Actually I’m really considering using this Raspberry Pi as my new target platform for game jams like Ludum Dare. The technical specifications are rather limited which gives an extra challenge. As I’ve already been using mostly python and pygame for game development this should work without much extra effort. Next I’m going to test if my previous entries run on it. (This should not prevent me from having additional Windows builds of my games )

Raspberry Pi – Runs Linux

On other platform-related news, some French guy that goes with the webname “Loopingstar” has experimented with the basic idea of my LD23 game Bottlecolonies and made a port to Flash with some extras added. I especially like the variations in buildings and clearer visual feedbak of points earned/lost while placing buildings. You can give it a try here: http://loopingstar.fr/colonies/colonies_v2.swf

The final day of rating is approaching very fast. After playing about 10 percent of the Ludum Dare 23 games and my LD23 folder growing to alomst 1 gig I would like to suggest a few games with only few ratings that should get more ratings (Click the headlines):

Cracked – BlackBird (33 ratings)

Interesting puzzle game. Gets more challenging in later levels. Game mechanics work pretty well.

Robots Are Red, Violets Are Blue – d_durham (39 ratings)

The control mechanics for the robot are pretty unique and make this game interesting to play and quite challenging.

c!ph3r – frosty (33 ratings)

A game about the right timing. The setting is great and the sound effects almost make a soundtrack.

World In A Bottle – Serilyn (38 ratings)

Pretty atmospheric concept about balancing a world in a tiny bottle. Also it has the smem basic idea as my game with a completely different execution.

Tiny Garden of Hope – steamgirl (40 ratings)

Very beautiful game which isn’t that difficult to beat if you are patient enough for letting the robot give you some advice.

Go and play those, they deserve more ratings than that. For my own game I’m actually working on the next post-compo version. You can find some information here.

As promised, here comes the first post-compo version of my LD 23 game Bottlecolonies. I evaluated a lot of the feedback you gave me on my LD entry and tried to improve the game with different additions and changes. If you click the link below, you can see that this is just the first beta version for the finalized game. At the moment there is only the windows executable. I’m working on a Linux port but have to try out if the subfolder works first. The changes from the LD version so far:

Link to post compo webpage

• Add: +1 bonus point if a building is placed next to any park
• Change: -6 point for discarding a tile
• Add: second music track
• Add: new map, selectable as level 3. The old level 3 is hidden behind level 2. If you beat level 2 you automatically will play the old level 3 next.
• Change: goal scores for prosperous colonies changed for new bonus points
• Change: subfolder for assets
• Add: elliptic marker where next tile will be placed

Further updates will include:

• More maps
• At least one more music track
• Additional buildings for the end game to make the game more interesting
• Saved highscore per level

Even if you have played it before, you should try it out again. The changes in the score system have a big impact on available strategies. In case you haven’t rated the original version yet, you can find it here.

And last a screenshot of the new map:

So finally I’ve found some time to wrtite up my impressions of the past Ludum Dare event. As ever it was a big pleasure to participate and I’m really impressed with the sheer amount of games being made and the overall quality which feels a little higher than the last times.

Now about my game “Bottlecolonies” which you can play here.

The good

• I finished everything I planned to minimally have in the game in time.
• The creation of a windows executable with py2exe worked immediately this time, thanks to experience from past Ludum Dares.
• I’m pretty happy that I really took my accoustic guitar to make ingame sound and music.
• I managed to make a game with quiet a consistent style and feel due to the handdrawn graphics.
• I’m totally happy with the game I’ve made. With my third LD this time I noticed how much my self-organisation and the outcome progressed from event to event.

The bad

• I totally underestimated the effort even to record only a small music track with a real instrument.
• There are still some small issues that could have been solved within time (especially some sort of marker where one builds).
• To solve the challenges stated in the levels requires more training and strategic thinking than I expected. It’s the standard issue that usually the developer himself is the most experienced player of his game and tends to make it too difficult.

To sum it up

You can see I’m really glad with my LD entry this time. I’m very confident now with my tools (especially python/pygame) and know roughly how much time different steps in development needs and what I’m able to achieve in 48 hours. I think that is the most valuable experience you get from an event like this.

Already put a marker for positioning in the post compo version.

Additionally the reception of my game has been quite positive. Hence I’ll put some more effort in a post compo version which shall at least include:

• A marker for the building position (done)
• Additional music (one new track already recorded)
• More levels
• Highscores of past plays

As I’ve already written two teasers for this post mortem I’ll stop here and just give you a visual impression of the development details:

From first prototype to post compo - with handdrawn graphics and self made guitar music.

Want to try and rate ?

Another teaser for my post mortem cause I don’t have time for a longer text at the moment.

This is a pic of my totally professional recording equipment. It’s a simple gaming headset clamped on my accoustic guitar. I had some trouble not to let it fall off during recording. The pin for the guitar strap helped a lot.

Some people stated the music a tad repetitive. I take this as a good sign cause they seem to spend enough time to notice .

Btw, I have just recorded a second track for an eventual post-compo version of my game.

Try and Rate here!

Here is a quick teaser for my post mortem to come when I have more time to write things up (probably middle/end of this week).

These two screenshot nicely illustrate the progress made from first prototype (about 4 hrs) to finished game (about 18 hrs).

You can give the game a try HERE.

And I’m done. I’m really happy with my game. It has handmade graphics and guitar music, the mechanics work well and I think it has a consistent style. You can give it a try at the following link. It is sort of a puzzle/strategy game.

Bottlecolonies

So the main game is working and looks like intended. The music is recorded and just have to get inserted in the game. Still missing:

• Starting/win/lose screen
• Level selector

Quite a progress since the first prototype:

This Ludum Dare I decided to went for handmade art in my game. Here are the first drawn sprites. I will pick my accoustic guitar soon to make some music.

It wasn’t as complicated as I thought to add some visual numbers as an instant feedback for the player. Next step code-wise is to add interchangeable levels. After that and after some sleep I will replace all the placeholder art with handdrawn art.

With about 3 hours of work my game is shaping up quite well. The game logic is working and now I have to improve the gui feedback for the player and the graphics obviously.

The basic idea is that your spaceship of tiny people have found some colonizable bottle worlds and need to construct buildings and recreation areas. Unfortunately there are four factions aboard the colony ship which don’t like each other that much. So you have to keep them seperated as possible.

I’m in! I just set up a new working space for my laptop with an old lcd I had stored for a while. Makes working on the laptop much more convenient.

Tools I’m going to use:

• python
• pygame
• gimp
• aseprite
• bxfr
• maybe guitar for music

Everyone have fun the coming days!