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A jam submission

Magic BeansView game page

GMTK GJ2020 - A 3D Platformer where you plant Magic Beans to grow procedurally generated plants! Originality #8/5332
Submitted by ajkrooneman — 6 hours, 22 minutes before the deadline
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Magic Beans's itch.io page

Results

CriteriaRankScore*Raw Score
Originality#84.5114.511
Overall#2483.8443.844
Fun#4233.6223.622
Presentation#7253.7333.733

Ranked from 45 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.

How does your game fit the theme?
You let procedurally generated plants grow out of control in order to overcome obstacles (close gaps, destroy structures)

Did your team create the art for this game during the 48 hour time slot?

No

We used pre-existing art

Did your team create the audio for this game during the 48 hour time slot?

No

We used pre-existing audio

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Comments

Viewing comments 23 to 4 of 23 · Next page · Last page
Submitted(+1)

I love this!  The chaotic bean growth is so much fun to mess around with and see what happens when it's planted.  A minor criticism I have is that the game is a bit too forgiving.  With the sizeable jump height, it's not too tough to just throw any plant shape in the pot and be able to clamber your way through.  And with high enough iterations, with each part of the plant being climbable, you can get away with a lot.

But this is awesome regardless!  Keep up the great work! =)

Developer (1 edit)

Thanks!!

During development the difficulty was a bit higher (less air control when jumping and shorter branches), but I figured because it's a game jam, I should make it a little easier for people to complete. I'm glad I did, because I did see some people struggle a bit to complete the levels (some even giving up), but it's good to hear that you managed to do it!

Submitted (5 edits) (+1)

This game is great, I love everything about it! My favorite part was the plant editor, I had my eye on it since the start. Once I was able to open it I turned up the chaos level and growth iteration all the way up and the digit turned red and started shaking XD Then I planted the seed and found out why LMAO

The only thing I would suggest is change the level flow so the tips on the walls are more in the face of the player, so that even if they don't know realized how to rotate the camera then they'll still see the section where you crouch but I read some comments and the page before I started playing so I was good to go!

I rated this 5/5 and added it to my collection of games to show my team! I wish this game got a lot more attention!

Developer(+1)

Thanks for playing! I'm glad you liked it!

I'm definitely gonna make a few improvements after the rating period. Feel free to share the link with anyone who might be interested :)

Submitted(+2)

I will start with first impressions: I was frustrated in the first level since I've wasted a lot of time trying to understand what to do. (Probably, it was actually my mistake that I didn't realize I can rotate the camera as much). Also, I've restarted the entire game since the first time I managed to jump over the obstacle without growing a plant

But then, once I finally realized what's the point, I actually liked the concept! I mean, it's something that I've never seen before, not even similar ideas. It really is original. Besides, the controls, the movement of camera and everything feels really balanced and well done. It's a surprise for a 48 hours gam jam ahaha. I liked the models and how fairly polished everything looked like (including the flying around objects, it was funny). 

Although, I must say that I just didn't understand if there is a real difference between different trees. I mean, it seemed I was able to go through the level no matter what setting I was using (lucky enough, huh?). I think the concept is interesting, I just wish it had tutorial and explanatory things.

Anyways, great submission, keep up with it!

Developer(+2)

Thanks for the feedback!

I've seen a lot of people not realize you can rotate the camera around, so you're not the only one, haha. I really regret not making that clearer in the first level. 

As for the trees, yeah just growing randomized trees can usually result in something that you can use to beat the level.  Since the concept was kind of experimental, I didn't want to make the game too hard, it's more a proof of concept game I suppose.

I'm glad you enjoyed it!

(+3)

Interesting idea. I included it in my GMTK Game Jam compilation video series, if you’d like to take a look. :)

Developer(+1)

Thanks for featuring my game in your video! I kinda messed up in the tutorial level where you can actually skip the part where you learn how to use the beans, but I'm glad you got it!

Submitted(+2)

The bean mechanics are definitely overkill for how the rest of the gameplay works, but to be honest I do that all the time with games I make and love to see it haha. I actually had more fun just messing around with the bean settings and just watching them grow. I think making this into a 3d platformer isn't the best fit, but there's definitely something to explore with growing plants where you can tweak the settings. Good luck!

