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GMTK Game Jam 2019

Hosted by Game Maker's Toolkit · #gmtkjam
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A jam submission

DrillBitView game page

An action puzzler that's easy to learn and hard to master!
Submitted by Tom Rhodes (@tomrhodesdev) — 8 hours, 23 minutes before the deadline
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DrillBit's itch.io page

Results

CriteriaRankScore*Raw Score
Adherence to the Theme#3964.2174.217
Overall#4513.8603.860
Design#4623.6813.681
Originality#7143.6813.681

Ranked from 69 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.

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Comments

Viewing comments 20 to 1 of 25 · Previous page · First page
Luca.kopSubmitted6 years ago(+1)

Good game, nice to play

Please check our too: https://itch.io/jam/gmtk-2019/rate/461656

Submitted
Book Slime
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Charlie_WagnerSubmitted6 years ago(+1)

Great visuals and game feel, and the controls would be improved if made more consistent, as right now it seems a bit too hard to me. Would totally see it as a (easier) casual mobile game!

Submitted
Build Permit
Reply
mindcopgamesSubmitted6 years ago(+1)

Really great game feel. A bit too tough. It's hard to get this one more try kind of feeling if you die right away almost everytime. But I did get the hang of it and the colors help a lot (good idea!). All of the diagonal gaps you have in the game are pretty thin. A mix between the tough thin ones you have and much more wider ones would have been better for learning the game ,i think.

Submitted
Level1_1
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Ayki6 years ago(+1)

I can't handle these controls lol. How do you avoid dying immediately? help

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PotatoNinja6 years ago(+1)

Fun, but definitely lacking. There should either be more fluidity in the color change and have it start immediately as you hit the spacebar or make the speeds that the drill can move in more rigid, as in one speed for each color and that's it, so there is no confusion as to how to play the game.

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akaMithos6 years ago(+1)

This is a phenomenal game, addicting and easy to learn. As others have said - would make a perfect mobile game.

If I had to make one suggestion: At least for learning how to play, a tracer line indicating what angle the ship will make as you're charging. I get that the idea is to die a lot up front until you get the hang of it, but I felt that it was a hair too punishing at first because the speed/angle changes continuously, but there is a step change in color. So I found myself trying to correlate the yellow ship color to a 45 degree angle to make it through the gaps - and that's not how it works.

I also tried playing with multiple input devices (keyboard vs mouse) and found the game played significantly differently. On a mechanical keyboard, the 'default' ship speed was slower because a button press takes longer than a mouse click. I'm guessing this is just a product of the way it was coded. That's one reason i think this would go well on mobile, because it could be tuned for one input method (touch)

I think you're on to something here and would certainly pay money for an expanded version of this game. good job!

Reply
AsueSubmitted6 years ago(+1)

I love the visuals. The concept is very good but I find it too hard to handle, a progressive difficulty curve would be nice to set up. it would be a perfect mobile game. Good job :D

Submitted
Sweety
Reply
Tom RhodesDeveloper6 years ago(+1)

Thanks so much! I totally agree, the level of challenge is a bit too high at the moment. I'm working on updates to improve that difficulty curve, I will be releasing those after the game jam has finished judging. :)

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AsueSubmitted6 years ago

:D

I made a little video compilation of games from the game jam and you're in it : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mJWndlAIwk

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DumividSubmitted6 years ago(+1)

Core loop and aesthic are a strong hit. Even tho the game control seems obvious, it take a long time before you acomodate to it, that why the game feel unfairly hard. As a mobile game it have big potential, but idk for wich auditory. Casuals will hate it, hardcore players usually dismiss mobile platforme so i think mid-core players are your best bet. Good luck with that, hope you will polish and release it someday.

Submitted
ORBIT
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Tom RhodesDeveloper6 years ago

Thanks for your feedback! I totally agree with your feedback, I'll be looking at ways to make DrillBit fit my target audience a little better. Cheers! :)

Reply
LazertraxSubmitted6 years ago(+1)

Addicting game with unique mechanic. I love the visuals as well as the controls. It felt super hard at first but it's enjoyable after I got used to it.

Submitted
One Dimension
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Tom RhodesDeveloper6 years ago(+1)

Thanks for your feedback! There's definitely a learning curve but glad you got used to it, I have updates planned for after the game jam is finished judging to allow players to more easily select their level of challenge :)

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Tiki6 years ago(+2)

This is a perfect arcade game: it's instantly obvious how to play and what the objective is; the aesthetics are charming and show exactly what each object does; and the game gives you amazing feedback. With some more level set pieces this could easily be a mobile hit. Amazing job, one of my favourites from the jam!

