Still not sure it’s really what you’d call a game. Maybe you’d call it an art game… It’s on track to be finished though, I’m hoping. Here’s a screenshot:

It’s submitted! Not really sure if it’s any good… or if it’s actually a game. But it seems to work. I’m fairly happy with how it turned out, though I think the concept is better than the execution.

Still, it’s been fun. You can try it here: http://www.ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-28/?action=preview&uid=30043

So an unexpectedly fun part of taking part in Ludum Dare is getting to rate loads of great games. Awesome work to everyone that took part. I’ve yet to play a game which hasn’t impressed me.

How it went

The first thing to say is that it was great fun to make a game and be part of something like ludum dare. The community is excellent, and throughout the whole process I felt as though I was taking part in something huge.

It’s been fun to play other people’s games and see what they created. I think making any game in 48 hours is an achievement, but some games are really incredible, given the time span.

One of the best things for me so far has been the help and feedback I’ve received from the community. It’s nice to see people enjoying the game, and it’s useful to get criticism and think about what I can improve.

On that note, here’s a run down of what went well, and what could have been improved. If you want to play the game further before you read further, my page is here – http://www.ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-28/?action=preview&uid=30043

What went well

I was mostly happy just to finish on time. It looked doubtful for a while, and some simple things took longer than I wanted, probably because I’m still very new to programming.

Looking at comments though people mostly got what the game was about, and thought that it fit the theme. This was a relief as I wasn’t sure it’d be obvious how the game fit with the theme.

What didn’t go well

The main problem is that ‘Listen’ isn’t much of a game. I’d always wanted it to be a tad boring, but I had hoped to add in more interaction.

Another problem is the sound. That dull thud/pop is supposed to be a clock ticking, and my inexperience with sound really shows here.

Conclusion

Overall the process was great fun and I’d love to do it again. I’ve learned a lot,and had a great time. Thanks to everyone who’s given he help and feedback, it’s greatly appreciated. If you’d like to play my game, you can find it here: http://www.ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-28/?action=preview&uid=30043

This is the first LD I can take part in for a while, so I’m glad the theme is something I can work with. I’m debating whether to use Game Maker or Java… which probably means I’ll wuss out and use Game Maker.

Really looking forward to making something, and to seeing what everyone else can do. Good luck!

I had a lot less time this weekend than I hoped I would, so it looks like I won’t make the deadline. I learnt a lot about some of Game Maker’s more advanced features and I’ll continue to work on the game until its finished. Looking forward to seeing what everyone else can do!

Something about Ludum Dare makes me really want to make games quickly. I’ve tried other game jams but the feeling is just not the same. Maybe it’s the scale. Maybe it’s the history. When I take part in Ludum Dare I’m able to work so much faster than ever. I love this jam. The basic workings of my game are already in place. Time for bed now…

Good luck everyone!

The game has been making some good progress. It’s just that the game is taking much longer than I thought. The major problem is getting hung up with minor bugs. As it stands I won’t be able to improve my graphics… so I’ll have to make the game extra good…

Actually insane?

Apparently impossible?

Awful idea?

Answer on a postcard…

My game is finally done!

I scaled back the AI, made do with awful graphics, and ignored a few minor bugs. But it’s done! I would really love any feedback at all, so please let me know what you think.

Looking forward to playing everyone’s games!

It’s almost two weeks since I made Two Islands, and I’ve had some interesting feedback.

Firstly, here are the problems with the game:

• Two difficult to understand at first
• Little (or no) tutorial
• No sound
• Too easy

This is all really good, and more or less what I had expected. I was a little surprised to see that people wanted a tutorial. I agree that the game is difficult to understand but it seems unusual for a 48 hour game to have any kind of tutorial.

The feedback was generally positive though, and people seemed willing to put in some patience, for which I was very grateful. For the first time I actually found one of my own games fun, which is a benefit.

Given extra time, I’d have worked on the AI more. If I were to start again, I’d probably leave out AI altogether. It’s a lesson learned though – 48 hours is not enough to create challenging and interesting AI.

If you’re interested in playing Two Islands, you can find it here.

So you can pick up boxes now… still not quite right but I like how it’s going. The movement is pretty much working, I feel like I should get it sorted in time. Here’s a gif of what I have so far. Doesn’t seem to work until you click it:

Seems ok! I’ll keep posting progress as I go, really looking forward to seeing what other people can do.

Glad to get my game finished, but sad at the same time because I had a lot of fun making it. First one with music! If you want to try it out, check it out here:

http://ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-31/?action=preview&uid=30043

Thanks!

Last time I planned to enter a Ludum Dare, I felt that the theme was not workable enough to continue. Hopefully this time I’ll be able to work with the theme which is selected.

I may try using a new language for this jam… I’ve been working with Javascript, but not for game development. If not it will be trusty ol’ Game Maker!