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A jam submission

ScoreDerbyView game page

Submitted by Nazandr — 5 days, 7 hours before the deadline
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ScoreDerby's itch.io page

Results

CriteriaRankScore*Raw Score
Fun#43.5003.500
Overall#53.5003.500
Visuals(Graphics)#53.7503.750
User Interface (UI/UX)#82.7502.750
Overall#92.9502.950
Sound/Audio#141.2501.250

Ranked from 4 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.

DevLog Link
https://nazandr.itch.io/scorederby/devlog/915312/improve-my-game-jam-38

Developer Feedback Questions
What simple changes can be made for it to look and feel more appealing?
Have all changes made project more presentable? Can you pick one you like/approve the most?

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Comments

Submitted(+1)

I didn't rate this because I didn't have a second player. My main feedback is that it's difficult see your health bar when you're focused on the action. Maybe consider adding some damage to the player (cracks?). That way it conveys the important information in a way that also enhances the visual presentation. 

Developer(+1)

Ye, single mode is a idea that i could not do in time) Also healthbar is right the next thing i has even start doing but it was rotating WITH player, i understood that i need a lot of time to fix it so i've decided to finish what i have). Vfx is also something i was considering, thanks for vote on that)

Submitted(+1)

Had fun! maybe some unlockables to change your stats (max velocity or floatyness)? showing a trail of a certain length behind you could help read the direction your player is going and block bullet and let the player be more expressive?

I read the devlog after playing and did not know your game before, and I felt the execution was pretty clean. 

I choose "let bullet time to appear (to not damage player at spawn)" as the one I approve the most. this make it more approachable to unfamiliar players. 

Developer

Thank you for feedback! Ulockables sounds like a good improvement, noted. About trail behind - i understand it from ux perspective but not sure about blocking bullet part, it seems like a feature to almost negate bullets, so they become irrelevant but it worth prototyping i think, so i appreciate this

I read the devlog after playing and did not know your game before, and I felt the execution was pretty clean.
Thanks for kind words

I choose "let bullet time to appear (to not damage player at spawn)" as the one I approve the most. this make it more approachable to unfamiliar players. 
So then i really glad i did it in time because it was one of the last changes :) The purpose was to not suddenly spawn on top of player and damage him, ssems unfair for a game where i'm trying to go for skill expression :) As it seems from your message also helps new players, thats a nice bonus!
Submitted(+1)

Notes from gameplay:

Main menu:

  • Text/buttons could be punched up. Some shadow might make it pop more
  • Nice use of colors in the buttons to create visual interest. Maybe try different shades of green to work better with the background image
  • background image is cool, immediately evokes a space theme
  • I like how the text field changes color when text is added!
  • back button on player name entry screen feels misplaced
  • hmm, will I struggle with this as only one player? Single player would probably be a good default, and then all the work you've done for 2 players can be an extra additional mode.
  • maybe make it "Go!" as a more exciting button to click?

Gameplay:

  • Oh wow, there is a lot of momentum with the movement
  • I lost to my (non-moving self) hahaha
  • Sound would be nice
  • Score seems to go below 0 (currently at -2.5)
  • Ok, easier to beat myself when I know what's going on
  • Audio will help a lot with this - music, noise when getting hit, maybe some sound when bouncing off the walls. It'll make the entire gameplay feel more exciting
  • The momentum might be tuned a bit too high
  • The momentum feels tuned too LOW in the bump/bounce mechanic where you hit the other player. Feels like it sucks up one player's momentum and isn't redirected to the next player

Comparison to previous version based on devlog comments:

  • Definitely a LOT of improvement to the start screen! I think you can still tweak text and buttons, but you've made excellent progress here!
  • I think making restart just restart the game was a smart choice. Maybe adjust where the back button is for the main menu, however
  • Bullets obviously help with the gameplay :P
  • Adding bounce off the wall was a FANTASTIC choice. Feels a lot more exciting and impactful
  • The entire game board might benefit from some reskinning to fit the space theme
  • Player number/name/score text could still be improved a lot. Maybe consider adding a border around each section for easy visibility as well

Overall, you've made a lot of progress since your last version! I think the UI could be punched up even more, but it's a fantastic first step in iterating on improving that. Gameplay is pretty fun, though a single-player mode would increase the number of players you'll pull - don't scrap 2 player, though, as that's a cool extra mechanic to have. The overall theming could lean in well to the space vibe you've started to build, like make the bullets little asteroids and make the players look more like ships, make the playing board a grid like a computer navigation screen in an 80s space movie, etc.

Maybe on next pass you can add additional levels or new mechanics, like GOOD items to collect? That would add some extra complexity and strategy, especially with the "bump" mechanic where you can bounce the other player out of the way/into stuff.

Nice work!

Submitted(+2)

Loressa, I also managed to lose against the non-moving player, haha.

@ Nazandr: It seems to me that dodging bullets while moving is the biggest challenge. How about some abilities to push the opponent, throw some obstacles, or the other way round, let the players "pull" each other like magnets? Just some ideas you maybe already had. It's a good start and multiplayer games are the minority, so there's potential!

Developer

It's fine, i lose sometimes to non-moving player as well :)

I like idea from other comments about collectables with good effect, so prob will try to do something like that in the future, thanks for feedback!

Developer (5 edits)

Thank you for your godlike feedback! :) I really appreciate you attention to details, i thought that i'm doing big texts, but you are just on another level :)

I value your tips about ui and art part because i'm not artist myself and just trying to follow common sense, these can help me to actually improve it more. Btw space theme was kinda happy accident, at first i was looking for foresty-mountiany background (just because i prefer that and i have arena somewhat castlelike) but could not find in the same style of art i've already had, but then i found skybox and used its textures for backgrounds, lol :)

Single player is noted, that's at least more appropriate thing for game jam. I'm with you and @DevaosX in the sense that i also sometimes lose to non-moving couterpart, so annoying, haha :D

"Score seems to go below 0 (currently at -2.5)"

Do you mean health or rating at Leaderboard? I'm assuming health because for rating i would be really surprised for this result because it demands a huge amount of games and even then it should not go below 0

Sound would definitely help, agreed.

About momentum, bump, bounce - ye, it still feels clunky to me, good to see another opinion on that. Wall bounce was another happy accident btw, that was a try to solve bullet reflection problem, but i did it other way, but i enjoyed bounce so i left it :)

Addition of good items also sounds like a good idea, mb it will be better soultion to force players moving instead of just bullets as it was dicussed at other comments

Submitted(+1)

Nice game idea. I agree with FuryGames, some sounds and a single player option would be great.

UI improvements and addition of bullets work well. The number of bullets seems to be pretty high, so they become a dominant aspect; not sure it was intentional. Good progress!

Developer

Thank you for feedback! Yes, high amount of bullets is intentional to force player to move and push game to finishing point (because eventually bullets will be everywhere) :) Do you think it's better to give more air for players to play more or is it alright with my idea behind it?

Submitted(+1)

Now I see your intention (well, it's actually in the description) that dodging the bullets is the main challenge rather than confronting the enemy. I just thought emphasizing on the player interaction might be more interesting.

Developer

Player interaction was actually first intention as well, i have just tried to make something quick and that's only idea that came and was okish :) I will think about it when changing project, thank you for feedback!

Submitted(+1)

Nice game, I think you don't add sounds and music ? Anyways you can add a single player mode :D

Congratulations :)

Developer(+1)

Thank you for feedback! Ye, i wanted to add sounds as well but had not enough time for it :) Same for single player mode, nice suggestions!