The Lion's Song by LeafThief 2014-09-01T19:49:00
I really love the atmosphere and the simplicity of this entry, it's beautiful... Am I the only one who didn't understand what happened to Wilma in the end ? (and how Leos managed to find her house 0o)
Foon → Ludum Dare Explorer → Users → Traumendes_Madchen
| Year | LD | Theme | Game | Division | Rank | Ov | Fu | In | Th | Gr | Au | Hu | Mo | Co | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 32 | An Unconventional Weapon | Wounded by Words | jam | 131 | 3.75 | 3.02 | 2.62 | 3.16 | 4.38 | 3.79 | 2.44 | 3.88 | 92 | |
| 2014 | 30 | Connected Worlds | Garden of Oblivion | jam | 97 | 3.70 | 3.25 | 3.00 | 3.26 | 4.26 | 3.69 | 2.75 | 4.05 | 84 |
I really love the atmosphere and the simplicity of this entry, it's beautiful... Am I the only one who didn't understand what happened to Wilma in the end ? (and how Leos managed to find her house 0o)
Wow, it's not really a game but the concept is so cool. Now I really wanna play all the LD games to see the full map uncovered XD.
Yeah, a point & click ! I must say this is a very...unique entry XD.
Interesting premise, too bad it's so short, I wanted more !
I guess I'm gonna forget my sorrow playing the new demo for The Censor then XD (I was waiting for it).
I’m rather fond of textual adventures (making interactive fictions myself) but I found the navigation a bit frustrating : sometimes you get stuck not knowing what you have to do (or the scrolling don't always works very well). I feel it wouldn’t be as troublesome with some ambient music. The ones you offered didn’t match the mood for me, I would have liked better spooky/creepy tracks. Otherwise, it was quite the unique story.
Ever though of making this a visual novel with some assets ^^ ?
Interesting concept ! Too bad that cyberspace hurts my eyes so much X).
Cool idea. Now I'm really curious to know more about your other games...
(This bubble sound effect on the title screen irks me though >__<)
Stuck at the "Impossible? No!" level X). Couln't figure out what I had to do...
It sure looks psychedelic ='). The controls were a bit difficult to handle (that teddy bear slides a lot), otherwise it was fine.
Er, what did I just play ? I don't know if I missed something but I didn't get much backstory at the beginning so I was very confused about who I was and what I was doing X).
Very psychedelic ! Telling the controls right away would have been a bit more practical for the player though X').
Cool, another RenPy dev ^^.
The concept sounded a bit like Hoshi no Koe (Makoto Shinaki) but its works thanks to the humor and the interactivity. I really liked your entry but I wish there would be more content to the endings (I read 2 and there weren't many differencies between them).
Amazing for a 48h entry ! I was a bit lost at first but I finally figured what to do...and it was already the end.
Those slimes look kinda stupid but I like them XD.
I wish I could tell that I liked the experience...unfortunately, I keep dying and dying at the beginning. Guess it isn't my tyme of games X).
Am I playing a dangerous sheep-ninja 0o ? Very strange physics (I was under the impression I was just flying in the air) but not bad otherwise.
I really liked your game, the atmosphere was beautiful and it was relaxing to play...but the character felt like a piece of soap. He was sliding ALL THE TIME. Like a ninja. It became annoying with the smaller platforms X). Otherwise it was nice !
Simple but effective. Nice game ^^.
It was pleasant to play Crece above Clouds. I didn't know what I had to do and was kinda lost at first, but it was fun. An option to lower the music's volume would have been welcome though ='). I'm not a fan of the weird sound effect used during dialogue but, well.
Very short level but the concept is really inetresting, I wouldn't mind buying a game like that if it were finished ^^.
The use of 3D is quite impressing, too bad there isn't a video at the beginning, I feel it would make the game more engaging.
Funny game. I feel it would be better with some music though. What the aliens want isn't very clear so it's mostly choosing at random.
Cool, another French dev ^^. I really liked your entry, it felt a bit like Ghost in the Shell, was it one of your inspirations ?
So melancholic... I didn't understand what the stones were mean to represent but the atmosphere was really beautiful.
Interesting idea, I was very confused about what I had to do though X).
I didn't really understand what I had to do but it seems like a nice game X)
The game feels really epic with the soudntrack and the galaxy background, too bad I suck at this XD. It took me a while to figure what I had to do and I'm not even sure I succeeded =').
Otherwise, an interesting concept. A bit too short but interesting.
It was really a sweet experience, I especially like how the music changes when you enters the other world. The dragon part was a bit tedious though. Were you alone to make the game =O ? If so, it's really impressive.
