Wish Maker - GIAD 2011

ID:119095
 
Sep 25 2011, 7:12 pm


Wish Maker is my GIAD 2011 entry. Iain's choice in themes was a bit hard to work with, but after wrestling around with a few ideas I decided there was probably no way I could make a meaningful game based on mechanics alone. I also realized there was probably no way I could generate enough artwork to make it look even half way decent.

With that in mind I decided to take a different approach. Rather than focusing on complex mechanics or fantastic artwork, I chose to do something I could actually pull off in a day. I took an artistic approach to this contest, not in terms of fancy art, but in terms of trying to make a game of artistic merit. Using a minimalist art style and a two button control scheme I managed to create something I'm quite happy with.

Win or lose, I had some fun and I guess that's what it's really all about. I know everyone is going to have a good laugh at the source code once Iain is done judging everything. I guess my only real fear at this point is people getting stuck on the tutorial screen.
Sep 25 2011, 7:15 pm
Yup. What do I do once I'm on the title screen?
Sep 25 2011, 7:15 pm
Nevermind!
That was really clever!
Sep 25 2011, 7:19 pm
Charming game. I love the music, it really completes the piece imo. Nice job.
Sep 25 2011, 7:21 pm
I thought I was supposed to dodge all of the things at first. I was wrong. xD
Sep 25 2011, 7:35 pm
Lol, I was stuck on the "Tutorial screen" for a while, it just looked like she had throat cancer or maybe a thumbtack was trying to escape. Also didn't realize there was an ending, because while maximized the bar at the bottom disappeared. It's an interesting game none the less.
Sep 25 2011, 8:14 pm
Alright, thanks for the feedback. I went and fixed up the interface so you can play it while maximized.

Originally I wanted to do some sort of inverted color effect for the little star on the intro screen, but I couldn't figure out a way to pull it off. I went ahead and just made the little star a little more gray so it's easy to see on both the black and white backgrounds.

It's still 11:13pm here, but I think Iain works on east coast time so these fixes probably wont count when being judged.
Sep 25 2011, 8:28 pm
But it counts in our <3's, lol. Maybe put something like Controls: Up arrow, Down arrow, in the hub, because that's the part I didn't realize made the star move (though you'll be able to notice the grey star move now if you button mash).
Sep 25 2011, 11:07 pm
Megablaze wrote:
(though you'll be able to notice the grey star move now if you button mash).

Yup, that was my goal. The first thing you'll do is click, hit a key, then start mashing the arrow keys. Once the star begins to rise it should covey the message arrow keys are the main control interface.
Sep 26 2011, 2:00 am
It's a nice game. I liked the music and the background effect.

I closed it the first time I played because I'm not the button mashing type. I needed to read the comments to understand how to play.

Also, what theme is this supposed to be? Mirage?
Sep 26 2011, 3:46 am
Toadfish wrote:
Also, what theme is this supposed to be? Mirage?

The theme is zodiac, you play as a wish which becomes a new constellation if fulfilled.
Sep 26 2011, 5:30 am
Ah, I thought the wish was that the girl'll be able to walk again, judging from the game over screen.
Sep 26 2011, 8:30 am
I must say I really enjoyed this. Keep up the good work SuperAntx
Sep 26 2011, 1:45 pm
Toadfish wrote:
Ah, I thought the wish was that the girl'll be able to walk again, judging from the game over screen.

You are correct!