FoonLudum Dare ExplorerLD27 → Bit-ship Ld27 By lcass

Bit-ship Ld27 By lcass

By lcass

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CategoryRankScoreCount
Coolness1100
Innovation3843.20
Audio7532.16
Graphics7572.57
Overall8322.77
Humor8641.71
Mood9132.23
Fun10512.20
Theme10912.34

Comments

croze 2013-08-26 02:49

Cool game and idea, but was not user friendly.

senevri 2013-08-26 02:56

Couldn't get it to work - shows a screen, but no matter what I try, the most I get is a beep.

bushmango3 2013-08-26 02:57

This seems like it would be really fun if I could get it to work... could you upload a YouTube video or something explaining the basics to getting started?

lambda_express 2013-08-26 03:00

java -jar bit-shipforludum.jar
Exception in thread "main" java.lang.UnsupportedClassVersionError: com/lcass/bitship/core/core : Unsupported major.minor version 51.0

lcass 2013-08-26 03:01

Sure. I have to sleep now but I will make one for you guys in the mornin.

lcass 2013-08-26 03:03

What version of java are you using? this was made in Java 7.

zuige 2013-08-26 03:13

Seems like a fascinating piece of video gaming, but just couldn't figure out how to play. Maybe some tutorials?

wrongcoder 2013-08-26 03:48

Seconding the request for a video. It looks like it could be quite fun but it needs a tutorial.

caranha 2013-08-26 03:57

That is a very very neat idea that you have. I love the concept "build your ship, then fight!".

Of course, there is a long way to go for your game to be really playable, and many things to talk about it.

I will try to give only one piece of advice:

When explaining something complex, I think that you should first start by explaining what the "goal/end state" is, and after that you explain how to get there.

For example, you have this huge manual above, but only in the very last line it says that you can "press P to fight other ships", I almost missed it.

I suggest you re-organize your manual. Start by explaining that in this game you build ships and then use them to fight other ships. Then say that the game has three states - and what they do! After all of that, start explaining how building works.

If you have a good manual, even the most complex games become playable :-)

Cheers! And I hope to see more from this game.

ethankennerly 2013-08-26 04:28

The menu of items to build, which reminded me of a level editor interested me! If you continue to develop this, have you considered showing the keyboard shortcuts on the menu and simplifying how to start, maybe with the first level already constructed?

heroesgravedev 2013-08-26 06:18

I didn't know what to do, even though I read the tutorial

lcass 2013-08-26 10:50

Well ethan I had that as my origonal idea but I ran out of time.

lcass 2013-08-26 11:03

Some of the stuff in there just took soo long.

lcass 2013-08-26 16:43

Ok so ive created a youtube tutorial for it link is up by the links. enjoy.

umu 2013-08-26 19:51

This is really impressive for something made in 2 days. It's so complicated that I don't really feel like I can make proper sense of it mechanically right now. Ideally I would spend about an hour figuring out how everything works.

But man, concept and execution are very impressive. I'm not sure what it has to do with the theme though :p

lcass 2013-08-26 20:02

all the cooldowns are 10 seconds

gnecro1 2013-08-26 21:48

not user friendly. i dont see how does it fit the theme but it is still a cool game :D

bipolarmike 2013-08-27 17:23

I think that a 20 minute tutorial is a bit much, especially for a Ludum Dare game, haha. I can tell you have big ideas and big plans for this one, I hope it turns out well!

krides 2013-08-27 17:39

Doesn't seem to work on my Mac.

lcass 2013-08-27 17:42

Sergey run it through the command line you may have a different version of java.

loxo 2013-08-27 17:50

Great game, I like it very much. It's a bit complicated, though. But the tutorial video made it much easier. Only the mixed keyboard/mouse controls remain confusing, because I always forget to use the keyboard instead of the mouse. So I've put some blocks behind the controls :)

psema4 2013-08-27 18:06

Definitely watch the tutorial before playing. Love ship-building - this is one of my favorite entries so far.

lcass 2013-08-27 19:15

Thank you for the support guys. I will be updating it as a full game go check out javagaming.org for the page on it. will be up soon!

klianc09 2013-08-27 19:59

This could be a very strategy heavy game, but as it is, it's only about "who can patiently wait the longest until he got enough energy generators to create a battleship"
The 10-second delay outside of battles seemed unnecessary, since you have unlimited time building. I had a hard time telling the different factories apart. And why would I make a floor if it only made my ship burn more easily?