Cool, another RenPy dev ^^.
Err, the game was rather...original, to say the least X). I'm still wondering what I just played to be honest... Have mercy on us, Galaxy Cat.
(Is the "I heard that..." a Spoony reference 0__o ?)
Graphics and story are very cute (the changes of expression could have been smoother, it isn't too distracting though) but the music gets repetitive a bit fast, I wouldn't have minded at least an extra track. The "connected" part was a bit tedious at times but quite fun.
A nice little game overall =).
Hey, another Renpy user =).
I felt the story wasn't properly introduced at the beginning so it can be difficult to follow the plot from times to times. Other than like, I really liked the music (too bad there's only one track because it contrats with the more dramatic scenes) and the art is cute (again, too bad the sprites are so static, I wish there would be more variations/moves/transitions).
The dying sound is terrifying, I don't even want to know how you made it ;____;
The direction is amazing for a game this short =O. I don't really like the dubstep though >_<.
Aww, I like the Shadoks but the controls are difficult to handle. Otherwise, nice game !
(I saw your post on IndieMag too)
What a strange experience XD. Listening your voice was nice, and it sure felt "intimate", I'm just not entirely convinced about the whole thing. Maybe I wasn't in the right mood? But I'll be interested in a more interactive version ^^.
Great atmosphere ! The controls were a bit tedious but the game really looks polished. I love the way the text is shown.
Wow, it's kinda grimm to be transformed into a zombie and forced to kill other zombies (remind me of Dark Soul...). Nice graphics and I like the idea =).
Really intriguing concept and the atmosphere was great. Kudos to you !
Cute game. The mechanics were a bit hard to understand at first though, and I was under the impression that hamster wasn't that easy to control. Too bad there wasn't any music but the dying scream is awesome XD.
OMG, pigs everywhere... Reminds me of Minecraft actually (the pigmen). With more potato salad.
Not bad. It felt a bit short once you realized you can just play the middle game and succeed quite easily.
Not bad ^^. I find the audio kinda repetitive though...
(I saw your post on IndieMag too)
@Frankus
The game as we submitted it is unplayable because of too much bugs >__<. We’re updating the file so that people will be able to at least reach the end !
But I have to admit I’m disatisfied with how the game turned out because most of the interactions, animations and sound effects weren’t added due to lack of time. So we’re gonna finish it and publish a new version in the following days just to have peace of mind X’D.
Thank you ! Once I've finished that new version, I'm gonna give your game a try, it looks awesome =).
@Yodamaster
Yeah, I know, the game really lacks polish, that's why we just released the complete version on itch.io. Give it a try of you want a more responsive version !
@Victory Garden
Thank you! We tried to create an unique mood, and even if the gameplay part didn't go well, we learned a valuable lesson. We released an improved version on itch.io to correct all those bugs and offer a more polished experience. Try it out if you want to see the end!
@Juaxix & sai_aya
Thank you very much ^__^
@Bentog
I suppose you're talking about the Humpty riddle too ? If so, please read my paragraph to Sunflower.
@Sunflower
Actually, the question can be answered without any knowledge about the Odyssey, it's mostly a play on words. Humpty and Lotte use the exact same word to convey the opposite notion of what you must find, and the bookmark is supposed to help you recall that (the bookmark is only in the newest version though). Plus, I think the intro of that loop uses that word too. But, well, you’re a making a good point about balance: it's not easy to create a riddle nor too obvious, nor too obscure X).
@Moosefly
We did our best in the short time we had, I'm glad you like it !
The missing scarecrow image is indeed a typo in the script. We corrected the other interactions in the itch.io version (and added some animations and transitions) but I fear the LD one will stay that way X).
Ah, I didn’t think of that possibility : you didn't speak to the librarian at all during the third loop. Guess it's less likely to happen in the new version since you’re not immediately "teleported" to the rest of the story.
Googling works too, yes XD.
@Sunflower
I guess, I have a lot to learn about riddles, it was my first time writing one and I didn't have that much ideas so I kinda improvised ='). If you have some tips I could use for next time, it will be appreciated!
About the endings, you’re right, I should have made a Good End/Bad End screen. I keep that in mind. However, I don't understand what could be problematic with the options. Everything should be accesible with a right click on the pause menu. Do you mean, it's not clear enough, so you didn't find it? It would be troublesome >_<.
Thank you for your extensive feedback, it's really useful and I want us to improve for future releases =). I'm glad you enjoyed the game (overlooking the riddle part)!