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Tom RhodesDeveloper6 years ago

Wow, thank you so much! I have updates planned for after the game jam judging finishes, I would love to get your opinion when those are ready :)

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Tiki6 years ago

Awesome man, will definitely follow the progress on the game :)

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OB StudiosSubmitted6 years ago(+1)

was totally confused by the drill not drilling at all, also think the difficulty should be getting higher with time... maybe it's just me, but it seems very very hard. LOVE the visuals and design :)

Submitted
Rock, Paper, Scissors, Grandma
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Tom RhodesDeveloper6 years ago

I totally agree with all your points! I'll have updates coming once the game jam is finished judging that will address the difficulty issues, whilst still giving an option for those that want a touch challenge. Also, thanks so much for the drill feedback, I have another power-up planned which makes DrillBit into a block breaking super drill :)


Reply
JJMTSubmitted6 years ago (1 edit) (+1)

The feedback the game gives you is insane, the sound work, the screen shake, well done for achieving this in such a small period of time! id definitely play this on my phone if i was bored.

Submitted
Ensio The Eye
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Tom RhodesDeveloper6 years ago

Thanks so much! I'm hoping to polish this up further once the game jam has finished judging, and releasing it on mobile eventually would be a really great milestone, watch this space I guess :)

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PeDevSubmitted6 years ago(+1)

Nice Visual! but I feel frustrated in game :(

Submitted
PROJECT1ON
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Tom RhodesDeveloper6 years ago

I don't blame you! It's a difficult game in its current state. After the game jam has finished judging I'll be releasing updates which should focus the game more towards fun, whilst still providing a challenge for those that want it. Thanks so much for your feedback!

Reply
arthurion98Submitted6 years ago(+1)

Looks and sounds really good, but holding the input to move slowly is really counter-intuitive.

Submitted
The Way Forward
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Tom RhodesDeveloper6 years ago

Thanks so much for the feedback! I totally agree, I ran an experiment with the controls inverted and it's much more intuitive to control. I'm thinking of releasing an update once the game jam judging has finished with an option for "easy" and "hard" controls, that way users can pick their challenge a little more.

Reply
kotobSubmitted6 years ago(+2)

Game is quite interesting and overall visuals/audio are great, but the main mechanic needs more polish to feel satisfying enough.

Submitted
Lurking in the Dark
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Tom RhodesDeveloper6 years ago(+1)

Totally agree, it's a bit too punishing at the moment. I'm working on updates to that now and planning on releasing once the game jam judging has finished. Thanks so much for the feedback! :)

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kotobSubmitted6 years ago(+1)

No problem you're welcome!

I'm also sorry if I sounded harsh, I really enjoyed this game and played it at the office and showed it to my coworkers :b

We made a GMTK game too if you'd like to check it out.

https://itch.io/jam/gmtk-2019/rate/462264

Reply
Tom RhodesDeveloper6 years ago

Not too harsh at all, I really appreciate all feedback, it's a 48 hour game after all, there's definitely more work needed from me! I'm checking yours out now :)

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joespacioSubmitted6 years ago(+1)

Really solid visuals and overall asthetic. I like the main mechanic but it can be difficult to gauge how slow my drill will be move based on just how long I hold the button. 

Submitted
Elevator Pitch
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Tom RhodesDeveloper6 years ago

Thanks so much for the feedback! I totally agree, it's a tricky one to balance. I'm working on quite a few update ideas in that are which I'm planning on releasing once the game jam judging has completed. Thanks again!

Reply
JamgamSubmitted6 years ago(+1)

Nice game, with great sound effects. I think the most important thing to add would be a preview vector for your move path.

Submitted
Nothing Left
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Tom RhodesDeveloper6 years ago

That's a really fantastic idea! I'm also experimenting with an alternative control system (tap for slow, hold for fast) which seems to balance the difficulty a lot better. I'm planning updates for once the game jam judging has finished, so really looking forward to developing this one a bit more :)

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AlmightyzentacoSubmitted6 years ago(+1)

Excellent style. Extremely difficult.

Submitted
Only Juan
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Tom RhodesDeveloper6 years ago

Thanks so much for the feedback! Yeah I simply ran out of time to properly balance the difficulty, I'm getting some great feedback here though and already have plans for how I can improve the game once the game jam judging has finished. Cheers!

Reply
KaiskiiSubmitted6 years ago(+1)

Really enjoyed the graphics, can see this becoming a great mobile game :>

Submitted
Help! I'm Trapped In A Submarine...
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Tom RhodesDeveloper6 years ago(+1)

Thanks so much, I'm hoping to continue development once the game jam judging has finished!

Reply
Halunkibaer6 years ago(+1)

You defnitely have to give the drill a function. You cant have a drill that does not drill :D could become an ok android game if it had more variety 

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Tom RhodesDeveloper6 years ago

Thanks so much for the feedback! You're totally right of course! I simply ran out of time for quite a few things, difficulty balance etc. :) I'm actually planning an update to DrillBit after the game jam judging has finished, and I have included a super drill pickup on your recommendation, thanks so much!


Reply
Viewing comments 20 to 1 of 25 · Previous page · First page
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