The first Dandelion
What lies within the empty void?
Dandelions apparently.
Fill the void with dandelions using the state of the art tech Dandelion seeds physics™, unlock new areas and find out what the mysterious clay tablets are used for.
Made for the Pirate software Game jame 2024, with the theme "it's spreading".
(Downloadable build is heavily recommended since the web browser does not like rendering hundreds of dandelions)
The entire development process was recorded and is available to watch as a timelapse here: https://youtu.be/IM2RYgcJnBY
Download
Install instructions
Linux build is untested
Comments
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I chose to look at this game because it was in the pirate software game jam. You really demonstrated the theme of 'spreading'. I liked the progression system and reward, my favourite was discovering all this while doing a chill relaxing activity. This brings me happy memories as I liked to blow the seeds off the dandelions as a child. I came back to look at the game again after the jam was judged as you said you might make some fixes.
Thank you for making this game and keep having fun with game jams.
SPOILERS: My feedback: on my first play I couldn't find a final collectible. When I came back now I found them all because I looked for them first before blowing dandelions everywhere. I think I couldn't see it in my first playthrough because I filled the arena with dandelions.
Thanks for coming back! I have sadly not made any updates but I'm glad it went better the second time.
The controls feel so good that it immediately let me know I have to see what all is going on. Stumbling upon a mysterious pickup item pushed me to the end.
Thanks for playing!
Lovely game. I loved the dandelion and the concept of spreading the dandelion. My dad really hated them, and loves his grass lawn, but I think they rock. I think it's cool you implemented a fps warning to the user, and how smart it is in action. I think you should probably despawn dandelions outside of the plots after 5 minutes if it's not in the view frustrum to help alleviate the lag.
I think you did a good job of keeping players curious and wondering, because I did have multiple moments where I thought "oh this must be over, there must be no more content" but ended up finding more around some corner. I did give up after only one tablet though, because I was a bit fatigued.
With a game like this, everything has to feel nice because there isn't a sticky mechanic or challenge that drives the player (walking simulator sort of thing) and I think you've achieved that here. It was fun jumping around and goofing around with the dandelions.
I can't think of any really solid feedback, this is just really polished and good. Maybe I'd say there could be some design choices to drive more player motivation. Maybe if I knew about the tablet earlier, I would be content to keep looking for it. Since my world was lagging, that of course affected my player momentum.
Great job!
Thank you for playing and the long review! Despawning dandelions isn't an option, as I think one of the coolest things is seeing the path you've made them take.
And yeah, I should probably have put the first tablet in a even more visible space so that the player gets the objective earlier.
Very good! incredibly relaxing
Thanks! I'm glad you found it calming
nice little game, the ground colour made it a little hard to see slopes that i thought were walls. Also didn't know there was a puzzle untill i unlocked all the areas and found the box, not sure if that was intentional, but i ended up running around for perhaps a good 5mins trying to find puzzle pieces in a dandilion forest which was a little frustrating. I did have fun though <3
Thanks for playing! I did try to put the pieces in places that were easy to spot, but it becomes a lot more challenging if the ground is covered already. I'm impressed that you didn't give up the search
Nice take on the theme. It did get a little laggy with a lot of entities loaded in though.
Thank you! And yea, the web version struggles very quickly. I'm guessing that's what you played, as the downloadable version can handle around 3000 before lag
Interesting concept, sounds and music are great. I would like an exit button, maybee in esc screen. Camera is turning to the right on it's own, even after moving it to the left, not sure if it is intended. Or?
Thanks! That camera issue is weird, haven't had it myself. The exit button is disabled on the web build, as you can't really quit a web game without leaving the page anyways.
I now found out what the mouse moving bug is caused by. If the game window isn't fully visible in your webbrowser the mouse starts to drift.
Thanks for the effort. I think you are right. We tried it again and it seems like the "Rate for Pirate Software - Game Jam 14" link thingy is causing it.
When we set the zoom level on the browser to 90%, it works well.
Now that's really unlucky :D
Also as a physitian it is hard not to notice a good lung capacity when i hear one. :D :D
Have you found the easter egg about holding your breath?
I don't think so. I'll try now :D
Really cool concept with beautiful music and a really rewarding blow mechanic, really enjoyed it!
Thank you! I made the music before I got the game idea, so that forced me into creating a chill game to fit the music
Well, I think you really managed to make the music justice with the game! One of my first ideas was on the same line, only with some kind of mushroom spores. Ended up in a very different direction but i'm happy to see a similar idea so well polished :)
This was a lot of fun. Very chill.
Thanks! I did my best creating a relaxing experience
This is great! ^-^
I'm glad you liked it!
Gorgeous. I love this.
Thanks for playing!
Interesting interpretation of the theme. Nice submission!
Thanks!
I really really enjoyed this, this could be like one of those Journey/Flower type games, good work!
Thank you!