@LandoSystems, bluesky & Fanatrick
Thank you very much ^__^ !
@Sunflower
At first, I was planning to have several options to work as an answer but unfortunately we didn't have the time and I was already exhausted, so we let the riddle like that X). I didn't think of using "Don't forget" instead of "Remember", that’s a good idea !
As for playtesting…well…only two persons tested it before the first release (the others were tired of working and went to rest). One isn't that good with English and was confused with the meaning of several words, the other didn't complain. I know I should have given the game to some testers but we just didn't have that luxury at that moment…
For the options matter, I guess it's a just bad habit of mine : every RenPy has settings when you right-click, I'm so used to it, I didn't think people would have troubles finding it.
About future releases, well, I don't know yet. I’m sure I won't touch GoO for a while but it could be any project. We already made several visual novel for other game jams (3 if I remember correctly), we have a big episodic story right now, and I like experimenting things, so it could be for another game too, who knows ! You can follow us on social networks to see if one of our projects pick your interest ;)
Our Twitter : https://twitter.com/TM_VN
@Raphy
Thanks, I feel flattered, your entry is really great *__*.
(Creepy things are the best!)
Oh, okay, it makes a lot more sense now! So the main character is letting himself die…that's just too sad >__<.
@Elefantopia
Is it the bunny riddle? Or did you encountered a bug somewhere =O?
@TKia_
Another RenPy dev? I'm so gonna check out your entry then !
Yeah, we didn't change the font, we didn't have the time for that X). Otherwise I'm glad you liked it !
Aw, but I'm sure playing the game at night is way more fun :3
@Ramiel
Thank you for your kind words :3.
Did you enter the tree with ou without the pendant? It’s the only factor that makes the ending change.
@GrooveMan
I wish I could promise you that we're going to write some tutorials about the technical tricks we use with our games but our programmer is quite the slowpoke. It’s been one year and he didn't publish the one about animated backgrounds he wanted to write so…maybe before the next five years =/ ?
Sadly, the LD version is pretty much linear and devoid of transitions, so I feel you can’t really appreciate the experience as much without that part. Also, we fixed embarrassing bugs and added animation as well as some jumpscares. An horror game without horror is saaad X).
@Rehacked
Thanks o/
@Raphy
So it can be read into in a more symbolic way, like a "dry period" or "spell in the wilderness". Hum, interesting...
@NicePenguins
Thanks, Mister Penguin :)
@Crocanti de Pollo
I think, it's possible to allow several answers with the player input. I just didn't have the time to add something like that during the contest X). But I'll look into it ^^.
Err, the puzzle shouldn't appear so soon (I think I must have put another bug in the game when I fixed the previous ones OTL) but otherwise it's normal that you repeated it: puzzles can be finished as much as you want. And no, there is no timer whatsoever, even though I really wanted to add one XD.
Your comment helps us a lot, so we're grateful :3
@Pinktreeleaf
Aww, thanks a lot! I wish it'll open doors too, but somehow I really doubt it XD.
(That puzzle is gonna haunt some people, I really shouldn't be allowed to make them, ahah)
@Jupiter
Oh, I didn't expect to be included in one of your video, I'm really happy, thank you ! You're very brave to test that much entries BTW =).
Hey, a fellow RenPy user !
Not bad for your first time, the idea was interesting, I just feel adding some music would make the story feels more alive ^^.
Your game is simple yet so addicting. Really nice =)
Very atmospheric, I liked the mood and the idea was pretty cool too.
Not bad ! The music was catchy and all. But you should really tell the controls right away, it would be more practical for the player than searching in the menus for some clues.
Hey, another RenPy dev ! Not bad for someone who had just begun, the story was nice and all. I just got the good end but it was satisfying (YURI FTW).
Just a little nitpicking but you shouldn't show sprites over a CG, it hides the picture and doesn't add much to the story =o.
I tried to play but my computer was lagging like crazy once I stepped in the yellow world, so I can't really see what's after X). Seems nice otherwise.
Hey, another RenPy user !
The story was a bit confusing. I think you could have used more visual assets or "clearer" ones (like some stock images) because I didn't really understand what I was looking at and it didn't quite match the mood in my opinion.
Not completely unrelated but I'm kinda sad hearing people claim that visual novel aren't games =/.
Getting the web version to work was a chore, too bad, it seemed like a nice game.
(Mon ordi m'a détecté une fuite de mémoire de 1Go, ce qui explique pourquoi Chrome avait autant de mal à charger le jeu...)
