Finitely Big

2017-04-25 03:06

Pros: Heartfelt emotional story, Great music, Perfectly ran on my toaster

Cons: Needed more gameplay

move127 2017-04-28 13:03

A little absurdism and cartesian philosophy, I see. :grin:

It was an interesting little game. Pretty good for six hours. Since the embed size was so small, I kept thinking of it being played on a handheld device and making some kid cry.

Obviously, it would be nice if there were more things to do than just read the text and move around. Perhaps including pointless tasks he can do on the planet before it explodes. It shouldn't affect the meaninglessness of his life, since all life is meaningless. :smile:

picapica 2017-04-28 13:45

A very very small game indeed. I would have liked to "do" more, but on the other hand, that would have been just as pointless in the end. A game well made to communicate this big/little message about futility!

2017-04-28 14:49

Neat story! I included it in my Ludum Dare 38 compilation [video series](https://youtu.be/TFsh4EsXErU), if you’d like to take a look :)

undefinist 2017-04-29 11:39

I loved this! The music was really great, and I like how the literature flowed along with the music and visuals. And the best part is this game is *literally* small! Awesome job :grin:

homineludens 2017-04-29 11:46

I played till the end [dot]

npizzle1 2017-04-29 11:50

I loved how the game was small in every sense it was a small world for him and us.

tn7111 2017-04-29 15:05

Never managed to launch the web player on my mac

takusan 2017-04-29 16:52

While I do like the ontological and a tad nihilistic approach to existence (only the world we actively function in gives us purpose), and the approach to theme (both in-game and game presentation) the problem is: it unfortunately lacks the elements to classify it as game.

While it's somewhat interactive, game needs to have set rules, optimally communicated to player (via instructions or through gameplay). I didn't encounter any hint at option to achieve anything through walking, thus I assume that walking and reading the story is all your project provides.

In game design, game is more or less defined as 'an activity, especially a competitive one or providing challenge, played according to rules and decided by skill, strength, or luck', while toy is defined as 'an object, providing amusement through interaction'.

If your game does not provide interactivity that allows to change the outcome or achieve something (get score, solve puzzle, progress through story by your actions while being challenged) it's unfortunately not a game - it's more of a toy.

Or, more precisely, an art installation. It's a nice piece of art on its own, but, unfortunately, it does not meet the criteria to classify as game, since there is no challenge.

It's great that you took part in LD, compo at that, and made something of your own. You have a base for a game that would really drive your point home - make the player actually do something, achieve, overcome some obstacle, and **then** make the world disappear, and his existence meaningless or even questionable. That would get me much harder than just observing it happen.

**Don't take me wrong**, I mean it as an encouragement to develop it further and flesh it out into a game with an underlying philosophical aspect, that would help to deliver the morale of the story. Especially since you had virtually no time to work on it during LD.

Cheers!

takusan 2017-05-01 13:14

I've added rating in addition to my earlier feedback. Cheers!

risingoat 2017-05-04 17:11

A cool little experience. The most minimalistic walking simulator I've ever seen.

srakowski 2017-05-16 00:55

I really enjoyed this, evoked emotion and thought... I'm happy I played :)

juicybrucey 2017-05-20 01:04

very small, in every aspect; nice story though, in a depressing kind of way, haha

luthwyhn 2017-05-20 01:08

I believe in Geoff.

tddawson 2017-05-20 01:32

Super creative approach to the theme! I second the comment about the writing, music, and visuals all working together really well. Great job with such limited time--if you do ever expand it, I also liked the comments about having the player feel like they achieve something before having it all turn into nothing.

chromableedstudios 2017-05-20 06:22

I don't understand what just happened... this was like an existential dilemma simulator?

tacomabert 2017-05-20 06:37

This "game" felt more like a platform for a deep philosophical message, and more importantly, for a good song. I did not rate the game very high in most categories, because it just was not very robust or complete (6 hours will do that). The screen was too small for my big TV screen, and made it hard to "hear" the message.

I did rate high on the music, but had to drop a star due to the drums not being synced right with the melody (latency issue? see if you can use quantization next time). Loved the music otherwise! After the game was over, I left the window open so I could hear the music while I wrote the review.

occultone 2017-05-20 06:38

This made me think a bit about Gish, in a way it's kind of a super depressing Gish... Interesting concept, good job with the theme, it was very tiny in every way. Well done!

bladesides 2017-05-20 07:24

I liked it!

kcreanor 2017-05-20 07:41

VEry absrtract, very very cool! I like everything about it, the scope, the size (literally), the story, the atmosphere - this is a very interesting and intelligent approach to the theme. Well done this is a fantastic concept!