Developer

Glad you enjoyed the procedural generation! I also still like to play with the settings myself and see what the result is :D

Submitted(+2)

Such a cool idea, it's probably one the most interesting games I've played so far. The game feels super fluid, and the choice of music is great for the tone. It's a bit hard to fully master the beans but they are fun to play around with, and it's a very creative way of making a puzzle platformer. Good job on this game :)

Developer

Thanks for the kind words!

Submitted(+2)

Wow, that was a very twisted experience haha! Very cool, I must say very unusual, so definitely a 5/5 for the originality.

Developer(+1)

Tyvm! :)

Submitted(+2)

This was... weird. I certainly liked it, but he chaos of it made it feel awkward. Like I was less solving the levels and like I was breaking them. I did have fun with it, though, and that's generally a good sign.

Also, I managed to accidentally solve the first level without planting by accident. Kind of messed up the intended tutorial, and I had to restart to figure out what I was supposed to be doing. 

Developer(+1)

Haha thanks! Yea after the jam I might polish some more bugs, right now the physics can get a bit.... out of control?

Submitted(+2)

Both a fun and funny game. Experimenting with the different plant structures is both fascinating and humorous. The levels are well designed and escalate in interesting ways, though the physics can be frustrating when trying to execute some of the puzzles. Overall an excellent game and a great original concept.

Developer

Thanks! I'm glad you liked it! :)

Submitted(+2)

I really like the character's animations. Movement is responsive, controls do what they say on the tin, well done on that side of things. 

I have some major graphical nitpicks though. The text in the bottom left corner is dark and hard to read against most textures in the game. I know it turns white when you can use it, but that bothered me throughout the experience that I could barely read it unless I could actually use it, wherever I was. Also, the camera got very jittery in some places. The crouch tutorial specifically, it got very jittery for me and some parts of the level got in the way of me seeing what the character was actually doing, so it was hard for me to know what was happening. I recommend being very careful about UI choices in future projects, as they can sometimes make or break a game. 

That being said, the concept is about as original as it gets. I can't say I've seen or played any other games where you grow magical beans to traverse levels and solve puzzles. So well done on that front. I think all of my suggestions related to what could be improved are graphical issues (aside from programming a less jittery camera), so well done. I had fun :)

Developer

Thank you for the extensive feedback, really appreciated!!

Submitted(+1)

The character feels great to control and is very well animated, fun to look at! The lengths at which you can modify your stalk is beyond impressive, amazing job there! Great game.

Developer

Tyvm! :D

Submitted
Deleted 1 year ago
Developer

Thanks! :D

(1 edit) (+2)

Very cool!

Developer

Thank you!!

Submitted(+2)

Playing this some more later! ;)

Developer

Awesome man! Thanks for showing it on your stream!

Submitted(+1)

Very interesting concept! The idea of the plants as a tool for the levels fits perfecly to the theme. I had some framerate problems but I get the idea of the game. Good work!

Developer

Thanks for playing!

Submitted(+2)

Really original! I had a bit of trouble moving and getting stuck sometimes but fun game!

Developer(+1)

Thanks!

Submitted(+2)

Looks like a fun game! For some reason I got so bad framerate I could barely play. I like the idea though :)

Developer

For some reason I get a bad framerate in Chrome, but not in Firefox! But thanks for trying it out! :D

Submitted(+2)

love the idea, the procedurally generated stalks were very cool and inventive, good job!

Developer

Thanks man!

Submitted(+2)

I absolutely loved your game, I'm a fan of procedurally generation algorithms, so it was a big plus for me. It's quite impressive you did that in a game jam but it's totally fits the theme, great job !

Developer

Thanks!! :D

Submitted(+2)

Interesting idea, and from what I played I liked it. I found the controls quite difficult, especially manipulating the beans in the editor, so only managed to complete the first two levels. Perhaps allowing the player to orient the first branches in game, then letting the plant grow, would make it easier to design the plants, rather than having to go between the editor and the game.

Developer

Thanks for the feedback! I see, so instead of changing the branches in a separate window, you do it on the plant itself in the pot before it starts growing, that's a good idea actually!

Submitted(+1)

Yes, exactly, so at least you get the rough direction of growth relative to the soil patch you're using.

Viewing comments 23 to 4 of 23 · Next page · Last page