I was very intrigued by your cover art and found myself kinda disapointed there wasn't that much to play. I know you didn't have the time but maybe you saw too big for Ludum Dare? Doing some kind of demo before even thinking of finishing the game might help ^^.
Yeah, another RenPy user !
I just finished Andrake (hopefully, you let the Windows link on auspex.tumblr.com or I wouldn't have been able to) and it was really fun to read. I especially loved the humor and the strange universe ^^.
The story was just so well-written, I couldn't help but sympathize with the characters. I played the two routes and the first one (when I let him do what he wanted) was really heartwrenching and ultimately more powerful than the "happy" one. It was a bit sad that preventing Nicholas from becoming an artist had that kind of impact actually, I guess it's a pretty down-to-earth lesson...
The music of the post-compo version was good and helped set the mood. Now I really really want a full visual novel version with art assets *__*. Do you plan to make one?
Nice game. I like the fact you coul write a message to other people after dying, it's really cool :3
Nice ! The anvil part was a bit counter-intuitive, otherwise the game was fun to play. Cats are evil, I knew it 8).
Wow, I really like the art and the music, so cool. A bit of story would be welcome though, I didn't really understand what was going on X).
(BTW, did you follow the theme? I don't see anything related to connected worlds )
Really nice game, too bad it's so short ! And thanks for the walkthrough, I wouldn't have known what to do without it X).
Dinosaurs are awesome !
...that's all I have to say
The idea sounded fun, too bad it's so hard right from the beginning...
It was fun...until my screen kept witching between the game and my desktop. I guess my computer is too shitty to handle those ants ?
The concept was good but I really had trouble with the hitbox : once the enemies touch you, it stops the "glove animation", and they can it you some more, leaving you defenseless, even though you have your fire-thingy fully charged X).
Very interesting idea and I liked the robot thingy. The controls are a bit stiff though but overall it's quite impressive for a compo entry! It only needed some music to ease the mood =).
Impressive! I really like how you polished the title screen. The music and the 3D graphics are lovely. The game is a bit hard but well. Congratulations ^^.
Ohoh, another Frenchie visual noel, cool! So I kept dying over and over again, I didn't think it would be this short ^^'. Not much to say here: the idea was interesting. The big sound at the beginning was a bit painful though.
Aww, I like the idea, the monster thing sounds original...but it's really difficult to navigate and understand the controls X). Too bad because it's an interesting game!
I just finished your VN and it was very funny XD. It took me some time to realize the characters were a shepherd, a sheep and a wolf though!
I wish there would be some kind of introduction to these characters though. I'm sure it'd be interesting.
Anyway, congratulations on finishing your game ;)
Really cute graphics and good presentation. The game mechanics are a bit hard to pick up though, being told to hurry doesn't help X').
Interesting idea. The camera is a bit tricky to control but it's still pleasant to play. Not bad for a game made only in a couple of days ^^.
Original idea and presentation, not bad for a game you made in two days! If you're doing an updated version though: please change the color of the "glowing" area. Green on green, it took me a while before understanding what I had to do. Not suited for colorbind people either ^^"
It took me several minutes to realize I wasn't controlling the little creatures but was actually supposed to kill them XD. Pretty original and fun! I wouldn't say no to more music though =).
This is exactly the type of game I love: focusing on the mood, the exploration, with a mysterious feeling. Beutaiful graphics and music, the game mechanics are perfect too. And you did that all by youself in 2 days 0o? Wow, that's amazing! Anyway, I really love your entry and I wish you the best :3
A very intriguing entry! I don't really see a connection to the theme but the color structure was interesting and I like how some endings makes sense only when you have gathered all pieces of the puzzles. The story is still mysterious though.
I played through all the endings: the blue one made the game crash at the end and the game doesn't seem to save my progress (says I have read 3 endings when I have read them all, for example). On another note, that jumpscare was mean >__<. I use the same sound effect in another visual novel and it still took me by surprise. Plus the heartbeat sounds made me nervous...
Great to see more visual novel by the way =)
Sorry, I didn't see your message earlier X).
I guess I have missed the connection then, maybe I've read too fast during the red ending. Or I was too distracted by this damn stressful heartbeat sound and my brain was unable to compute XD. Who knows?
Here's the full traceback if you need it:
I'm sorry, but an uncaught exception occurred.
While running game code:
File "game/discuss.rpy", line 6, in merge_endings
current.update(old)
AttributeError: 'NoneType' object has no attribute 'update'
I really like the atmosphere of the game and it's really polished. Graphics, music and sound/voice effects are well made and the idea hold potential. I can't seem to activate that sphere though. Too bad, I wanted to see the rest of the game =(
Quite an original idea! The game mechanic is simple but fun and the presentation rather good as well =). There are some annoyings bugs though but well.