But if you made some tweaks to the gameplay (and made it easier to understand), it could be a great strategy game.

lcass 2013-08-27 21:09

Most of the reason for this is time, I ran out. Floors are used for borgs they require them to move on.

dioiminik 2013-08-27 21:10

Doesn't run on osx (Maybe java version 1.6 is to old?)

dioiminik 2013-08-27 21:11

nvm didn't read that you already posted it wouldn't run using 1.6 :P

hoqjed 2013-08-27 21:33

Right, as some previous posters have mentioned the learning curve is quite steep. That said, it's pretty impressive how much was put into this game in such a short amount of time.

The video tutorial was extremely helpful in picking up the game to get started playing. Without the video I was basically clicking and trying to figure out how to control the game.

Now controls should definitely be mentioned here because the keyboard/mouse combo was pretty awkward for me to get accustomed to.

That said, if you invest a little time into the game it's interesting. Complex to pick up though. Ideally the game should be user friendly enough to allow someone to come in, click around and figure some things out. Not everything mind you, but get the gist of the game. I would work on user friendliness on this and future projects, it deters quite a few people not explaining the game in the game... if that makes sense

-Dylan Gallardo

joxno 2013-08-27 21:35

Really rough around the edges but it's to be expected for a scope of this game to make in 48 hours, all I can say is that I had a lot of fun with it, amazing, well done!

lcass 2013-08-27 23:04

Thanks for the support and suggestions I will take everything into account upon my next ludum.

kaype 2013-08-27 23:16

I like it.

I noticed you made it in Java, I might toy around with the code for it.

lcass 2013-08-27 23:23

I think the source may be the buggy version with the projectiles not calling the destroy() functions. Its still fully functional go ahead.

sh1rogane 2013-08-28 20:34

Very interesting entry but not the most user friendly, the tutorial help alot, it is a good game but really hard to get in to.

kristof 2013-08-28 22:11

Wow that is a really great idea and a lot of work must have been gone into this. I often thought of making a game where you build your own ship. However games kind of have to explain themselves in my opinion. Especially in a context like this compo people will not take the time to learn such a complex game. But this is a great start.

awppy 2013-08-28 23:37

I really wish you could click on a tile to select it, as that is my natural instinct and I did so several times, placing tiles I shouldn't have placed. It was a bit overwhelming and complicated, which is a bit of a burden for most people. I think the learning curve can easily put someone off.

I played around a bit after watching the tutorial, but still didn't fully understand what I was doing or what my objective was :(

laelien 2013-08-29 00:10

Really awesome. I mean it. Probably needs a little more in-game explanation, and I've got the feeling that power sometimes just disappears when weapons are destroyed.
But it's freakin' awesome all the way. Congrats. 2 days just to do this ? Man, a lot of people must feel bad now XD

lcass 2013-08-29 00:23

Yer the power is a bit glitchy sometimes. Ha.

khaotom 2013-08-29 10:39

Very ambitious project!

crowbeak 2013-08-29 10:43

I have but one critique, which is that your next game have more focus on a good user interface. Good luck!

lcass 2013-08-29 10:44

Yer, For this one I made it key controlled simply because it was less of a hastle to code. I have big plans for the new version.

mort96 2013-08-29 11:33

Really cool - if only it was more user friendly. Some visual candy could do too.

ratalaika 2013-08-29 15:57

good job

iiechapman 2013-08-30 03:40

I am having trouble, I think it is not working properly on my end, I would love a gameplay video because this game is very intriguing

solifuge 2013-08-31 03:14

I like it. A very ambitious and impressive project for the 48-hour time frame. Also, you sound a lot younger than I expected. Good work on this!

I've been looking for a finished game that was something like this for a long time, with player-built hulls, the ability to fly and fight ships in a semi-tactical way, etc. Add in some more detailed ship physics, the ability to zoom out and actually have to aim at enemy vessels, and so on, and this could be a really neat finished game. Thanks for putting it together!

lcass 2013-08-31 11:01

I am quite young. All of that will be a feature in the new version.

pinktreeleaf 2013-08-31 18:17

way too complicated for my blood. at least without more detailed controls