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A jam submission

Lake Vostok incidentView game page

Short psychological horror experience set in Antarctica
Submitted by Unprofitable Productions (@DebtProducers), Totsnuk (@Totsnuk) β€” 1 hour, 58 minutes before the deadline
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Lake Vostok incident's itch.io page

Results

CriteriaRankScore*Raw Score
gHosts' Choice#1n/an/a
Enjoyment (Best Game)#523.5453.545
Story#653.3643.364
Aesthetics#903.8183.818
Horror#1033.1823.182
Sound Design#1183.1823.182

Ranked from 11 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.

Judge feedback

Judge feedback is anonymous.

  • An incredibly atmospheric and effective game that utilizes its setting well and builds on a few parallel mechanics: exploration, collection and a temperature survival system that is all very impressive for a jam game and could easily be extended into a very strong fully fledged experience. Definitely a jam highlight. Great work!

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Comments

Submitted

Gorgeous atmosphere, loved the visuals, I will play a full game in this setting, well done.

Submitted (1 edit)

I tried to play the game a few times thinking that i did something wrong in my previous playthrough.  First of i want to say that the theme and atmosphere of the game is really cool. Riding snowmobile to navigate an arctic wasteland is a nice idea too. The temperature mechanic kinda reminded me of Cryostasis an old Russian horror game that was made about 20 years ago. With that being said, the gameplay has some serious problems and there are some very annoying bugs that made the game unplayable for me. First i calibrated the C5 location on computer but somehow the calibrated location is changed by itself, so i looked for it for minutes but couldn't find it, i think it was some kind of bug. Then i tried to go to the right sample location but the terrain you need to go through there is very rocky and controls of the snowmobile are not so good, so the snowmobile kept getting flipped whenever i hit a bump or if try to go slow, it cannot climb the slope so i decided to get off the snowmobile and walk, but this time i lost a lot of time and  froze to death.  I think putting a rocky area on snowy a  wasteland was a mistake. After a few unsucessful playthrouhgs i got frustrated and stopped playing the game. It was a pity bcs i found the premise of the game very interesting. Anyway these are my thought and feedbacks on your game. I hope  you find them useful on your pursuit to improve and finish this game which i'd love you to.  I appreciate your hard work and wish you luck on your future projects

Developer

git gud

Submitted

Had a lot of fun with this. Got some good air time with the snow mobile :) And thanks god for the compass! Really cool game, enjoyed the atmosphere and controls and the growing sense of dread. Awesome job!

Submitted

Had a lot of fun with this. Got some good air time with the snow mobile :) And thanks god for the compass! Really cool game, enjoyed the atmosphere and controls and the growing sense of dread. Awesome job!

Submitted

Definitely a good play, the ending actually did get me and its a really cool concept for a monster. The major gripe I have with the gameplay is how bouncy the snowmobile is. It was disorienting getting chucked into the air and flipping a few times after hitting every little bump. Not only was it a struggle to keep myself oriented to the target I was riding to, but it broke the immersion a lot. Fantastic job anyway, that was fun and I love the concept, story, and setting.

Submitted

I made till the Janitor message but after that I had trouble finding the samples back after dying too bad because I was totally invested in the game. Great work!

Submitted

"Lake Vostok incident" is a remarkable retro game that offers a unique and spine-tingling experience. Set in the desolate, frozen wasteland, players step into the boots of a courageous researcher on a mission to collect increasingly gruesome samples in the name of science. With its eerie atmosphere, suspenseful gameplay, and a shocking twist, this game will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Gameplay (β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜†): The game's core mechanics revolve around exploration and sample collection, with the player using a rugged snowmobile to traverse the unforgiving terrain. The controls are simple and intuitive, but the ever-present sense of vulnerability adds to the tension. The snowmobile's engine noise and the relentless howling of the icy wind create an eerie ambiance that is both immersive and unsettling. But fuck the snowmobile; I had more airtime spinning 1000 rpm than actually driving. 

As you venture further from the research base, the samples become progressively more gruesome, making every decision to pick up another sample a nerve-wracking experience. The game doesn't rely on jump scares or graphic violence but instead capitalizes on building a sense of dread and anticipation that steadily escalates as you progress.

Storyline (β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜†): The game's storyline is minimalistic but effectively serves its purpose. The plot revolves around the mysterious research mission in Antarctica, and the narrative unfolds primarily through environmental storytelling, documents, and occasional radio transmissions. The absence of a detailed backstory leaves much to the player's imagination, which can be both captivating and slightly frustrating for those who prefer a more concrete narrative. I want my professional name to be "janitor".

Graphics and Sound (β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…): "Lake Vostok incident" embraces the retro aesthetic, presenting players with pixel art graphics reminiscent of older games. This design choice adds a layer of nostalgia and contributes to the game's eerie atmosphere. The use of limited colors and stylized pixel art is deliberate, emphasizing the stark, cold, and isolated feeling of wasteland. The sound design deserves praise as it effectively complements the visuals and adds depth to the player's immersion.

Ending (β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜†): The climax of the game is where "Lake Vostok incident" truly shines. As the research base becomes buried under a relentless blizzard, the tension and dread reach their peak. Without giving away any spoilers, the game concludes with an unexpected and well-executed jump scare that will leave players startled and possibly even haunted.