Wow, I didn't expect the game to end that way. I really liked how you played with characterization, how those small little made all the characters likeable somehow, and how we were seeing them during their whole life. And then, the twist. I don't really get the connection with the theme but it's a powerful message nonetheless. Thank you!
Hum, the idea itself could be interesting but the game is really too difficult to handle: you don't know what you're supposed to do and how you're supposed to do it, so you're wandering for a while, trying some things here and there. Some kind of tutorial would definitely be appreciated!
It's a very simple game but a real fun one. I couldn't help but mash the buttons just to hear the audio sounds. Asking your child to help you out is a great idea XD.
Simple but veryyy addictive. I really like the music and it was fun to play, can't believe you did it in just 2 days! Congrats on finishing your game BTW =)
Lovely game! I played with my roommates and we vanquished each other. I love the idea, the graphics, the audio, the jokes, and pretty much everything XD.
I think the fight is a bit slow though, so the players don't necesserily want to play all rounds =').
I liked the idea, using sound as a weapon is always interesting. Too bad you can't shoot well while you're moving because it makes the battles harder =').
I failed in the second room so, does the music changes everytime you retrieve an instrument? Would be cool ^^
The idea is interesting and the graphics are unusual but everything is a bit too confusing. Also I tried the game on Windows and it was buggy so I couldn't play for long (enough to jump like crazy XD).
PS: this game needs music =')
Simple but effective game mechanics. The graphics are nice and it's really fun to play. Congratulations ^^.
I'm kind fond of interative fiction and this one was beautiful. At first I didn't understand the connection to the theme but then I realized "I" was supposed to be the traveller's weapon. Graphics, music and narration were all building a relaxed mood. A really lovely experience!
Very short but funny game. Who whoul have thought boys band were infiltrated to swoon us to death XD? I'm glad to see there was a Twine game after all, I didn't see many for the moment =).
Hum, it's a bit difficult to handle since we don't see the effects of the tank right away, but definitely an interesting entry!
Wow, the art direction is stunning! There's no evident connection to the theme but well, the experience is really worth it. Have you ever thought of making visual novel =O? I' sure you would make really interesting stories!
Congratulations on finishing your game! I really liked the graphics and the idea was interesting...but I can't seem to use that weapon properly so I'm stuck at the beginning not knowing what to do X'). Too bad I can't see the rest of the game.
I just tried your game and I liked the fact you're using a mirror as a weapon, it's interesting. The game is pretty difficult though, and I ended up failing multiple times against the first two enemies =').
Not bad for a game made in only a couple of days! I just wish there would be some music to set the mood ^^.
I really like the presentation (graphics, animation, music) but the game mechanics are really hard to pick up. Guess it's not suited for me X).
Wow, great atmosphere here. The abstract presentation works very well and it's quite intriguing. Jump-scares are bad for the heart though ='D
Cute graphics, simple but fun game mechanics, some music and sounds, I'd say it's a pretty complete jam entry! Anyway I liked th experience =).
Awesome, as expected ;). A bit on the short side but a great experience nonetheless and I love the animation you did at the beginning.
Ludum-tek is such a bother with its unconventional method, right!
Wow, what a complete entry! Really, with only a bit of story and some additional polishing, it could be a full-fledged game in no time. The mix between 2D and 3D graphics was a bit jarring at first and I wish I was able to move the camera more freely, but the result is impressive! I like the concept anyway :3.
I love the idea and the presentation, it's a funny game. But there too many items, so I can't guess what the weapon is and get killed each time ='D.
I really like the atmosphere you built with the music, the minimalist graphics and the animation effects between blak and white. A bit too difficult when you don't have a controller though XD.
Nice looking game for something made in only two days! I'll have to say that it's a bit difficult to pick on somtimes but not bad!
Ah, I didn't expected to have votes already >__<. I actually completely forgotten to include the endings, so I just uploaded a new build (stupid code error, ahem).
@TheCrouchMode & @Erkberg
Thanks a lot! Since I wrote in haste, there are many typos. I'll try to fix them as soon as possible! (and with the help of a good night of sleep XD)
@Dagatts, @traooytrap92 & @12 Pechas Of Souls
Thank you very much, I'm glad you enjoyed it :3
@RoryD
Between Saturday morning and Monday evening actually but all the artists were so fast at drawing, I ended up being the only one struggling with time strangely enough ='D.
