SAVORY SEA HOSS ended up being a complete success for me. I say this for 3 very important reasons.
1) I set out to make a game with an objective that could actually be reached (unlike my LD16 entry), and I wanted to include SFX and MUSIC (unlike my LD16 entry)
2) I wanted to make something visually and mechanically unique
3) I wanted to make something FUN / FUNNY
I knew these 3 things before the theme was even being voted on. I decided this after LD16, when I looked back at what I had done wrong. For starters, I completely ignored my GOOFY instincts and tried to make something SUPER SERIOUS. I can do that sort of thing, but it doesn’t come as natural, thus taking MUCH longer to create as I’m constantly arguing with myself over how to handle certain things. By using my naturally goofy / ridiculous initial ideas for LD17, I was able to crank something out at rapid pace, with little to no difficult decision making. Everything just sort of fell out of my head and I didn’t second guess it.
Secondly, on my list of things that I screwed up during LD16, I failed to understand what was truly possible in 48 hours. The game I attempted to create in December of ’09 was simply impossible. Sure, I got most of the very basic framework down, but what I had in my head was SOOOOO far away from what ended up on my screen. I seriously had about 10 percent of my planned content realized in the actual released code. I didn’t make that mistake this time. Sure, there were some things that I didn’t have time to implement, but my list was MUCH smaller and more realistic. Any time I seriously questioned whether or not I could fit something in, I’d either scrap it or find a way around it. I stuck to my 5 core ideas and saw them through to the end, and it left me with time to add extras. Very awesome.
Lastly, I totally postponed the implementation of AUDIO for LD16. I postponed it so deep into the competition that it became an impossibility. My game was silent, which was something I REALLY wanted to avoid. For LD17, I made sure to implement SFX during my second phase of development on Saturday. Then, at the end of the day on Sunday, I had time to make a quick song and wrap it all up.
So what about LD17? What did I screw up this time?
First of all, I got a late start. I didn’t do a single thing on Friday night but sit in the IRC chat and try to come up with an idea. I sketched some junk on paper, played some games for inspiration, listened to some reggae, and basically wasted 4 good hours. I was seriously stumped, so I just went to sleep with serious doubts. I woke up the next morning, walked my dog, got something to eat, and sat down to look at my concept art from the night before. You see, I was going about it all wrong on Friday. I was making concept art and trying to think of a way to turn it into ‘game art’. HOW STUPID! My ART was already right there in front of me! So basically my concept art BECAME my game. That’s when I came up with the ‘Crayola’ / ‘Squigglevision’ art style for my game as a way to CHEAT. I could have a character with very little frames of actual animation, but the art style made it look 10 times more lively. WOOT.
So I drew the main character and some scenery, then I tweaked the player movement for several hours until I was satisfied.
But that’s all I had. A purple thing in a orange vest on a leaf floating in the water near an island.
I had NO IDEA what the actual gameplay would consist of until my brain muttered something about the “meat and potatoes” of my game. I immediately drew a potato and created a quick and dirty mechanic that allowed me to toss infinite potatoes into the air. For basically no reason. I then added some gravity, randomized the TOSSIN’ angle / speed, and created the water splash sprite. I didn’t even have time to really stop and think if it was even a good idea. It was already decided. My game would be a bout a purple guy in an orange vest on a leaf… in the ocean… near some islands… throwing food into the air.
AND SO SAVORY SEA HOSS WAS BORN
It made no sense, but I giggled the entire time, and I had a friggin’ blast. I learned a A LOT during LD17, and I can’t express how grateful I am that this entire thing exists. Ludum Dare is the single most powerful learning experience I’ve ever had in game design. It’s almost magical.
No, fuck that.
It IS magical.
Thank you, Ludum Dare.
NOW…. ON TO SOME GAME COMMENTS AND RESPONSES
crackerblocks says …
a tour de force!
Coming from YOU, that is amazing. Your LD16 entry was HANDS DOWN, my absolute favorite. It was pure genius. Hilarity at my fingertips. Most LD games get one playthrough… TWO if they’re lucky. I replayed EL DORADO like 40 times in one night. And as for your LD17 entry, I recently found out that I REALLY like hockey, so I couldn’t have been more pleased with your game. I hope to see you around for LD18 and beyond.
dgfitch says …
EPIC.
LOL
I wouldn’t describe my game as EPIC at all, but I’m thrilled that you did. Thanks for playing and thanks for the comment.
Tyler says …
Love the art style. I really wish you had more levels/gameplay, but the art certainly compensates.
Yeah, I have some GREAT ideas for where I want to go with this game, and it definitely includes MORE MORE MORE of everything. I’m glad you dig the art so much. Thanks for the comment!
Jonathan Whiting says …
Completely and utterly nuts, but in the great way.
Now THAT’S what I want to hear. Speaking of nuts, I had an idea for one of the castaways to yell, “HEY! PEANUTS!” and then you’re suddenly wearing a red and white striped outfit and you have to toss bags of peanuts at him for bonus points while the background randomly changes into a baseball stadium. Kind of like a MIRAGE type thing. Yeah. NOT POSSIBLE IN 48 HOURS. lol
Diet Chugg says …
Forget logic kill all the survivors! Simple and Hilarious game. I had a feeling it was going to be funny just by reading the instructions. The music was great would of loved to see some humorous sound effects added.
SIMPLE and HILARIOUS is certainly what I wanted to achieve, so I’m really happy that you say that. I’m glad you also liked the music. It was not easy trying to crank out a song in under 30 minutes to fit this type of theme. The one thing I had to cut from the game that was pretty high on my EXTRAS list were the hilarious sound effects. It’s certainly something I’ll be adding in the ‘final’ game.
If you haven’t played my game, I’d love it if you’d do that right now. And comment. I love that, too.
http://www.ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-17/?action=rate&uid=1365
Alright. I’m off to play and rate some more games. Thanks for reading/playing. See you guys in that FYOOOOOOCHA!!!
Mmm.