I think this game has the potential to really open people's eyes to the difficulties of translating big, important ideals into real-world action and change in a system driven by capitalist incentives. If I have any concern with the game as currently presented, it might be that the game might be most engaging to the more academic type. But the success of a game like Papers, Please, which you highlight, indicates that a complex and bureaucratic system can still be one that piques interest for a broad array of players. Maybe that's more of a personal hesitancy, since I spend so much time in Excel for my day job. 🤣
And good luck to Adam getting familiar with pixel art! I'm also doing a pixel-art entry and have done a few previously. Happy to give some pointers and feedback as you start diving in to Aseprite.
Viewing post in Behind the Hydra's Eyes: Ideation Stage jam comments
Thank you for the kind words, and for taking the time to leave them! 😊
I think the point about it potentially being more engaging to academic types is more than fair, as I studied environmental history at uni and love that stuff. I'm hoping that this won't mean it's unapproachable to those without the same interests/knowledge (having the protagonist be new to such topics and making certain text optional will hopefully help here), while also having a chance to get players acquainted with/interested in discussions around consumption, dispossession, and degrowth. As you say, getting the right balance on the minigame so that it feels thematically appropriate while still being absorbing rather than tedious will be a big part of the challenge!
Your pixel art looks great by the way! I just had a quick play of Engulfed and the sprites are cute and animation looks really professional. Reassuring to know I can reach out if I have any stumbling points! Now, brb, I'm off to say nice things about your (excellent) ideation submission...
I think the fact that you're very conscious of that balance you're trying to strike dramatically improves the chance that it will land in a place that is both fun and enlightening. And I think it's very noble to share the value you have gained from your study and education through a medium of entertainment, so more power to you!
Aw, nice of you to give Engulfed a chance! That was from a 10-day jam a few weeks back, and I think our team was pretty pleased with the cute/silly vibe (but maybe repentant about the seagull cruelty, because the coder and I independently joined this jam immediately afterward 😂). Thanks for your thorough responses here and on our page—I really appreciate the way you think, and can't wait for your entry!