Well, it’s a visual novel at heart, so there's indeed not that much gameplay. I wanted to add a bit more interactivity but didn’t have the time. Maybe I'll do that in an updated version ^^.
@pikmin4000
Ahah, I really had to rush during the whole weekend to finish the writing. I think I never went so fast in my life. Thank you ^^.
About the endings: I didn't have time to include Hassan's but the other three are here. You have to get really closer to someone to his/her ending though.
[SPOILER]
If you talk to the character in question just after the quarrel he/she will admit the theft. So you can save before the choice and reload to see who it is. I wanted to deepen this work a little more and couldn't due to the time limit. I may try to add some sort of investigation part in an updated version =).
[/SPOILER]
@Ryusui
I just added the game on itchio, I hope it'll prevent any download problem from now on.
Ahah, as you can guess, English is not my native language and writing that much in a tight period of time proved to be a real challenge! We'll try to fix all those typos in an updated version. If you have spotted some, you can still share them to help us =).
@squirrelbot
It’s an idea I had in mind since a few weeks or months and I didn’t have the opportunity to make something out of it. Ludum Dare was perfect for that. I’m still unsatisfied since I couldn't really polish my writing as much as I wanted X). Thanks !
About the endings: I didn't have time to include Hassan's but the other three are here. You have to get really closer to someone to his/her ending though.
@DarkwindMedia, @jhrrsn, @louis.denizet & @NoWandStudios
Thanks a lot, I’m glad to see our efforts payed!
@terpin
We use RenPy ^^. It’s really the best engine if you’re into visual novel: free, easy to use (Python FTW) and advanced enough to do more stuff if you have skills. Plus the community is super friendly and involved!
Potato shooters ar great, but the more diverse games can be, the better. That’s why I hope narrative ones like this one have their place here ;)
@OddballDave
Yep, I never wrote so much so fast in my life XD.
According to RenPy Launcher, the game contains 1,215 dialogue blocks, containing 19,674 words and 102,511characters, for an average of 16.2 words and 84 characters per block.
@RockhopperGames
It’s okay, I’m open to feedbacks and I’m hoping to upload an improved version in the following days/weeks ^^. What in the introduction scene seemed forced to you exactly? I have to admit I expected that most people wouldn’t be familiar with some topics so maybe I went a bit too far on the obvious side?
I’m taking the typo reports as well, thanks XD ! If you have more, maybe a mail would be more appropriate. Here’s our contact form: http://traumendes-madchen.com/contact/
« Maybe not a typo but I'm not sure what Eleesha meant by "not channelling my child" (maybe it was meant to be challenging)? » = Ah, I meant that she have to « restrain him » in someway. I guess I didn’t use the right word.
@Bashabookoos
Well, it’s a visual novel at core, so text is the essence of the game. I do tend to write slow introductions though, so I may be guilty. I’m open to advices to rewrite the beginning but I’m afraid I can’t add many game mechanics X).
@Cstudios
Yeah, I was told it was a bit too long. Do you think I should make an intro « in media res » instead?
Glad to see people liking interactive/visual novel, it’s heartwarming :3
@ChronusZ
Ah, you think the ending is too forced? Since the theme isn’t clearly explicit, I thought it would be a good moment for that. Especially since people told me the theme wasn’t clear last time I entered Ludum Dare. What would you recommend to correct that?
@Lady Beardo
Thank you very much!
@x1212
Well, it’s a pretty standard feature for a visual novel: since reading text takes some time, it wouldn’t be comfortable at all not to be able to stop whenever you want =).
Actually the artists were strangely efficient and it’s me who was behind with the writing during the whole event X’).
@BlitzProg
BlitzProg, what are you doing here 0o? Most people commenting on the Ludum Dare page are other participants, you could have let a comment on the team blog instead, you know! (Plus you could have commented here directly in French…)
« As for the app in itself, there's nothing much to say. Stable and glitchless for two play-through, not that I was expecting otherwise from a RenPy app » = As you said, it’s a RenPy visual novel, it would require a lot of efforts on my part to make the game unstable X’).
I think you’re reading a bit too much into the bad ending because there was no surprise intended. I got you used to more surprising twists, maybe ^^’ ?
Thanks for posting your opinion. Next time, please use the devblog: it looks like you’re avoiding it at all cost =’).
@nassi
It’s true the story must be quite long for a game jam entry X’). Out of curiosity, how much time did it take you to finish?
I really wanted to show that poor Dae was ignorant but not a bad guy overall, so there’s no real antagonist per se (except the wall maybe, since it prevents them from escaping XD). I added a route for him in an updated version if you want =).
