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xkcd: The Game's itch.io pageResults
| Criteria | Rank | Score* | Raw Score |
| xkcd-ness (how well it matches/interprets the comic) | #50 | 3.550 | 3.550 |
| Innovation | #70 | 1.900 | 1.900 |
| Audio | #71 | 1.100 | 1.100 |
| Overall | #79 | 1.850 | 1.850 |
| Visuals | #79 | 1.700 | 1.700 |
| Fun | #85 | 1.300 | 1.300 |
Ranked from 20 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.
Link to xkcd comic / 'what if' article the game is based on
https://xkcd.com/391/
Please list any pre-made art/music/other assets that you used.
I used a pre-made xkcd font, found at https://github.com/ipython/xkcd-font
Team size
1
Team's social media links:
http://twitter.com/TheJrbdog
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Comments
Putting in video game form doesn't really work for me... By saying "You win the game" from within a game, you somehow talk less about The Game, but about the game that you are saying that in. Does that make any sense? ^^'
Good intention I guess, but I think it really works better as a comic (or just orally).
I agree.
Neat idea and interpreted the comic well. Anyway one thing I do want to mention is I'm doing a review of design on the games in this jam so here's a shameless plug to my channel if you want to be notified of the vid when released: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7Vj46GGL9VMUvd4YTMtjXg
I'll make sure to check it out :)
My XKCD game jam analysis is out!
I both love and hate this game. Love because I think the idea is great and is executed just fine, but I also hate it for its pointlessness, and the fact that I'm not 100% sure it captures the heart of the xkcd comic it's based on.
I personally read the comic as a release, that after struggling to win the game (of life?) for so long, you have won. You already won--you are free, you have been free. Struggle no more.
But I can also see how another person, like yourself, can read the comic and see it as winning the game before the game even starts, and using that idea to fuel "xkcd: The Game". And that's fine--both our readings are valid.
The "winning" cards are nice; I like that there are different ones that seem to be random (though there aren't many, I think there are 5 in all?), and the lines they say seem to be in the spirit of xkcd.
(Though I have mixed feelings about you calling it "xkcd: The Game".)
Overall, this is a simple "game". Thanks for making it.
Thanks for the feedback! I literally created this in a few hours just for fun, so "pointless" is probably the most accurate description this game can get.
Weirdly, the first time I saw the comic, I immediately though of one of those dumb games kids play where the point of the game is to not think about it. As soon as you think about it, you lose. I have a feeling Randall doesn't know about this game, so I interpreted it differently afterwords.
Similarly, I thought the comic was about "the game of life", but mostly about the competition that spawns from unnecessary social constructs. I think the comic is basically saying "hey, be you, stop worrying about everything else". My game, I believe, can be interpreted the same way. As soon as you click start, the game tells you you've won; You don't have to compete or put in effort. Since you've won the game, all that's left to do is live.
However, I understand you're interpretation as well. Plus, comics are art, and art is subjective. Since games are also art, then this is an art piece about an art piece, so it's super subjective.
Anyways, thanks for the time you took to express your thoughts!
(sorry about the small number of "winning" cards. As I said, I created it in a few hours, and only finished it about 15 minutes before the deadline.)
Yes! I'm finally free!