Skip to main content

Browse GamesGame JamsUpload GameDeveloper LogsCommunity
Indie game storeFree gamesFun gamesHorror games
Game developmentAssetsComics
SalesBundles
Jobs
TagsGame Engines

Pirate Software - Game Jam 14

Hosted by Pirate Software · #PirateJam
1,386
Entries
OverviewSubmissionsResultsScreenshotsSubmission feed
A jam submission

Rhythm Bucket BrigadeView game page

Help the Firemen put out fires with Rhythm.
Submitted by stevesgamesdotcom (@stevesgamescom) — 11 hours, 24 minutes before the deadline
Add to collection

Play game

Rhythm Bucket Brigade's itch.io page

Results

CriteriaRankScore*Raw Score
Cleverness#4233.0003.000
Playability#9432.0002.000
Theme#11531.0001.000
Artistic Style#11891.0001.000

Ranked from 1 rating. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.

Judge feedback

Judge feedback is anonymous.

  • I enjoy rhythm games a lot so of course I just had to play this one. But I found that visual and acoustic input weren't always a match so it wasn't really clear which one to follow. Also the stickmen(and arrows) were sometimes really hard to see even more so the more there were. For me it made little sense that the rhythm stayed the same even when the firefighters stood closely together but I'll overlook that because the pattern the buckets made were quite nice to look at! The acoustic highlights were a really nice touch. I haven't really seen much spreading though, I think you could've done more regarding that. I say thank you for the game, well done and keep on making games!

Did you include your Game Design Document in your downloadable files?
yes, its part of what i uploaded, you can also click the game jam icon 10 times to download.

Tell us about your game!
You control the active Lime-Green Fireman with a Yellow Arrow. Every correct input will increment your control to the next Fireman. Completed Fireman have a Cyan arrow and will keep sending the inputs you gave them. The goal is to get all Firemen working together to successfully put out the Fire. If you miss a beat all buckets will spill and you must start over.

Keyboard Mode: You must hit the proper direction key (Arrows or WASD) on the down beats to move to the next fireman.

Mobile Mode: You must tap the screen or press Any Arrow or WASD or Space button on the beat, the direction doesn't matter since this mode is designed for mobile touch devices, or for anyone looking for a more chill game experience.

I also added some beat precision settings to help people adjust to what their skill level is.

Please Enjoy! Bug Reports and Feedback welcome, steve@stevesgames.com is the email to send that stuff too.

Did you remember to include your Game Design Document?
Yes! its in the package i uploaded, again, you can download it by clicking the Pirate Games Game Jam icon in the bottom left 10 times.

Is your game set to Public so we can see it?
Yes

Extra Notes
The game is built from the ground up with my own custom web based game engine. The song and sound effects was also made by me using Ableton.

Celeste did the graphics for the game.

Thank you guys so much for putting this on this game jam, you've got your work cut out for you to vet all these submissions.

I think this has been a great step forward on my journey to make games full time.

Thanks for everything!

-Stephen

Leave a comment

Log in with itch.io to leave a comment.

Comments

ZahkrosSubmitted1 year ago

Hey Steve!

Generally speaking I love the idea, and I also like rythm games, so this was a great match. With this one it felt like it's harder to get the first bucket-pass than to get the upcoming ones, but maybe it was just my lack of rythmic understanding. So after I did the first 2-3 passes, I usually was able to finish the whole loop.

It is also a great touch that you let the player know if they were early or late. Did you try to make it somewhat of a "real-time feedback", so players can see right away if they were early? Maybe that could also work.:)

Great entry all in all, cheers

Submitted
🔥 Heels on Fire 🔥
Reply
stevesgamesdotcomDeveloper1 year ago(+1)

Hi Zahkros,

You know, there could be a bug with my initial input allocation, IDK, i will definitely look into this. I think once I add some early/late visual indicator it might help me see if there is something going on with the first input.

Thanks for the thoughtful and detailed feedback. I will give your game a try next!

Reply
qtipbluedogSubmitted1 year ago (1 edit) (+1)

Really fun game. The music and timing was pretty spot on. Like others have said a late or early indicator would be awesome. Really simple but well executed concept I think. Keep going!

Submitted
Colorless
Reply
stevesgamesdotcomDeveloper1 year ago

Thank you for the feedback and encouragement, it really means a lot.

Reply
AnthuulosSubmitted1 year ago(+1)

Very cool game! I suck at rhythm games (and this was no exception), but I do enjoy when I'm able to overcome a challenge, not because the game makes it easier for you, but because I learn, and this was such case. As others said, it would be cool to know somehow if I missed because I was rushing or dragging (mandatory Whiplash meme). I've seen in other rhythm games that all the elements on the screen go at the same tempo to help you; I know the firemen have a slight change in scale to represent this, but it might be too hard to see, specially in bigger levels such as the last one. Very good music and simple but effective art, great job!!!