I wanted to add more choices and variations at first but since I didn’t even find the time to write all routes/endings, it was quickly set aside. I’m relieved it doesn’t seem too « simplistic ».
Ah, you saw that too ><. I really wasn’t inspired by the theme, so it’s a miracle I mustered the strength to go with it… Anyway, thanks for the detailed feedback!
@jhrrsn
I’ll take a look when I’ll have the time, thanks for telling me ;)
@DeadFragment & @Arche-san
Thanks, I’m glad you liked it!
@caryoscelys
I removed the fading effects in the latest update, I’ll still have to find a solution for the nvl mode though. If you want to go for all endings, I’d avise you to download the update, since it includes Dave & Hassans endings as welll ^^.
Err, that’s a good question! I may write an epilogue at some point to touch upon the matter.
@RockhopperGames
Thanks for the typos report, I replied to your mail ^^.
Hum, it’s true that stating the most basic facts isn’t that interesting. Aren’t introductions in real life always a bit typical though?
« And I guess maybe I am a bit more familiar with some of those conditions than people generally might be, so disregard that bit! >_< […] » = Hey, but it’s great! I started on the principle that most people wouldn’t really know these topics, so I tried to make them understand the subject a bit better. I thought I should to wait a bit before stating his condition to push the reader to think about it. Hassan’s route is supposed to give the player the opportunity to get closer to him, but it isn’t that easy to set up since he won’t let people approach him so easily either X’).
Ah, and I changed the word in the new version since « channeling » really wasn’t the best option XD.
@Xanjos & @CScribes
Thank you both, it means a lot to me :3
@Sytech
Well, I tried to go the « Words as Weapon » approach but it’s true it was difficult to convey it accurately X). Some people told me I was too obvious about it in the ending though.
@gv1351
It’s called a visual novel actually. Narrative games are different but for me they’re still games ;).
@caryoscelys
I don’t remember using outlines before but it might be a good idea, I’ll look into that ^^.
Ahah, it would be too easy to make Dave the culprit since he’s kind of the « outcast » of the group. At least, I’d like to avoid the « black and white » outcome ^^. What felt optimistic to you? The fact he’s trying to be less tactless?
Ah! The reason is simple: each ending is a different label, and only the middle part is copied, so you can’t really skip it. Do you think I should make it skippable? (I admit I didn’t think about it >_<)
@impossibleleaf
Thank you very much, I'm flattered >__<. I may try to make an extended version one day if I have the time, I think the story would definitely need me to go deeper into the writing!
@NAL
Thank you, I'm glad I got someone not usually interested in story-driven games to read my story :3. I'll do my best to show how awesome visual novel can be ;).
@jukimv1986
Ive never heard of Reversion 2 before, I'm genuinely intrigued! Thanks for the tip, I'll look into that ^^.
Interesting idea! I liked the mood, with the mystrious music and all...but I feel the grandma thing would work a bit better as a comedic game XD.
Not bad for a game made in a couple of days though!
A very simple but fun game. I love your pixel art, it really capture the essence of the cartoon. And it does suit the theme pretty well! Not bad for a game made in only a couple of days ;)
Aww, the idea was so great and the graphics nice too, why is the scarecrow so slow to shoot T__T? More XP and some music would have been appreciated. Nice entry though!
Cool, another visual novel! We had a similar idea with words but yours is way more straightforward, I think it makes more sense, ahah ^^.
I liked the story, it was short but sweet, and I liked how you used RenPy to add interactivity while staying tru e to your story. I wish there was some kind of epilogue though, since the ending was a bit abrupt. Also, the music is pretty but I think switching from time to time would highlight the text even more.
I really like the overall mood of your game: pretty relaxed but mysterious movie, focus on exploration, interesting graphics. It's too bad the combat system is so hard. I keep dying because of the dogs and can't really explore the world as much as I want ='(
I just finished the bad ending (and I have no idea how I'm supposed to get the good one XD). This Ludum Dare seemed to go better for you than LD30 (I didn't play your LD31 entry), which is great. It was a simple but effective RPG, I just wished the story had been less confusing. I really wanted to know more about those characters. Also adding voice acting is risky, you're really brave XD.
Anywya, congratulations on finishing! If you have time, please try out our new VN ;)
My, my, it's not that usual to see a journalist making a LD game in order to write a review XD. I know some people who've tried Tyrano Builder and it doesn't sound that great, so I'll stay a RenPy fan for now. Did you try it as well? It's the best engine to make visual novel IMO!
