This is my first time doing something like this, but I’m going to try my hardest and hope to have a lot of fun!

I’ll be using Love2D to code and probably a few of their open libraries, and I’ll make all the content in GiMP probably.

Tools

Regarding the tools I will use for Ludum Dare, this is what I will use:

IDE/Editor
I’ll probably try and use Xcode, but only if I get the lua syntax working inside it, otherwise I’ll stick to Text Wrangler.

Graphics
For graphics I will most likely use Photoshop, because GiMP on Lion is really crap and my old favourite Pixen keeps crashing.

Music/Sound FX
I think like most people, I will be using sfxr for sound effects. And maybe at the end, I might make some music on LSDJ.

Coding

And now this is what I’ll be using to program.

Language
I’ll be using Love2D, which is a 2D game engine built on Lua , I haven’t used it for too long but It’s a really nice language and I think a nice simple game will be fun in it.

Libraries
If I make a top-down tile based game (Very Very Likely) then I will be using AdvTiledLoader to parse maps from Tiled and to also help me with collisions.

For the sound, there’s a nice little library called TESound which is nice to work with as it’s so clear.

Other than them definite ones, I may use LoveUI and a few others I decide when I know what I’m doing.

I’ve made some progress!
I have the tile map drawn, and a sprite that can move around the map!

Also with basic collisions!

Tags: alone, cryptix, progress

I thought I’d a few more things to the look, like a void behind the map so it doesn’t look too plain and a nice vignette to give it a mood.

You can now walk around the area and collect coins!
It’s displayed in the HUD at the bottom.
This isn’t the aim of the game, but you collect them throughout and it’s just something else to do while you play.

Here’s a .app for any mac users that wanna walk around
Download .app

I now have a name for the game! “I’m, Alone.”

It will be about exploring this random area you arrive in, alone!

There will be mini puzzles and hopefully it will be good.

Here’s a preview:

Okay, I’ve just added moving rocks. They will work like pokemon strength so you push them using space into the hole.

Here’s a puzzle I just made (it’s basic so maybe the first one)

I’ve done a bit so far
And I just wanted to let people play it at the moment and see what it’s like.

Mac OS X

Windows

.love

You can now move water!

And other cool things!

I’m starting to build more of a little story and a structure to the gameplay, although it will be simple I hope to have people hooked for a while .

And if you have any suggestions about anything, just ask!

I’m adding(I haven’t finished it fully yet) the second and last level/map/area to the game, it’s called the VOID and the story will show why.

It’s sort of an abandoned area which will be described later 😉

It will have puzzles and confusing signs that don’t help you

I’ve changed the way how keys appear, they are now like coins as they show in the HUD.

Here’s a screenshot:

Okay, it’s been a while since Ludlum dare and I thought I may as well do one of these as I have some time on my hands.

So here is what I think of my game :

Graphics
I thought graphics were the strongest part of the game as they were the parts I spent most time perfecting (to my style). It may be really common to have that style of tiles or whatever but I really wanted to have a go at creating a low-res game and I thought they were okay at the end.

If I had more time though, I would of spent even more time on the graphics. I would of probably made the tiles 16×16 so I could add more detail in and maybe add more effects.

Gameplay
The gameplay was bearable in my mind, it wasn’t too complex(well I don’t think so), and I didn’t try and make it really hard for the player either. But I have a long way to go with gameplay ideas, as this is my first ever game, so it won’t be great.

I had this idea in mind a few hours into the competition and just sort of went with it, and I hope people liked it as I did. But I do think over time, I will understand more about game design and level design so they will get better in the future.

Sound
The sounds in the game were pretty much rushed because I wanted them in the game, but didn’t have enough time to perfect them. This also goes with the music, if I done it again I would of spent maybe an hour longer on this to make sure it suited the mood.

Cross Compatibility
I thought I had this under control, as I knew LOVE2D would work on Mac, Windows and Linux. But for some reason when I was compiling some windows users were having trouble playing. As far as I could tell from researching the problems it was to do with old integrated graphics and some could be probably fixed by updating the drivers. But oh well, maybe next time I’ll properly test an engine before I do another 48hour competition. 😉

Overall
Mainly, I think the game went well because as I said it is my first game and to me any good comment makes it worthwhile. I did it to try and help me learn LOVE2D better and it did! The idea of Ludum Dare is very effective and helped me more in them 2 days more than my whole time with the engine.

So that’s what I think of my game,and maybe if you haven’t checked it out yourself you can do a quick play now?

Play Here.

Tags: cryptix, first, game, im, where

I am definitely in for this one!

I will most likely be using LOVE2D or Stencyl, I haven’t really decided yet.

The graphics will be made in Photoshop, sounds in BFXR and music probably garage band or maybe LSDJ depends on what style it is.

I’m starting to actually build my game now after a tiny sleep, I’m not going to say much about it as it will most likely change soon, but its set to be a mini adventure.
here’s a screen shot of me testing the tiles (it’s not meant to look good yet)

Here’s a quick video, mainly to show you the music i just quickly done.

View here.

So, yeah. I’m in!

I don’t have a clue what tools/devices/anything i will be using, I will figure that all out today. I will need to pick between Java, Lua, and a few others. I could even  use Stencyl! which may look like its for beginners, but it can produce good games!

So thats it, I’m out!

For this Ludum Dare, I have decided to steal my girlfriends breakfast bar. I hope she isn’t hungry for the next 48 hours!

Ive got a nice little basic level now!

I’ve finished my first few hours of fun to get myself started for tomorrow! I have a basic idea, sprites, and working on expanding the tilemap.

I have mud, grass, water and fire. But all with different shading options, and shapes, etc.

Here’s a demo level with water:

Here is a preview of fire:

Biovolve Preview

Check out a little .mov of the animations in my game