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A jam submission

Host.AI.el TakeoverView game page

A perfectly efficient workplace... where nothing goes wrong
Submitted by DonnyDangoAndTheMudSlugs — 7 hours, 10 minutes before the deadline
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Host.AI.el Takeover's itch.io page

Results

CriteriaRankScore*Raw Score
Innovation#5193.2503.250
Theme#5483.2813.281
Overall#7843.0523.052
Gameplay#7842.9382.938
Enjoyment#7973.0943.094
Audio#8402.8752.875
Visuals#10672.8752.875

Ranked from 32 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.

How does the game fit the theme?
In this dystopian office-stacking game, everything is supposed to run smoothly—until it doesn’t. Autonomous drones meant to assist you have a habit of making things worse, overly enthusiastic Broombas create more mess than they clean, and your ever-optimistic boss insists that everything is perfectly fine no matter how chaotic it gets. As you struggle to keep the workplace in order, the absurdity escalates, proving that, in this office, “Nothing can go wrong”… until everything inevitably does.

The meta narrative of the game is also met to hit on the theme in a deeper more relevant level to current real world events regarding AIs displacement of the workforce in certain industries. Surely nothing can go wrong when companies replace qualified individuals with black box solutions they dont understand... surely nothing right?

What code and assets did you not make from scratch during the jam (if any)?
Everything except the music was made for this jam! This is only my second attempt making a game following up off of Pirate Software's Game Jam 16!

How many people worked on the game?
1

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Comments

Viewing comments 27 to 8 of 27 · Next page · Last page
Submitted

This was a neat little game. I love how the objects are actually 3d objects rendered onto a 2d world. The main menu doesnt really feel consistent with the art of the game though, and also the player is just a grey box :) But still a nice game!

Submitted

Very good idea! I like the art design, it looks good that the game is 2D but the objects are 3D. And even though it's annoying that they rotate along the X and Y axes, I think it adds to the game experience. However, the launch mechanics still need to be improved so that the object in the hand does not get caught by other objects at the moment of launch.

Submitted

I got the pink slip. Thank you this was eyeopening, also digged the writing.

Submitted

Fun game with catchy music and a nice visual style. The game being in 2D but the items having real depth and 3D rotation gives it a really nice touch and feel. Nice job on this!

Submitted

Fun game! I enjoyed stacking the stuff and the humor of the game is great. It took me a little bit to realize the mouse changed the parabola of my throw for stuff, but once I figured that out I was cooking. Great work!

Submitted

nice i like stacking the stuff

Submitted (1 edit) (+1)

Ok this game is definitely challenging and a raging one, so i must share some of my finest art i made with my hard work.

The first one i called it "Climb to get your trophy"


The second one i called it "Server's diner" (it didn't pass the check)


Very funny game overall!
This need a bit more visual works for the character / background, it's too bad we can't jump and roleplay Michael Jordan (the only baseballer i know), but for a solo game, it's a success so congratz!

Developer(+1)

Those are absolutely some masterpieces! I really appreciate the advice, I'll make sure to work on all of that. Thank you so much for sharing, your comment put a huge smile on my face :)

Submitted

The game is very nice. I like the 2D and 3D in one. Anyway keep up the good work!

Submitted

Pretty fun gameplay loop. It's always fun to see physics objects jiggle around haha.
Very solid and good entry!

Submitted

I LOVED the 3d models mixed with the side scrolling 2d view, messing around was incredibly funny and satisfying. The only "problem" (which isn't a great one, don't worry), was the player's speed,I found it a bit slow. Great game !

Submitted

Nice game! Loved the theme chosen! Nice execution, loved the fact to throw thing to stack them! Good job man 

Submitted

Very smart idea to make gameplay unique. This can get player mad and lose patient. This isn't mean bad. Honesty some game makes people pissed off but super success such as Getting over it, Only up, A Difficult Game About Climbing. Good job.

Submitted

A really cool and topical take on the theme! Surely nothing can go wrong when we replaced everything with AI right? The gameplay premise is simple, stack stuff into the corner, but the physic nature of the objects make this quite the fun and challenging game.

Great job on this!

Submitted

I really admire your creativity, and I loved the idea.  I liked the ending where the boss also gets canned after laying off all his employees to be replaced with A.I.  It's topical and really fits the theme of the jam, maybe more than any other game I've played so far.

I've got some feedback though. 

So really my one issue is that the unpredictability of the physics system made it hard to come up with any kind of plan, because the player has little to no control over the props and their rotation.  In this sense the gameplay is shallow, and the primary game loop is "throw stuff in the corner over and over again until it stays upright this time."  If the objective is to stack these physics objects, I would either lock the rotation of all objects to the y axis, so that their motion can be more accurately predicted and accounted for, or I would have given the player more direct control over how the props rotate, maybe with a physics gun or something of the like.

When we play games, we like to use our minds and reflexes in order to solve problems.  This makes the experience rewarding.  If success hinges only on factors out of our control, it feels frustrating.   During the design process it's important to keep in mind this system of problems, solutions, and rewards.  This forms your core gameplay loop, and that's the pillar your gameplay stands on.   

Whenever I need a refresher on these systems, I like to read articles like these as guides:  https://gamedesignskills.com/game-design/core-loops-in-gameplay/

Overall, the theming was on-point.  Graphics and audio did their job, and I really loved the story and I think there's a lot of mileage in this concept.  Very impressive work for a solo developer.  Keep up the good work!

Submitted

Still trying to keep my sanity intact hahaha great game man <3

Submitted

Very interesting kind of puzzle game! I love the freedom that you've given us in how we want to make the piles. Awesome work!

p.s. I saw your thread that you wanted some feedback so I have some thoughts.

1. I think the controls could be simplifed further by merging the extendo arm and the mouse click. Since there's no real difference, I was just pressing Q to pick up objects near and far. Also,  maybe set the angle and power of a throw with just the mouse position rather than both mouse and spacebar. That'll make it easier to get precision shots.

2. Sometimes, objects pile on top the object I'm holding when I move, and no matter how much force I put in, I can't launch the object. So maybe have the throw ignore them, or pass on the momentum to the other objects too.

3. The character moves a bit slow, even when not holding an item. This kinda made it hard to get around.

4. This is a small one, but the character was a bit hard to see on some backgrounds, since they're grey.

But overall, you made a fun game and I think the level progression was nice. I'd really like to play more if you ever expand on it.

Submitted

nice

Submitted(+1)

I left 5 stars on gelp reviews.

Developer(+1)

Hahahaha I am so glad someone noticed the little easter egg, thank you so much for commenting, that made my day!

Submitted(+1)

Got to the CEO's office, couldn't get past that and had to force myself to stop or I'd be there all night XD. Those drones and roombas :'). Very satisfying when something lands the way you want it to, though. Physics games are so difficult to make, so 'props' to you for making this, it was honestly fun! Well done!

Developer(+1)

Thank you so much for the kind words! You were so close, the office is the final level :) When you first commented I am pretty sure you were the first person to reach that point in the game so congrats! (I am glad you stayed through some of the rage)

Submitted(+1)

I think the game has a great concept design. I honestly wish there was more to the sprite art over the boxes something more comical overall. but I think post jam is a perfect time for that polish.

Developer

I completely agree, that was by far the most intimidating part for me and I accidentally put off making a character until I didn't have time to get it done. Thank you for the advice and stopping by to play!

Viewing comments 27 to 8 of 27 · Next page · Last page