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fatedgamedeveloper3 years ago(+1)
  • Use of Theme - 2
    • Reading the comments, I can see what you aimed to do, but ultimately the theme was not executed well in this game. The main game-loop is to mine/destroy asteroids to sell the ore to buy better equipment to mine/destroy more asteroids. Even if these were ships, you are essentially shooting them rather than recovering them.
    • If the end goal was to repair a ship, or help a damaged planet recover, or tow ships/survivors back to the dock - then I would have marked it significantly higher.
  • Gameplay - 3
    • The base mechanics work as intended; however, there was no tension or real driver for me to play further - especially given the super slow start (like 10 runs for a basic upgrade). I went for an explore and the space is just the same everywhere. Nothing to do but collect ore - to get upgrades - to collect more ore. There needed to be a larger goal or conflict to keep me engaged.
  • Creativity - 3
    • The asteroid destruction system was a good idea and executed well
    • Love a space-based game; however, nothing else really stood out as unique
  • Art - 3
    • The menus look good, apart from the small sliders in the settings
    • The trade station and ore is placeholder art
    • I like the rocket forward and back movement, but turning needs some animation as well
  • Sound - 3

I noticed you had submitted this game for multiple jams over the same period. It just makes me wonder if this watered down your theme/design to meet the many different themes and requirements. For example, you mentioned down-scoping due to time - but chose to down-scope the only part of the game that was the "Recovery" theme (the salvage ships) rather than the supporting systems (shop, money, asteroid destruction system). It just makes me think of other directions you could have went with the same core, like having a game about a ship that tractor beams and tows ships back to base through asteroid/pirate territory rather than mining asteroids.

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Slatey3 years ago(+1)

I was going to do tractoring of ships to the spaceport but when I ended up being the only person to work on the game because my game partner was too busy to do any of it, I didn't have enough time to get that in. I entered the game into multiple jams but game devcember was the one I was going for, the others it just sort of ending up fitting in better once it was done due to the constraints. In the end, I made a game that can be improved on and that is all I cared about, I just used the jam as a motivator.

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fatedgamedeveloper3 years ago(+1)

Sounds like the Game Jam was a success for you - and that's all that really matters - especially after some difficulties with the team. I think you did well under the circumstances. My feedback was not intended to be harsh, but constructive. Of course take it all as just my opinion - I am not an expert by any stretch of the imagination.

My main point was that when under limitations, I think it is just as important what you decided to leave out as what you put into the game. IMO, a well executed small game requires all elements to reinforce the core of the game, whether that be a mechanic, theme, or experience. You did achieve this - big tick - but, the core mechanic reinforced by your design was mining rather than salvage as you stated was your initial intention.

This change from conception to execution happens all the time, even for AAA games. It can be due to losing focus on the core (which is often a negative) or sometimes the designer discovers a better core as they iterate the design (which can be a positive). A good example of this is Horizon Zero Dawn (there is a great NoClip documentary on Youtube about it). I leave it to you to self-reflect on your experience and I hope this feedback will help you in future Jams.

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