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A jam submission

Distress SignalView game page

VimJam 2020 Entry
Submitted by neenaw (@neenawgames)
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Distress Signal's itch.io page

Results

CriteriaRankScore*Raw Score
Graphics/Animation#84.4854.485
Overall#353.8243.824
Fun/Design#533.8183.818
Music/Sound#593.6063.606
Technical Implementation#683.5763.576
Theme/Limitation#1003.6363.636

Ranked from 33 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.

How does your game utilize the limitation and theme?
You must rescue a stranded astronaut. On the way there will be enemies, if you are to defeat them you must mine asteroids for resources.

What was your team size?

Solo

You worked alone

Which of the following content in your game is NOT 100% newly made for the jam?

Music/Sound

Affirm you have followed ALL jam rules. (Select all below or your entry will be disqualified.)

We have credited all assets used in the game including our own name(s) or team name(s)

All original game code and original assets were made during the jam period

The game does not include NSFW or hateful content

The game works on the web or as a Windows 10 download

We have answered all submission questions honestly and completely

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Comments

Viewing comments 29 to 10 of 29Next pageLast page
Submitted

Art looks really nice! Gameplay felt a little repeatitive since it takes so long to get to your goal, and you can easily cheese it by just leaving 1 ship alive cause then no other ships spawn. Good work either way! 

Submitted

I loved playing this game, it was very simple to understand, had good music and an interesting setting but the ship battles were challenging. I did find that taking on the large waves of ships was suicide though so you had to be near asteroids and prioritise destroying them to get the missile so you could systematically take out the large group. Could make it a bit easier on the player haha. Great jam entry, had a blast playing it!

Submitted (1 edit)

The take on enemy attacks is interesting.. It's like a bullet hell but more difficult. Probably shouldn't make the bullets target the player as much (Maybe I need to do the same in my game). I'm just imagining the game where one enemy shoots two bullets that aren't directly faced towards the player. The vector graphics and music fit with the game well. Thank god for not going back to Earth on death else it would really be a rage game. xD

Unrelated to the feedback, Cool video how did you edit it in under a week. I was so burntout when the jam was over xDDDD

Submitted

This game is just awesome! The idea is super cool, the graphics and sound are amazing and it gives off such a chill vibe. I'd love if you could try out my game too!

Submitted

Awesome entry! The graphics are perfect for this game and it was just beautiful, the sounds really matched the game well, congrats, and here is some feedback:

- The enemies are sometimes annoying to kill, they take a lot of shot and can sometimes just rush at you all at the same time and you get a lot of damage

- Some less shots to destroy the meteors would be nice

- I think I completed the game with a easier way, I destroyed all enemies but one, so only one was attacking me and another wave of enemies never spawned.. this made the game easier but more boring.

- Having to get the astronaut and after that having to go back all the way is really boring, adding permanent upgrades would be nice, also the boost isn't that much of a boost, maybe 50-70 meters per boost would be better

But anyway, I loved it a lot, great game!

Submitted

Good game! I liked the Idea that you have to manage 3 resources and you can strategise about if you want to trade time (shooting asteroids) to healt, rocket or dash.

Though there was a HUGE difficultyspike after getting close to the person we're saving in the mission. After that the game just gets unplayable. The enemies have waaay too much health and that combined with this low visual signal, makes the player feel like they are only scratching the ships. The number of enemies you have to fight at the same time is too high as well and on top of it all, the bullets are really fast. (the bullets aren that bad, but combined with those mentioned above, these 3 make the 2nd half of the game unfun)

I think it would have made more sense to make the rocket deal damage in an aera. Ista-killing an enemy is useful and all, but does it matter when there are still like 12 ships shooting at you? I think the insta-kill could stay and there could be additional damage to other ships. If this is how it worked already I couldn't notice it, because the lack of visual feedback.

I generally like the concept, the idea and the game. I just highlighted some issues so you can understand, why am I saying certain things. The game IS still good. (So it's not just me being harsh, rather trying to give you constructive feedback. Not sure if you could tell ;D )

BTW if you could visit my game too, that would be really appreciated.

Submitted

Good game! I liked the Idea that you have to manage 3 resources and you can strategise about if you want to trade time (shooting asteroids) to healt, rocket or dash.

Though there was a HUGE difficultyspike after getting close to the person we're saving in the mission. After that the game just gets unplayable. The enemies have waaay too much health and that combined with this low visual signal, makes the player feel like they are only scratching the ships. The number of enemies you have to fight at the same time is too high as well and on top of it all, the bullets are really fast. (the bullets aren that bad, but combined with those mentioned above, these 3 make the 2nd half of the game unfun)

I think it would have made more sense to make the rocket deal damage in an aera. Ista-killing an enemy is useful and all, but does it matter when there are still like 12 ships shooting at you? I think the insta-kill could stay and there could be additional damage to other ships. If this is how it worked already I couldn't notice it, because the lack of visual feedback.

