outfrost 2022-10-05 19:59
Hey, I've just uploaded a new build!
Last time the build was broken, which slipped past me, because I only tested the editor version of the game. Anyway, this new build should work fine now. Try it out!
Foon → Ludum Dare Explorer → LD51 → Busy Tracks
By outfrost, 666Savior and KiyomiT
| Category | Rank | Score | Count | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 1178 | 2.70 | 27 | |
| Fun | 1198 | 2.36 | 27 | |
| Innovation | 731 | 3.16 | 27 | |
| Theme | 1194 | 2.33 | 26 | |
| Graphics | 474 | 3.78 | 27 | |
| Mood | 1004 | 2.90 | 27 |
Hey, I've just uploaded a new build!
Last time the build was broken, which slipped past me, because I only tested the editor version of the game. Anyway, this new build should work fine now. Try it out!
Interesting concept! I like the graphical style a lot too. Quite impressive as a simulator but it's a bit weird to actually play in practice - the track layout is quite complex and a bit overwhelming to comprehend/make a mental model of as a first-time player, like it's not clear which direction trains "should" be traveling on or how to plan that out (also which side/direction the signals correspond to). I also was a bit confused at first since you apparently need to go all the way to the tunnels to let any more trains through past the first one, which took me a bit to figure out, I thought the game was bugged at first. Also the camera control, while totally functional, was a little frustrating since you couldn't change the vertical angle and the movement was fairly slow (ie, it took a long time to go from looking at the tunnels to looking at the station).
Some potential improvements might be to have an indicator of when a train is waiting to come in at a tunnel (via a sound maybe) and maybe even have a series of different levels that start with a simpler station/track layout to help players ease into the game. I also found the click&drag menu for signals to be a little awkward, I might have preferred single click to open a menu & another click to change signal state or cancel. Still this could be a really cool simulator with some more structure & guidance for the player. Nice work!
I didn't have any luck playing this game. I managed to get one train to leave the station, but the second train never arrived.
Honestly the artstyle/controls felt pretty nice, but after the first train leaving i had no idea what to do? Also took my quite some to fgure out how to let the train drive. I think the sim concept really would have potential, but i am missing some agency to follow or context for what actually happpens/how to achieve potential goals? Please let me know when you have any updates/additions :D
Thanks for the feedback folks, much appreciated! :green_heart:
@mika314 @w4yn3r I overscoped massively (as ever :sweat_smile:), so we ran out of time to add hints and cues. The way it is now, you need to look for trains waiting in the tunnels, and clear a path for them to get into the station (set the points, then green on the entry semaphore). I've added a little note to the game description.
@outfrost ah thats interesting. Would it maybe be helpful to add a example gameplay video to get a better feel for the intended gameplay?
@w4yn3r Might consider! I never got into making gameplay trailers for jam games, because I like the idea of people going into them with a blank slate, and making their own of the gameplay. Evidently didn't work out in this case but that's my fault :smile:
I really like the graphics and unique camera perspective. It took a minute to figure out but I can see this being a frantic management sim. Cool game!
Great idea. But after first train I try a lot. It's was hard to me to right click on semaphore. I think you should rebuild this mechanic and add some HUD & tips in game.
I really like the concept. I actually had fun when I let out all the trains inside the tunnels, so I need to watch every rail path. Maybe you can just do that instead of making the trains wait first in the tunnel.
Controlling the semaphore is kinda difficult because you need to drag it first.
This game has potential. If it has clear objectives, I think it will be more fun. Anyway, nice work!
Great game !! really good concept. Got stuck in middle for a while but figured out the way later. Awesome work for a limited time jam. You shoud go with this concept further. Please do check out my submission as well.