Submitted
Town Alight
Reply
stevesgamesdotcomDeveloper1 year ago

Really appreciate the feedback, and I'm glad you enjoyed the challenge. You gave me some good things to add. I agree completely!

I will give your game a try and leave a comment on yours as well.

Thanks!

Reply
basieSubmitted1 year ago(+1)

This is great! I've never played a rhythm game, so I'm a complete newcomer. The tune was catchy enough, the stick-figure graphics appealing, and the overall vibe was quite zen.

I swear I tried to initiate chains on a few downbeats that just didn't go off? Maybe I'm wrong and I just suck XD

I would've liked to see a fullscreen that worked as a fullscreen (or else just disable the button). Other than that, a great chill submission, well done.

Submitted
hexlife
Reply
stevesgamesdotcomDeveloper1 year ago(+1)

Thanks! On the beats not working, i would try putting it on "Easier Mode" and trust your beat instinct more than the animations, especially when the firemen change distance spacing's it can throw you off since the bucket moves at a different speed to make its target on time. 

For the full screen, yeah, i see what you mean, it doesn't take up all the real estate it can and remains at its native 1024x768 render size, ill take a look at that.

I appreciate the bug report and the feedback, best of luck in the jam!

Reply
gigglebiscuitsSubmitted1 year ago(+1)

Really great idea for a rhythm game. Only feedback I have is that I'd really like it during gameplay to know if I'm a bit late or early so I can adjust my play. Also some different songs on each level with different beats would help mix things up.

Also finding some way to highlight the difficulty options would be nice because I suck at rhythm games, and totally needed the easier setting but missed it my first time through.

Love the music though, and the minimalist art is quite charming. Great work!

Submitted
Isle of Expansia
Reply
stevesgamesdotcomDeveloper1 year ago

Great ideas, I would love to keep refining this game and make it more of a full game experience. The very next thing on my plate that I ran outta time for was adding a early or late indicator, so your instinct is spot on.

As for mixing it up music wise, i had some logic to do half and quarter beats as well but i had to rip it out due to time constraints. I have a few more songs I will definitely add to this that i created prior to the game jam, but i couldn't use them to start since we are not allowed to use premade assets. So I wrote this one like 3 days before the jam ended, before that i was just coding it all to a click track. Those 2 weeks flew by for me!

Thanks so much for playing and also for the thoughtful feedback!

Reply
WizardofWestmarchSubmitted1 year ago(+1)

Had a lot of fun with this, neat seeing someone do a rhythm game for the jam, and I adored the art style and music. I really liked that you gave 3 difficulties so could test out based on where my brain + hands were at in the moment.

Submitted
Shadows of Plato
Reply
stevesgamesdotcomDeveloper1 year ago

Hey, thanks for giving it a try! I had only the normal difficulty to start but i started getting some conflicting feedback from people that it was either too easy or too hard so i just decided to make it players choice.

Good luck in the jam, I'm sure we will see each other around in the discord.

Reply
TetragravitonSubmitted1 year ago(+1)

Very cool idea, liked the art. Simple art style. Music was great. It seemed like when the game lagged due to browser, the game can desynch from the audio which... yeah is a big problem for a rhythm game. Hope to see more in the future!

Submitted
Blob Arena
Reply
stevesgamesdotcomDeveloper1 year ago

hey, thanks for playing it. Yea, there are lots of performance issues in my engine that i want to fix. Thanks for letting me know!

Reply
tobias collierSubmitted1 year ago(+1)

pretty neat rhythm game, crazy you built this with a custom engine and the song was banging! It felt a little confusing when you’re meant to hit the buttons because it didn’t feel like it was lining up with the drums sometimes, but once I got it, it felt really nice especially the different direction stuff. Great work, keep it up and this is an awesome step towards becoming a full time developer!

Submitted
Dungeon Cleaner
Reply
stevesgamesdotcomDeveloper1 year ago (1 edit)

Thanks for the feedback my man!

 Yeah, I agree, I kept playing around with the timing on the hand-off but it does feel slightly off still, so its to know others feel it too. When it doubt trust your internal timing not the visual hand off. Also thanks for the encouragement, and same to to you!  

I just checked out your game and will leave a comment on your submission page.

Reply
AboutFAQBlogContact us
Copyright © 2025 itch corp · Directory · Terms · Privacy · Cookies