Hello developers!

My name is Mauno Vähä, I am programmer by work and hobby, and I am here to give #LDJAM a try.

As a background, I have done some #GGJ’s previously (+ some other game jams), but I have never tried #LDJAM.

That being said, my expectations are high, but at the same time, I really don’t what to expect. 😀

But, if I have learned anything from previous game jams, I try to keep things simple (KISS) and just make a game which is playable + fun.

Therefore, I will be probably using at least following tools:

• GameMaker Studio – Fast to prototype and to make games with
• Photoshop – I have used it waaaaaaaaaay too long, so it’s best choice for graphics
• Sounds – I have no idea, something which I need to decide while doing the game, all suggestions welcome!

So, this is the end of this short post, I look forward to the gamejam and playing the games which are created during the weekend.

Cheers!

Tags: ld32

Hello.

A quick update where I am after hmm.. around 12 hours since I started.

After making list of game ideas, I thought that funniest could be a game about swapping body parts or using of godlike powers.

That being said, I actually wanted to get into coding phase fast and started prototyping sort of a platformer game.

( See as animation: https://twitter.com/maunovaha/status/589375545198149633 )

However, I very quickly realized that everyone is making platformer games and I didn’t want to do that. Also, I got a bit scared about the fact that platformer games usually needs a lot of level design, which is something I don’t have time to do. In short, I now believe that most of my game ideas were good – but not good enough to be game jam ideas. I decided that I need something smaller and simpler.

Therefore, I threw my platformer prototype to trash and started to make Ultima -style 2d tile-based game. Why? because I love tile-based games. 😀

( See as animation: https://twitter.com/maunovaha/status/589480823407124480 )

However, even though I did, I am still a bit unsure about my final idea. I have currently a plan of making godlike powers -game which has shrines which attract enemies. But, I still need to design whole story and the unconventional weapons around that. (yikes!)

In conclusions, I did some experiments and I have now something running on the screen with dummy graphics. Next, I just need to turn it to a fun game, which won’t be easy.

Cheers.

Tags: ld32

Hello..

To keep this short: time is running out for me.. and yet again – I am not exactly sure why?

Maybe, because I spent too much time to try to force program tile-based movement with game maker without relying internal AI path finding.. or maybe because my legs became numb at the other night and I just couldn’t continue… Or maybe, because I had hard time figuring out what kind of game I am going to make??

Well, luckily, I have something up and running so far.

I am developing Ultima -style 2d tile-based game called “Protector Of  The Shrine” in which you – as a player – need to (surprise, surprise) protect the shrine from the flow of enemies.

What is the catch? What is the unconventional weapon?

So far, because I wan’t to keep the game RPG-ish I have decided that weapons will be few skills from different gods.

For instance, you have a singing skill which places instant fear to enemies… also, you can shoot a love arrow which makes enemies to make love with each other.

That being said, it’s not even implemented yet …. back to coding…..

Tags: ld32

Hello.

I am pleased to say, that “Protector Of The Shrine” is now released.

( Play: http://ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-32/?action=preview&uid=41499 )

This was my first #LDJAM entry and releasing it felt like impossible job at some point – I had so much work to be done. That being said, the game is pretty raw considering all the ideas which I thought I could have time to implement: three unconventional skills – instead of one.. good graphics, animations… etc.. etc…

Hence, I now think that my biggest mistake were that I wasn’t ready for this game jam; I wasted too much time at the beginning of the game jam to sleep and just to come up with the idea which I should make? Around 10 hours or something? That’s ridiculous.. right? Near the end I had only two hours to make graphics at all. Hence, I now feel that #LDJAM (compo) is a lot more challenging than some of the other game jams I have participated, like #GGJ as you can have a team of developers, or at least someone other than you which makes the graphics and/or sounds.

Regardless, I am still happy that I could get the game released, because it’s always better to release something, than end up with nothing at all.

But anyway’s, this game jam is now over. And as a final note, you can also find me from twitter as @maunovaha – I’ll tweet about gamedev and programming. Mostly about game jams when I am doing them.

Cheers!

Tags: ld32, postmortem

Hi fellow gamedevs!

I recently participated to #indiesvsgamers gamejam and developed a simple game, and thought that I could share it here as well.

In summary, I wanted to create arcade -style sports game which pays homage to old nintendo games such as “track and field”. As it stands now, the game has only hurdling as a sport. But, it could be easily extended if people want’s to. The game uses gamejolt high scores API and the results has been interesting to see as a developer; I am not even close to be a best player. 😀

Have a fun playing it, plus it would be awesome if you drop a comment & rate it. After all, gamedev is a learning process.

Play link: http://gamejolt.com/games/chubby-olympics/80249

Cheers!

Tags: #indiesvsgamers, GameJam

Hi all,

I am pleased to say that I managed to finish my game on time.. well, “on time” meaning that before the jam -category (at least).

Maybe some postmortem or comparison to my previous (first) ldjam game could be in place, but now I just wan’t to go sleep :D.

Go check it out, drop a comment and let’s play each others games! See ya later!

Cheers.

Tags: ld34