1. There are only two days left to vote. So how about we start voting like in the first 2 days, with endless enthusiasm. Everyone has to learn something from this LD, so while you’re voting you’d better comment as well – it really helps.

2. I hate the fact that this LD starts exactly when my examination period starts and the same happens with the winter LD

3. The miniLD #34 rule is AWSOME!!! Restrictions like these really trigger innovation. I can only hope to see themes/rules like these for main LD events.

4. I’m really happy to see that more and more people are using Java + LWJGL or other real programming languages or Unity instead of resorting to game makers. I know not everyone is a programmer and I know of the technical burden one has to face when using general purpose tools for creating something as specific as games, BUT no game making software will grant you the same freedom of expression you could get from something as C++ + OpenGl or equivalents. AND PROGRAMMING IS GOOD FOR YOU.

5. I’ve stumbled upon the tiniest game ever! Give it a go, and really try to find WHERE the game is. If you find it you’ll agree that it’s REALLY unexpected and original. It took me a 5 minutes to sweep the screen in search of the game but twas fun! PLAY –> http://www.ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-23/?action=preview&uid=7465 It’s called “It’s a tab”

6. I’ve also prepared a list of not so shiny games that have huge potential. I would play an enhanced version of all of them with great pleasure.

+ POGO PLANET http://www.ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-23/?action=preview&uid=935

Just look at it – it’s a simple arcade-ish game with style and it’s rather unique. There’s nothing much going on – you’re jumping around, avoiding stuff and drooling on the great geometric-abstract graphics – but all the good ideas are there. It just needs more drive, levels, waves of enemies, or anything to add some sort of structure to its continuous, monotonous gameplay. Oh, and by the way, the color-state-changing mechanics can also be found in another great indie game, MONO –> http://www.binaryzoo.com/games/mono/index.htm

+ QUANTUM ENTAGLEMENT http://www.ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-23/?action=preview&uid=11319

It’s a really nice puzzle game, and I would really enjoy playing some more. You don’t get to see too many puzzle games at LD events mainly because it’s hard to come up with a nice puzzle game and once you do that you realize it’s hard as hell to make nice levels for it. So I really applaud Quantum Entanglement and hope to see more of it in the future.

+ MUNIVERSE http://www.ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-23/?action=preview&uid=12236

This game has solar systems, planets, suns, stars, ships, nice star backgrounds, space stations, missions, cargo stuff… It’s a really nice start for a really complex space faring simulator. It’s true, some things are missing, but I have a feeling the creator will add everything to make this game worth paying for one day. Disclaimer: no screenshot does this game any justice…

7. By the way, I’ve found another gem (of course it’s my game) –> it’s called Space Bear! http://www.ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-23/?action=preview&uid=5035

“Flying around a bear-head with 6 stars trailing behind it is quite a sight” Ergo

“nice to see something original come out of the now-cliche bear-head-in-space genre” LukeRissacher

PLAY & RATE

I hate writing postmortems as it’s harder to judge your own work so I’m gonna keep this short. This was my second LD and in my opinion it went much better than the first one.

What went right:

+ this is my first game with a huge continuous space to explore – I’m pretty proud that I’ve managed to implement a chunk based level structure

+ I drew everything by hand in GIMP and MS Paint (I’m usually awful at drawing stuff with my mouse and that’s why I took the challenge – I could have used InkScape to draw the geometric stuff but I feel that drawing it by hand gave it a more personal touch)

+ I accidentally made a funny game or at least that’s what people keep telling me

+ I finished with 6+ hours to spare…

What went not so right:

- I can’t upload sound files of any kind to blogger and therefore the game has no sound

- there aren’t a lot of interesting things in space… I should have added more space junk, more planets, satellites, clouds and stuff

- should have a map of some sort

While voting, I came across a lot of games that didn’t really fit the theme. However, among the games I’ve played so far I noticed four games which perfectly fitted the theme:

1. Cage by epicSpeedTurtle

This is may personal favourite so far as it resonated pretty well with me. At a glance you’ll see that the game has really few and HUGE pixels, but despite that it manages to convey a very strong mood and a sense of tinyness: You’re an awfully sad hamster living in a cage (yeah, you probably have one in your home)  - and that’s its world – A CAGE! A f***ing 48×24 pixel cage! To make things worse, a fly comes by and makes fun of the hamster – a fly of all things, yeah that annoying flying creature that is free as a fly can be. If I continue writing I’ll spoil too much… I liked the game!!!

2. Casal Navity by Nanofus

This one is pretty original – it’s actually the most original and weird game I’ve encountered so far (and I thought my game was weird). You’re a small (really small) funny looking creature thingie living in someones nose . Yeah, it’s pretty yucky from our perspective, but the story-line is presented from its perspective: the nose is its world, its home, its comfy moist cave full of “life-giving substance”. It becomes kind of dangerous after a while and fun . PLAY IT!

3. Atom Planet by NMcCoy

This one suits the theme AND it has complex gameplay elements: it’s 2d Minecraft like game – so, it’s rather complex for a 48 hour game. It’s very fun to play as you always try to find all the possible recipes. Moreover the world is also affected by weather (it’s not there just for visuals) and you even get to pick clouds (and even make them).

4. Gum Crisis In Pipe City by jason.bakker

This was the first I’ve played from this LD. It’s really nice and original: you control multiple worm like creatures of all sizes (I mean, from tiny to supertiny) and you… aah I don’t know how to describe the game best – just play it!

I’ll continue playing and judging. I’m planning on making a list of not so great games but with huge potential because one shouldn’t stop developing after the first 48 hours.

(oh, I hate WordPress)

I’m gonna participate!

I will be coding in JavaScript/ HTML5 and painting in MS Paint, Paint.NET and GIMP… and I’m probably going to “compose” using SFXR

It would be pretty interesting if Evolution wins this time. I’d love to see what games could come out of that