Can't say I understand trains well enough to do much in this game. But the detail to train tech stuff was impressive! Well done!
you get all 5s just for breaking pomos mind during his drunk stream :smile:
Hey outfrost, loved the concept and the atmosphere of this chill train management sim! I was glad to have you in chat to help me understand how to interact with it. With a nice UI and hand holding to learn the mechanics, could be real nice experience to hang out in
Wow, this is ambitious for a jam. It's a nice concept, and it can be a fun game! But at the moment it has much too little player feedback. I'd love to: - know how many trains are waiting in which tunnel (currently, you can't even always visually confirm that there is a train waiting) - even some numbers directly on the tunnels would work; - have some tactile feedback to my actions (some nice juicy SFX, some more visible animations); - have some feedback when I'm trying to clear a train that should not be cleared - even a supervisor screaming at me would be better than this silence :wink:; - have some general summary of my progress or lack there of - am I the worst signal box controller in the world, about to get fired or am I on a short list for the employee of the month?; - have a possibility to zoom out even more, so I can take in more of the tunnels at a glance.
I really like the models and the color work is awesome!
Thank you so much for having me on your stream! It was great watching you play my game!
I'm having trouble getting your game to start... I downloaded the windows version and it loads up fine (144fps) in the corner. But when I click Play nothing happens. The UI disappears and it just stays on the same screen. I'm playing on Windows 10, and my hardware is pretty solid (RTX 2070 Super), so I don't think its a hardware issue. I hope thats enough info to get to the bottom of this, I'd really like to try your game!
@jag That's what's supposed to happen! Try moving around and clicking stuff! :smile:
Thanks a lot for the detailed suggestions @fabula-rasa !
Sorry just gave your game a try again! Here's what I think:
First off, the graphics are very pleasing to look at. And I think the system you have built up is a very fun little toy of controlling a train station. I'm actually quite amazed at what was done here for a game jam.
I think the big issue with your game is "sign-posting" interactables and defining a goal of some sort. When I started the game I truly had no idea it had even begun, but you do explain the controls in your description. I always try to avoid wall of text tutorials, but in this case some indication the game has begun and some controls message would have been nice! Visual effects in a 3D game are a bit of a tall order especially in game jams but some indicator that something is interactable would be nice, like a hover over colour change or even a 2D blip that appears when hovering over.
Other than that, great entry, and thank you for the game!
@jag Thanks, appreciate the feedback! <3
https://youtu.be/Xty0TvPfvGA?t=12586
Thanks for submitting your game to stream!
Cannot believe how much you tried to cram in here, lol. What you DID manage to get in is still super impressive too! I'd actually be super interested to see where you take this if you decide to work on it further. It has the potential to have a nice, cozy vibe to it. :thumbsup:
So I replayed with instructions from @outfrost and as it turns out, I'm just bad at trains. American brain and all. I had a ton of fun after I figured out how this stuff worked. Super super cool! Great job. I basically just wanted a little more UX stuff and for the camera to be able to get to the trains at the end.
Definitely an interesting absis for a simulator, not quite as manic as I assume it was supposed to be based off the title etc. but otherwise it's definitely a co0ol showcase of the setup for it. I'd especially be interested to see post an update when fixes etc. are implemented and there's a bit more polish.
As for now though it's got some interesting ideas, though not too much feedback, and a bit of a weird control scheme. There's not really any clear feedback on what's stopping trains (besides the description) as well as where new trains are waiting etc..
Personally when I say the title I assumed a more, as I said, manic style game where there would be say, ticking clocks or whatever above the tunnels that I needed to let trains in through while there would also be ticking clocks above the main trains etc.
Though that could just be my connotation with the name and maybe it's supposed to be a completely different type of game I'm not entirely sure. But I'm interested to see which it ends up being. It'll likely lead to some more varied gameplay that to could be quite fun to run through.
Overall a very nice setup some cool mechanics and a good base for what it seems like will be coming.
Very impressive what you've achieved in the small time frame
Additionally to all the above mentions I would especially appreciate it, if the trains show, what tracks they drive along, so that you can see where you shouldn't route trains through and also a way to see what the state of the signals is from every direction, currently you can only see it, when you look at it from the front
I am eager to see where this game will be in the future
I think there's needs to be some more UI/info for player like the state of the train, how many trains you have left. A couple times I was trying to get the train moving along but it was stuck there for a little bit (I think you said it has to stay there to pick up passengers, which makes sense but isn't indicated through visuals or even text. Having a bunch of lil pedestrians running around would bring so much life into this too!) and also sometimes I forgot which way the train is trying to go. Maybe I'm just not cut out for train work xD Overall feels like a solid entry with great visuals and a lot of potential!