In conclusion, "Lake Vostok incident" is a chilling, retro gaming experience that successfully captures the essence of arctic isolation and suspense. It might not be for everyone, as it relies heavily on atmosphere and minimalistic storytelling, but for those who appreciate psychological horror and atmospheric tension, this game is a hidden gem. Strap into your snowmobile, collect your samples, and be prepared for a horrifying journey into the heart of the Antarctic. Just remember: sometimes, the scariest monsters are the ones within us.

Developer (1 edit)

ChatGPT my beloved

Submitted

No

Submitted

b

Developer

Academic Writing: "In Conclusion"...How Not to End Your Paper

Having trouble finding the right words to finish your paper? Are your conclusions bland? This handout covers basic techniques for writing stronger endings, including

  • Diagnosing and improving paragraph cohesion
  • Avoiding 7 common errors when drafting and revising conclusions
  • Answering the reader’s unspoken question—β€œSo what?”

Improve paragraph cohesion

A. Make your sentences conform to a β€œgiven/new” contract

β€œGiven” information (familiar to your reader) should come first in the sentence. For example, you could reiterate a main idea in the sentence or two beforehand, or something apparent within the context of the sentence, or an idea that taps into readers’ general knowledge of a topic. β€œNew” information (additional, unfamiliar, and/or more complex) should comprise the second half of your sentence.

The β€œnew” info of one sentence then becomes the β€œgiven” or familiar info of the next, improving overall flow and coherence.

B. Use β€œtopic-strings”

Each sentence needs a topic or main idea, which should be in the β€œgiven” part of the sentence. Shift β€œgiven” info closer to the beginnings of your sentences when you can, so that the topic is clear. As well, each paragraph needs an overall topic, usually established in the first or second sentences. To check paragraph coherence, see whether your sentence topics (β€œgivens”) connect consistently from sentence to sentence. Can you find a consistent topic throughout the paragraph, almost as if you were tracing a single colored thread? A set of sentences with clear topics creates a β€œtopic thread.” This, along with appropriate use of transitions, helps to ensure a coherent paragraph.

  • If your topic thread is not apparent or seems to get lost, revise your sentences according to a β€œgiven/new” information pattern.
  • Use transitions where needed to indicate opposition, agreement or linkage, cause & effect, exemplification or illustration, degree, comparison, etc. For more on transitions, see β€œMaking Connections: Choosing Tran
Submitted

"Lake Vostok incident" is a remarkable retro game that offers a unique and spine-tingling experience. Set in the desolate, frozen wasteland, players step into the boots of a courageous researcher on a mission to collect increasingly gruesome samples in the name of science. With its eerie atmosphere, suspenseful gameplay, and a shocking twist, this game will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Gameplay (β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜†): The game's core mechanics revolve around exploration and sample collection, with the player using a rugged snowmobile to traverse the unforgiving terrain. The controls are simple and intuitive, but the ever-present sense of vulnerability adds to the tension. The snowmobile's engine noise and the relentless howling of the icy wind create an eerie ambiance that is both immersive and unsettling. But fuck the snowmobile; I had more airtime spinning 1000 rpm than actually driving. 

As you venture further from the research base, the samples become progressively more gruesome, making every decision to pick up another sample a nerve-wracking experience. The game doesn't rely on jump scares or graphic violence but instead capitalizes on building a sense of dread and anticipation that steadily escalates as you progress.

Storyline (β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜†): The game's storyline is minimalistic but effectively serves its purpose. The plot revolves around the mysterious research mission in Antarctica, and the narrative unfolds primarily through environmental storytelling, documents, and occasional radio transmissions. The absence of a detailed backstory leaves much to the player's imagination, which can be both captivating and slightly frustrating for those who prefer a more concrete narrative. I want my professional name to be "janitor".

Graphics and Sound (β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…): "Lake Vostok incident" embraces the retro aesthetic, presenting players with pixel art graphics reminiscent of older games. This design choice adds a layer of nostalgia and contributes to the game's eerie atmosphere. The use of limited colors and stylized pixel art is deliberate, emphasizing the stark, cold, and isolated feeling of wasteland. The sound design deserves praise as it effectively complements the visuals and adds depth to the player's immersion.

Ending (β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜†): The climax of the game is where "Lake Vostok incident" truly shines. As the research base becomes buried under a relentless blizzard, the tension and dread reach their peak. Without giving away any spoilers, the game concludes with an unexpected and well-executed jump scare that will leave players startled and possibly even haunted.

In conclusion, "Lake Vostok incident" is a chilling, retro gaming experience that successfully captures the essence of arctic isolation and suspense. It might not be for everyone, as it relies heavily on atmosphere and minimalistic storytelling, but for those who appreciate psychological horror and atmospheric tension, this game is a hidden gem. Strap into your snowmobile, collect your samples, and be prepared for a horrifying journey into the heart of the Antarctic. Just remember: sometimes, the scariest monsters are the ones within us.

Submitted

I like the idea of survival. Very nice!

Developer

Good shit, kept my attention until the very end. Very panic inducing trying to not freeze to death.

There are a few bugs here and there, but otherwise it is very good.

8.6/10

Submitted

Game gives me The Thing vibes. Couldn't play too long because the physics where driving me crazy, the snowmobile flips all over the place, and the cat flies around the room knocking everything around. I managed to catch it and it turned into a kitty buzz saw in my hands knocking everything it touched around, even the fridge, which I eventually got mad at and through out the door lol, everything felt like it weighed nothing. I could see this being really cool if it wasn't for the physics. Otherwise it looked really well made.

Developer

Submitted

Playing with the crazy cat is super entertaining . :)