I’m in for my first Ludum Dare this weekend. Looking forward to doing this! I guess I should list my tools and base code like everyone else:

Code: JavaScript/HTML5 in Notepad++

Libraries: CreateJS

Audio: sfxr, Diatonic Composer, Audacity

Graphics: Paint.net

I have some base code as well. I’m not sure I’ll use it (it’s genre specific), but I’ll post it just in case. It’s a primitive platform engine. Collision and jumping – not much else. Download it here.

Good luck to everyone!

I’ll do this fast – just a few thoughts on my first ever participation in Ludum Dare. I entered the 48 hour combo and ended up creating Sun Bringers.

The Good:

• I came up with something pretty original, which kept me motivated through all 48 hours. I was excited to see and play the result. I would not have been as motivated if I didn’t feel my idea was new.
• CreateJS is a very accessible framework to work with, when you are used to ActionScript 3. Using it was a success. I might have been able to create more using ActionScript 3, but I like to learn new things.
• I’m very happy with the tileset I made. It’s not that the quality is that great, but I really wasn’t sure I could even create one – so I was quite happy when I did. Pickle is a nice tool for this kind of work.

The Bad:

• The design required me to build levels. Doing so takes time. Especially without a level editor – because then it’s just an array of ones and zeros. I ended up creating just five levels. I did have the time to create maybe twice as many, but in the end I chose to have only levels that introduced new game play elements.
• No tutorial. The game is simple, but a few hints would have been nice – like telling the player that he should use two different Sun Bringers to clear level 3. I’m sure many people gives up at that point, even though the solution is simple.
• I didn’t work effectively through all 48 hours. I did sleep for 6 hours – fair enough. But watching my time lapse also show a surprising amount of idling at times when I should have been awake. Knowing this, I should be able to put a few more hours into my production next time.

Conclusion:

Participating in Ludum Dare was a great experience. Finishing a game in a weekend is an awesome feeling, even when the game isn’t the best you have created. Sun Bringers has a pretty good basic idea I think. Creating a creature and letting him loose in a tiny platform puzzle world hoping he can solve it by himself. The execution could be much better in all areas of course, but in the end I’m satisfied with what I achieved in 48 hours.

I’m in for my second Ludum Dare this weekend. Not sure I can reach either top 100 overall or top 50 innovation again, but I’ll try!

Code: JavaScript/HTML5 in Notepad++
Libraries: CreateJS
Audio: sfxr, Audacity
Graphics: Paint.net

I have some base code as well. It’s a primitive platform game engine. Not sure I’ll use it though, but check it out here if you want.

Good luck to everyone!

So, I’m done! My second Ludum Dare has been a success, as I managed to complete a game again. This time I didn’t go all in on innovation, though I think at least the evolution part of my game is pretty original.

I was worried when I saw the theme, and it took me several hours to come up with an idea I could make playable in less than 48 hours. What I came up with, was the idea that your spaceship (in a shmup) would evolve depending on how you played. If you shoot a lot, your spaceship gets better at shooting. Same for movement. I would have had the shields and thrusters evolve too, but I didn’t have time for that. Still, I think the idea gets out.

I have had great fun creating my first ever shmup, and it has been a pleasure following you all on Twitter (#LD48). I can’t wait to play what everyone has created!

Here is a link to my entry:

I’m in for my third Ludum Dare this weekend. Let’s do this.

Code: JavaScript/HTML5 in Notepad++
Libraries: CreateJS
Audio: sfxr, Audacity
Graphics: Paint.net

I have some base code as well. Not sure I’ll use it though, but feel free to check it out here if you want.

Good luck to everyone!

So indeed this ended up a little unconventional…

Didn’t really have 48 hours to give, so I made something really small and really silly. I think it provides a good five minutes of solid fun though

But judge for yourself – here is my entry: Grow My Thing

Good luck and good night everyone!

Alright, I got this little gif of my game to share with you.

Try the game and give it your votes

Grow My Thing