To make playing our game easier, we've put together a web build for the game that you can now play from your browser instead of having to download it first.
You can find it on itch.io here:
https://stuckinaliftstudios.itch.io/krabs-killer-robotic-aquatic-battle-shockers
What's your gamedev background?
I'm a professional junior software developer, and I'm two thirds of the way through a part-time game design degree. I've done global game jam for the past five years, but this was my first Ludum Dare. I worked with two other students on my course who did the artwork and music.
What game did you make?
I made K.R.A.B.S. (https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/38/k-r-a-b-s) A local multiplayer fast paced action game in which you play as a robot hermit crab battling to collect the most resources before time runs out.
How did you come up with the concept and did you stick to it throughout the jam?
Honestly we spent far too many hours struggling to come up with an idea, finally settling on the idea of being a small creature trying to grow bigger and not be eaten. We quickly switched to making it local multiplayer. I don't question where my team's artists come up with their designs, I want to retain the little sanity I have remaining.
What was most challenging about the jam?
This jam went surprisingly smoothly, the only thing we had trouble with was getting the game playtested as it's a local multiplayer game and we spent most of the weekend working from our respective homes alone.
What was most enjoyable about the jam?
Getting into the flow of development is always incredibly rewarding, and the satisfaction of trying out new things and seeing them work is the best feeling. I had enormous fun making the visual effects like the lightning and electric sparks by playing with the particle system. Learning about unity's image post processing was also something I'll take away from this experience.
Are you satisfied with how things went?
Very. Global game jam always leaves me feeling exhausted and I've not always been happy with the games I've made at the end of it. I guess the extra day for Ludum Dare prevented that, and by keeping what we made simple, I wasn't fighting bugs in the final hours. There are of course things about the game I will probably go back to and improve, most notably the instructions screen, the game needs an options menu and a way to track scores over multiple rounds, as this ended up beyond the scope of what the time we had would allow.
What, if anything, would you do differently?
I would take the Monday off from work, trying to concentrate on my job while my mind wanted to focus on finishing a game wasn't productive for either task. Coming up with a concept sooner would probably be beneficial too.
It's rare that I end up falling in love with a game jam game. Most of the time I'm frustrated with the number of bugs and glitches that needs resolving, or otherwise unimpressed with how the mechanics I thought would be fun ended up playing out, and I end up too burned out to want to return.
This time it's different.
Although the game jam is long over, and what I'm currently working on isn't going to be released until after the judging and voting closes, (need to retain the 'competition' part of this somehow), I'm still continuing with the game we built at the weekend. Playing around with our existing mechanics to create new and interesting game modes. Putting in the ground work to have AI opponents so that our local multiplayer game has a single player option. I've spent the last couple of nights coming home from work to put together new and improved user interfaces (shown below), and I've got even more work lined up putting together a screen to allow players to customise their controls.
All the feedback our game has received so far is really helping us refine our work, and will eventually lead to a better experience for everyone. Even if you don't play our game in it's current state (which I still recommend you at least try to do so - find a friend, it's better that way), leave some feedback on the games you do play, you never know what your words might inspire.
Right now that I've said that, I need get on with playing other people's games and leaving feedback.
You can find K.R.A.B.S. here:
https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/38/k-r-a-b-s
K.R.A.B.S. is a local multiplayer game for two people. Do battle for control, become the biggest, defeat your opponent before time runs out!
Play it here https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/38/k-r-a-b-s
It's been rather exciting today watching our numbers slowly go up on our very first Ludum Dare game. If you haven't played K.R.A.B.S. yet, help us make it to 100 plays. You can find it here: https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/38/k-r-a-b-s
Things have been quiet from Stuck in a Lift Studios this week, as we battle other commitments in the form of university assignment deadlines and full time employment, however the weekend is before us, and there will finally be time for us to play and rate other people's games as well as continue developing our game K.R.A.B.S. (https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/38/k-r-a-b-s).
If you would like us to review your Ludum Dare entry, please drop a comment in response, and we'll get to it over the next couple of days.
It's been a year since I last participated in this event, but I've finally got the time to spare in between work, uni deadlines, and trying to launch the game I made in last year's jam. I'm working with some friends from uni again and I'm excited for what theme will be chosen, though only two so far are looking good. Either way, it will be another fun challenge, and another game to place in my portfolio or hide in a folder that no one but me will see or care about. See you all on the other side.
Gameplay still needs a bit more refining, currently finding that the game feels a bit too easy to win, so we're working on some new levels. Menus, music and sound effects are in though so that's a big plus.
The time has come when we're looking for some outside input on the monster we've created. If you've got a spare five minutes and you're willing to help us out we'd love to have your input, we will of course be more than willing to return the favour.
You can find a web playable build here
We're working hard to try and polish/balance our game. If you've got five minutes spare and don't mind leaving us some feedback, we'd most appreciate it. You can play the game on itch.io here.
Our game is done, and we're ready to be rated. We'd love to return the favour so let us know about your game and we'll be happy to play it and leave you some feedback!
You must be this thin to enter Best Korea!
If you'd like some feedback on your game, just comment to this post and I'll check it out this week. There's so many games being posted to the site that it's hard to keep track. Ideally web playable only as I'd prefer to not need to download your game.
If you'd like to return the favour you can find our game here.
I had a bit of time before work today, so I was able to catch up and play some more games. I'll be looking to rate more when I get back home this evening though, so if you'd like me to take a look at your game and leave you some feedback, just drop a link in the comments and I'll put it on my list.
If you'd like to return the favour you can find our game here.
I've been churning through the list of games to play I had, and I've run out. If you'd like some feedback on your game, please leave a comment below and I'll get to it soon.
If you'd like to see what we made you can check it out here.
I'm looking for more games to rate this evening, so if you'd like some feedback just drop a link in the comments below and I'll check it out and leave you a rating soon.
If you'd like to return the favour you can find our game here.
Loyalty to the State Intensifies!
*Feedback was received voluntarily and the government of Best Korea did not sponsor this game.
Leave a link in the description and I'll take some time to play your game, rate you, and leave you some written feedback during the week. I've seen so many great games doing this that I might have missed otherwise.
If you'd like to return the favour you can find our game here.
We hope you're having a good day. In Best Korea there are no such things as bad days.
If you've got a game that I can play in browser then post it below, I can't download or install anything so if it's not a web build it's not getting rated. I'll try to cover as many as possible in the next hour but I may have to leave some until I'm back home later.
If you'd like to return the favour and rate our game you can find it here.