I've read the French version BTW. Not bad for someone who was just playing around and it does fit the theme ;).
Interesting idea but I have to say the beginning of the game is really confusing: there are things moving everywhere, you don't know who you're supposed to control nor what you're supposed to do. A little tutorial would help ^^.
Very simple game mechanics but very fun! Graphics and music are pretty and I love the little joke when you pick the phone. A charming little game =)
Not bad for a game you made in only two days! The whole idea sounds promising but the game is a bit confusing, you don't really know what you have to do or what you're doing. But the political satire is original.
Congratulations on finishing your project =).
I really like the style (sheet of paper with some colors depending on the situation) and the music was really fitting the mood too. While I love exploration, I felt the game was a little bit confusing. Some hints would be appreciated ^^.
Simple but effective! I like the humor, graphics are great and crushing beavers is always fun XD.
Simple but effective, I like the zombie alpacas XD. I also appreciate the difficulty curb that helps the player understand the mecanics while becoming harder an harder. Nice work!
Stunning graphics, the intro was especially beautiful and colorful. The game mechanic was fun, the music fitting and I must admit playing a granny is so satisfying XD.
This game is hard, ahah. But the idea is original and I liked the graphics, they're humorous and cute. Good job ^^.
And here I thought there was no Twine game! I can't believe you used Twine BTW, you really managed to tweak it. And I can't believe it was your first time either. Anyway, a very interesting entry...it's a bit difficult not to die though 8)
I really like the idea to use colors as a weapon. The game mechanics is fun and there's a good difficulty curve. But it's sad not being able to listen to some music, I think it would build a great atmosphere!
A very rich and interesting story! I really liked the whole idea of exploring what used to be Earth. Getting kill in one shot is not fun though, because it means skipping many dialogues to go back to where you was. There should be some kind of checkpoint. And you tend to give a lot of instructions that are written in small characters which isn't handy for people with glasses. Not bad though, I'd love to try an improved version =)
Wow, really impressive entry! The game is polished, with pretty graphics, good animation and beautiful music. Plus the game mechanics are simple enough to be able to understand them qickly and really fun to play. Congratulations!
A simple but effective game. The mechanics and the difficulty curve were well handled, which is a good point. Since you can't shoot up though, the green fish tend to take too much advantage of that weakness. Overall a nice experience. Colors are a bit flashy though, not suited if you have glasses =').
Wow, very complete 3D game here, I'm impressed. I liked the music, the voice over and how it created a shady atmosphere. And the idea is really unique too. I just think the system is a bit confusing overall but that's all. Nice experience ^^!
I can't believe it's your first game jam ever considering you're one of the best looking visual novel I've seen in the competition so far. Plus you did manage to fit the theme. I got all endings and I found the experience hilarious, too bad there wasn't more. Also it would have been nice to see more expressions from the caretaker. Overall a very solid entry ^^.
A really interesting game =O. I like the interface and the animation you did with the AI. Some music would be welcome though. And there's not really a connection to the theme but well.
Witty idea, I like how the pinguins are trying to destroy the world ;). The game is a bit difficult to understand at first but it's funny. Nice work!
I like the idea of playing a child getting the others in trouble. It was fun but I suspect the game is a bit buggy: I won way too easily X). I mean once a I sent a paper airplane, half the class got dismissed in the following minutes ='D Nice entry overall!
A simple but funny game! I like the flying foxes XD.
It takes some time to understand what you have to do but when you do, it's quite addictive. Nice presentation. A strange but fun game overall ^^!
Your idea is really original, I liked the graphics and the way the characters were moving like puppets. The game is hard though: it can be pretty difficult to guess which line belong to which chacter of which play. And since every play takes place at the same time, you have to aim in haste...and fail a lot X')
This game is hard XD. But I liked the different traps and the mechanic was fun enough. Graphics and music are nice too. I just think you should make a "longer" tutorial instead of lauching all 4 sort of enemies from the start =).
The copy system was a bit hard to understand but it was quite the original idea. Nice graphics and tangerine. Congrats on finishing your game in time =)
This game is really short, I didn't expect that ='). But the experience was nice. A tutorial of some sort would help though! Congratulations on finishing on time ^^
Awesome game, as expected :p.
I could nitpick by a bit saying it was very short and that the fact the character is using feathers as a weapon isn't that obvious...but that's all. The graphics, the music and the gameplay are really good.
Congratulations on finishing your game ;)
Interesting idea, I like when games use sound as something more than just background music. Difficult but nice game!