While I think this is barebones - I LOVE the idea. I think I have dreamed of something like this -it's really beautiful. The writing could use polishing -either more poetic or more curt. The cicada/summer sound I found a bit too repetitive/short, it loops a little obviously. My biggest complaint would be the mowing mechanic itself- while charming and satisfying to cut grass- the mower does not move in an enjoyable way! I think if you could make the mower feel more flexible it would have helped the feel of the game a lot. I also was expecting there to be some reward for doing a good job, or some consequence to a bad one (other than being told I didn't do it). Like lemonade to recharge you instead of having to stand in the sun. Just my thoughts- but otherwise really enjoyed it and it inspired me so much!!
Viewing post in Ikuta '73 jam comments
Thank you, yes, it is very preliminary. I did the writing myself, and it was a bit of a rush job, I need to take another pass at it. I had to make some sacrifices due to timing. Like after the fourth iteration working on the cicada sounds, I just had to accept them as placeholders and move on. The plan is to eventually make them more layered and randomized. And add other atmospheric layered sounds like cars, bikes, dog barks, etc. The mower movement tuning was a challenge. I got it tuned right for me, and about half my playtesters loved it, but, the other half, like you, don't like the way it moves. If you have some specific ideas about what is wrong with it, I'd like to hear them (not enough turning radius, too wide a hitbox, etc). Did you notice that you can do a wheelie to do quick pivot turns? What control scheme were you using? Did you try the "Katamari" controls? I find those work best and are the most comfortable for me, like handling a real mower.
The stamina system is only the first iteration. But, even in this version you should be recharged to 120% stamina if you do 95% plus job on a yard (due to receiving some sort of refreshment). The plan is to add the option to purchase food and drink items from the convenience store between jobs. Drinks will refill your stamina and you can purchase extra for quick refills mid-yard. Food will raise/restore your max stamina. The idea here is that for every 10 points of "soft" stamina you burn working, you lose a single point of max stamina (so if you work from 100 stamina to exhaustion, you'll only be able to recharge back up to 90 stamina as the day goes on). So, drinks and shade will only restore so much. But, food will allow you to restore and raise your max stamina. I'm still testing out and tweaking this system in the new version, but that's the plan at the moment.
I'd like to make this into a much more fully fledged game. Procedural lawns. Running of the business. Managing client relationships. Hanging out with friends after work. Purchasing new equipment (like starting with a reel mower, then upgrading to better rotary mowers). Side quests. Maintaining your mower. Etc. We'll see. Thanks for playing it and sharing your feedback!
I wrote a big long thing but lost it - I want to say I really love the direction you wanna take the game in and will love to come back and try it again. New locations would be a lot of fun, and I think you have a lot of fun unique possibilities, especially if you're utilizing inspiration from your source material! I totally understand just putting it together for the jam! I am working on another game and have kind of the same issue with a cicada sound too! Imperfections also have character.
Regarding the mower- I am playing keyboard/mouse. What I realized replaying it just now, I could have been turning easier by lifting the mower- but it never occurred to me the first time I played. It's hard- without lifting it- to make a natural turn, I had to back up and pressssssssssss to make a turn. That is pretty normal for real mowing but what the physics lack for me feel wise is that kind of sway that normal heavy things have when you move them - When moving the mower this way or that, it should feel like there is some residual sway/resistance/momentum. Right now its just a box always facing forward regardless of how you move. That feels off to me. Having some more natural physics with the mower itself will make the playthrough more satisfying imo.
This is a very meditative game. I think it has so much potential, and is really great at the level you have it at now.