbaydev","cat":"LD #30","categories":["LD #30"],"comments":[],"epoch":1409085840,"event":"LD30","likes":20,"metadata":{"p_key":"81870","p_author":"sandbaydev","p_authorkey":"0","p_urlkey":"290987","p_title":"\u201cMind blank\u2026 I\u2019ll just draw some pixel vikings\u201d (here\u2019s how my ludum dare went)","p_cat":"LD #30","p_event":"LD30","p_time":"1409085840","p_likes":"20","p_comments":"0","p_status":"WAYBACK","us_key":null,"us_name":null,"us_username":null,"event_start":"1408665600","event_key":"24","event_name":"LD30"},"source_url":"2014\/08\/26\/mind-blank-i-will-draw-some-pixel-vikings\/","text":"<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ludumdare.com\/compo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/how_not_to_ludum_dare.png\"><img alt=\"how_not_to_ludum_dare\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-388032\" height=\"224\" src=\"http:\/\/www.ludumdare.com\/compo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/how_not_to_ludum_dare-550x224.png\" width=\"550\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>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\u2026 but this time\u2026. this time my 72 hour jam went pretty differently. Here\u2019s some thoughts.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Day 1: \u201cI think I just start drawing some pixel dudes\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Realize the theme Connected Worlds gives me zero ideas<\/li>\n<li>Mind blank. Resort to plan B.<\/li>\n<li><i>Plan B: draw pixel vikings with a mighty beard<\/i><\/li>\n<li>Pretend that the theme is \u201cIsolated\u201d and start developing a survival game <b><i>!!! POST-MORTEM REFLECTION: THIS WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP. I WOULD NOT HAVE AN LD48 JAM ENTRY IF I HADN\u2019T <u>STARTED WORKING ON SOMETHING<\/u> !!!<\/i><\/b><\/li>\n<li>Realize vikings don\u2019t live on an isle. They will live in a woods. Now. They want to build a settlement, a viking long house. For some reason.<\/li>\n<li>Get some ideas about the gameplay mechanics.<\/li>\n<li>Draw more pixel vikings and stones and whatnot. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ludumdare.com\/compo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/vikings_bigger_ld_entry_blog.png\"><img alt=\"vikings_bigger_ld_entry_blog\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-388038\" height=\"152\" src=\"http:\/\/www.ludumdare.com\/compo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/vikings_bigger_ld_entry_blog-550x152.png\" width=\"550\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Day 2: \u201cI think I need to start coding\u2026\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Read bit of viking mythology, realize that Midg\u00e5rd and Valhalla would be good\u2026 realize that drawing new art has a great impact on where this game is going<\/li>\n<li>Work on mechanics: building, characters, long term goals (viking house), short term aid (food). Plan conflict (Valhalla creatures could attack them\u2026?)<\/li>\n<li>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.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ludumdare.com\/compo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/ld_viking_entry.png\"><img alt=\"ld_viking_entry\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-388039\" height=\"171\" src=\"http:\/\/www.ludumdare.com\/compo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/ld_viking_entry-550x171.png\" width=\"550\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Day 3: \u201cLeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrroooooooooooooooooooooyyyyy!!!\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>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.\n<\/li>\n<li>Realize there\u2019s no way all that can fit in\n<\/li>\n<li>Go on full LEEEEEEEEROOOOOY mode and get all the most important items in.\n<\/li>\n<li>Cut features. <\/li>\n<li>Forget UI. For example, selecting the \u201cnext item to build\u201d was done using key E. I thought about that for like 2 seconds.\n<\/li>\n<li>Cut more features. Write code. Draw viking move animations. Finish strong.<\/li>\n<li>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.\n<\/li>\n<li>Skip in-game instructions. Skip testing. Hope scoring works.<\/li>\n<li>SUBMIT THE ENTRY!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u2026and realize that right mouse click opens a context menu. That\u2019s a pretty bad idea when right click is supposed to command the selected character.<\/p>\n<p>But at least it\u2019s done. I couldn\u2019t get Valhalla creatures, nor bad weather, nor ice giants in\u2026 but it\u2019s playable. Has goals. Some thinking. And those mighty bearded vikings.<\/p>\n<p>And <strong>the most important step was to start working on something<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><i>If you wanna try out my LD jam entry \u201cMidgord Vikings\u201d, feel free to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ludumdare.com\/compo\/ludum-dare-30\/?action=preview&amp;uid=2926\" title=\"ludum dare page\">play the web version or download here<\/a>. If you have time, please test &amp; comment. Thanks for reading.<\/i><\/p>","time":"August 26th, 2014 8:44 pm","title":"\u201cMind blank\u2026 I\u2019ll just draw some pixel vikings\u201d (here\u2019s how my ludum dare went)","title_was_empty":false}