I generally like the concept, the idea and the game. I just highlighted some issues so you can understand, why am I saying certain things. The game IS still good. (So it's not just me being harsh, rather trying to give you constructive feedback. Not sure if you could tell ;D )

BTW if you could visit my game too, that would be really appreciated.

Submitted

That's a cute little spaceship! I think there's a really fun game here. I would love to see a few more things to collect and maybe some more upgrades. 

Submitted

I really like all the art and the gameplay! It reminds me of bullet hells I used to play. My only complaint is that the enemy's bullets slightly home, which makes them a little hard to dodge, but If this was done for balancing  reasons I understand.

I'd like if you checked out my game game if you had the time?

Submitted

I made it to the end! Fun game with nice and clean graphics. I think to the time to kill should be a little faster, and possibly some sort of health bar for the enemies. Other that I enjoyed finishing it. I think this could be a fun mobile game if you work on it after the jam!

Submitted

I liked the concept and the execution is pretty enjoyable as well. My only gripes are the enemy design. The fact that they stick to you makes it incredibly difficult to maneuver around their fire when there is a lot of them. If you decide to flesh out this game my two main suggestions are to rebalance the enemy AI and behavioral patterns, and to consider replacing the player movement system with something more physics based. All in all, great job!

Submitted

Really good work! I like that you really have to use asteroids in order to survive. For a short moment I thought I could fly directly to the target - but I have no hope that one could survive that. The objective should might be closer. After reaching him I lost motivation to fly back again.

But overall a really good game with really nice art! 

Submitted(+1)

Vector art was great! And the game plays super well!

I would say that the enemies are a little bullet spungey and slow the game down a little, maybe a couple more coming at you but with all of them with less than 50% of their current health?

Either way, nice job I had a bunch of fun!

Developer(+1)

I have made a long list of tweaks I will make to the post jam version to make the enemies a touch more forgiving 馃槄

Thank you for playing my game, I have returned the favor by playing and reviewing yours too. 

Submitted(+1)

I really love the visuals in this game! They look pretty polished and clean, the particle effects are on point as with every hit on an asteroid or an enemy they spawn so naturally fitting with everything else. I'm looking forward to see the tweaks and stuff you get to add when the rating period ends.

Please check out my game if you find the time :)

Developer

Thank you for the kind words. I am glad you enjoyed the particle effects! It's my first time really figuring them out my own style without a tutorial. I've written a whole bunch of improvement for post jam.

I checked out your game and left a rating and review 馃憤馃従

Submitted(+1)

This is a really nice looking game! All the art fit really well and I love the vector aesthetic. The ship was also fun to fly around and firing felt satisfying.  If I could make any changes I think the enemy ai might be a little aggressive, especially after you defeat a few wave and the game starts spawning waves of 6 or 7 enemies, it was really hard to dodge them and I found myself just running and dodging to get as far ahead as I could before dying. I still finished the rescue mission, though. Overall, really fun game, congrats!

Developer

Thanks for playing the game all the way to the end, even though it's really hard.  This is my first jam and I've learnt I need to leave time for someone else to play test it.

I have taken the time to play, rate and review your game too 馃憤馃従

Submitted(+1)

The movements felt snappy and responsive which I thought was really nice. Like some of the other comments said, a little less enemy health would make the crowd control a lot easier and more satisfying. Also more variety in the enemies would make the loop a bit more engaging. I think the enemy bullets tracking you was a little much considering how many there were and how hard they were to dodge but I think this was a pretty good little space shooter prototype! well done!

Developer

In hindsight the enemy bullets tracking is a bit too much. I don't want them straight, but I don't think they should track the player this well. It is definitely food for thought. 

Thanks for playing my game. I have played yours too and left a review. Hope you keep posting to itch 馃憤馃従

Submitted

For a one week jam this is a very elaborate game at least in my books. Good job! I had fun playing that rescue mission all the way.

Submitted

I really like the look and feel of this one. The enemies were a bit hard to deal with at times, because they spawned in a pack and it was hard to defend oneself from all of them at once, so it became frustrating. But other than that really well done! The art, sound and mechanics fit together nicely too.

Developer

First time making art for a game, so this was really nice to hear. I will make many changes to the enemies post jam 馃槄

Thank you for taking the time to play and review my game. I have just returned played an reviewed yours too 馃憤馃従

Submitted

Honestly, this is the best game I've played in this jam. I love the art style and the concept of mining asteroids for resources. The only problem was the length and the repetition of the same enemies. Other than that, 10/10.  

Submitted

What a beautiful art style and great music.  A nice take on the space bullet hell.  I enjoyed the implement of mining asteroids to collect shield, missile, and boost resources.

My few suggestions would be:
- Either less enemies in a wave, lower health enemies,  and/ or less fast, they get right up in your face no matter how fast you go and are over powered.  It gets a little too cluttered and becomes frustrating to try and shoot them all.
- Health bars on enemies and asteroids.
- A closer first SOS as a first round.

Otherwise it's a visually pleasing game with smooth mechanics!  Nice job!

Viewing comments 29 to 10 of 29Next pageLast page