Joining in too, right? We’re gonna make this happen!

<3

Sleeping now.

I have watched the complete 2nd season of Downton Abbey out of block and what not, so even including the third “Game Jam” day I haven’t produced anything playable. I learned a lot about 2D collision detection though and about the versatile Chipmunk 2D physics library. It seems I’m using LD more and more for my typical dabblings into new tech – exactly contrarian to what the “Game Jam Survival Guide” tells us to do.

I  put too much time into trying to solve the problem of having the first Heroine (of many) climb up the evil (player controlled, red-as-hell laser emitting, quakes inducing ruby on top of the) mountain. I also wanted to do everything with SDL/directFB and just today switched over to cocos2d (which btw kind of sucks if you use it the way every tutorial tells you how to do it – you should use it as a View layer only – View as in MVC). So anyways nothing to show other than a screen and some sounds for making the vision a little bit tangible.

So what can I take away from this for next time:

- stick to the tools you already know

- preferably don’t try to do anything too far up from your current level (in my case the slope collision detection)

- don’t watch downloadable tv shows (in a row!)- they suck the life out of you even more so than facebook or twitter do – especially when doing a compo!

- also exercise your “art” skills like drawing (with pixels) and music

Thanks, it was still worth it! I’m looking forward to be inspired for next time by playing all those awesome games by all of the finishers!

I <3 Ludum Dare.

Imagine being afraid of the righteous heroines & heroes coming up from the valleys trying to kill you, while being afraid of your own powerful evil self.

http://db.tt/XGUG3isd

http://db.tt/MS3Jx3at

http://db.tt/hKmEKe3F

I can’t even try doing pixel art without feeling like looking into the abyss. I have pixel art anxiety.

Don’t get me started on anything animation.. it’s painful.

This *should* depict the game’s heroine while you being EVIL LASER GOD aka THE MOUNTAIN try to stop her from climbing up to you, trying to deus axe you. I tried to base the character on this awesome Forgotten Realms artwork… LOL … http://thepullbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/fr.jpg

The hell I will endure.

My 4th Ludum Dare.

I will fail again.

So effin’ what?

EVIL LASER GOD WILL HELP ME.

I didn’t have the energy to put in all the hours over the weekend like on my first LD48. I originally wanted to have my spin on a promethean theme by first planting life (via a Game of Life implementation) and then doing my little Breakout clone on top of that. It would have been fun, no doubt! Prometheus: “Because I can.” >B-)

Suffice to say I am still by far not fast enough in Javascript therefore I will try to focus on simply polishing my little Breakout clone, while hopefully finishing it without losing too much sleep. Excuses, excuses… better get back to work right now. Hang in there good people, we can do it!

Dehydration is my enemy (developed some health issues after my first ludum dare because of it) so I will buy a dozen bottles of water and go for a run in the evening after which I hopefully becoming tired enough to have a good 7-8 hours of sleep before WE ROLL!

Also got a fresh glass of Marmite, fruit and bread.

This is my third ludum dare, hopefully this time something worthwhile will come of it!!

Accepting my own limits here. I will try to go for a Pac Man clone which is more than what I have ever done game programming wise, if I’ll make that I’ll be already pretty happy. In addition to that I’ve got a raw idea for a funny little “mod” (see rough sketch) if I were to finish early enough.

Anyways, lowering my expectations and being happy about it.

Have fun all.

I have used up the better part of the day reading about Javascript and frantically jumping around between one JS game engine after the other.

I am starting to feel like private Hudson in Aliens – hysterical – I am glad though that after many hours have been wasted I have finally settled with doing a bare bone and crude JS version (as I had originally planned…).

On the positive side – I managed to record some lo-fi music.

I am dead tired, still lots and lots to do, see you tomorrow.

This LD I will try my best to finally introduce some actual game mechanics.

I will get some sleep prior to the theme announcement but before I do that I will declare my choice of tools right here:

• Language: Javascript
• Game Engine: Akihabara, Cocos 2D, Atom or none (haven’t decided yet…)
• Audio: whatever I will come up with (last time it was Garageband, so probably this time too)
• Game Design: pencil & paper, recreational shower, going outside for a run, meditation, yoga, staring at ceiling cat

I have only started to learn Javascript very recently… this of course goes against every advice – I probably should stick to tools I’m more familiar with but then again this is also part of what gets me so excited & pumped about LD (to “play” with and to learn tech which is new to me) plus I really like the aspect of people being able to play instantly within their browsers and not having to install anything.

Anyways I’ve been working all day and it’s 10PM here, quite tired but then again very much stoked about LD23 (had been looking forward to this for months)!

I need my sleep so I will lose 2-3 hours but figured its better to be well rested this time (ran into some health issues after last LD because I almost didn’t sleep).

GOOD LUCK EVERYBODY – BUT MOST OF ALL HAVE FUN AND STAY HEALTHY!

zzzzzzzzzzzZzZzzzzZZzzzzzzzZZZzzzz (my cat demonstrating how to rest purrfectly)

After I had to work yesterday and only started during the evening and even changing my whole tech stack (finally made peace with that C/SDL approach and going a more sane path – in accordance with my abilities – with LUA/LÖVE) I am constantly fighting with the basics of making this game.

Excuses and blog posts! @_@

I don’t care that all of what I’m doing (including posting this)
is laughable as I will go on and just do, because after all I do it because I love myself and you and everybody here for setting this up and being in it together.

Not feeling alone.