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AGS Games => Completed Game Announcements => Topic started by: MA Moncada on Sat 11/07/2020 20:02:58

Title: 30 minutes
Post by: MA Moncada on Sat 11/07/2020 20:02:58
Hello everybody!

This of is is my first attempt at making a game - the quarantine gave me some extra time to find new interests, I started reading these forum and the great densming tutorials...
creating a game was a childhood wish and here I am!

In short: the game is a a space drama with a bit of 80s feeling in it. Here it is https://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/site/games/game/2458-30-minutes/ (https://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/site/games/game/2458-30-minutes/)

You wake in a space station, you have lost your memory, and you have 30 minutes before a catastrophe. Some features
- actual time flow (you have actually 30 real time minutes to complete the game)
- multi path and 7 different endings (the latest 2 are quite hard to achieve)

The graphics is not that refined (I am not a specialist and did everything alone) , so I tried to rather focus on athmosphere
Thanks Eric Matyas for the great royalty free material for music and SFX, as requested I am happy to credit you for this

please note that I am not native english speaker, so some wording may not be correct

Hope you enjoy it & feedbacks are welcome!

(https://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/images/games/2458_2.png)
Title: Re: 30 minutes
Post by: Tampere on Sun 12/07/2020 12:20:54
Congrats for the release!

I have played it for a while and reached three endings
Spoiler
two bad an one semigood I suppose (wandering through space)
[close]
.
I feel I missed something but I do not know what to do… I will replay it later tonight.

The atmosphere and pace are very good, you should be proud of yourself.
Title: Re: 30 minutes
Post by: MA Moncada on Sun 12/07/2020 17:47:58
Quote from: Tampere on Sun 12/07/2020 12:20:54
Congrats for the release!

I have played it for a while and reached three endings
Spoiler
two bad an one semigood I suppose (wandering through space)
[close]
.
I feel I missed something but I do not know what to do… I will replay it later tonight.

The atmosphere and pace are very good, you should be proud of yourself.

Many thanks!!! I am so happy to read that you liked it

Spoiler
ps. In case of any hint needed, just let me know - ending #6 and #7 are intentionally hard to reach, but are the ones that explain a bit more of the background story
[close]
Title: Re: 30 minutes
Post by: milkanannan on Mon 13/07/2020 09:05:03
Dude looks like Christ, is 'reborn' (in a sense), has cross on shirt...are you sure this shouldn't be called Jesus Christ: Trekkie Edition?! (laugh)

Kidding - the game is super playable. Your lighting and colour scheme look great, and the music/backing effects give a really good sense of atmosphere. Nice bite-sized length, too.

Spoiler
I managed to build an extension cord and get the keycard, but then I walked around for 15 minutes aimlessly and lost the game. I'll give it another go later.

Just so you know - I don't think the player can exit the 'open book' screen in the one room. I had to restart the game because of this.
[close]

Awesome first game attempt!
Title: Re: 30 minutes
Post by: Tampere on Mon 13/07/2020 09:24:31
Quote from: milkanannan on Mon 13/07/2020 09:05:03
Spoiler
I managed to build an extension cord and get the keycard, but then I walked around for 15 minutes aimlessly and lost the game. I'll give it another go later.

Just so you know - I don't think the player can exit the 'open book' screen in the one room. I had to restart the game because of this.
[close]

Awesome first game attempt!

Spoiler
The cord will be needed to power up something, once you will find a power source it will become clearer.
As for the book: you can turn page/exit by clicking top left/top right part of it
[close]

I reached another two endings and they were both good, well done!
Title: Re: 30 minutes
Post by: heltenjon on Mon 13/07/2020 11:56:29
Very good first game! Only different bad endings for me so far, but I still have more to do.

One small gripe:
Spoiler
The walking on the platform outside of the station is a bit boring because it takes too long. I guess this adds to the realism and it's hard to do anything about when you use real time, but still there's a lot of walking. A fast forward of some kind would have been a nice addition in this part.
[close]

Otherwise: Great atmosphere and reasonably difficult. I'll try to reach all seven endings.  ;-D
Title: Re: 30 minutes
Post by: MA Moncada on Mon 13/07/2020 18:48:32
Quote from: milkanannan on Mon 13/07/2020 09:05:03
Dude looks like Christ, is 'reborn' (in a sense), has cross on shirt...are you sure this shouldn't be called Jesus Christ: Trekkie Edition?! (laugh)

that's not far from my intentions ;) (not Christ actually, but the reference book is the same)

Spoiler
I take the feedback on the book interface and will make it easier to navigate in the next release by adding a "close book" button - thank you!
[close]
Title: Re: 30 minutes
Post by: MA Moncada on Mon 13/07/2020 19:08:27
Quote from: heltenjon on Mon 13/07/2020 11:56:29
Very good first game! Only different bad endings for me so far, but I still have more to do.

One small gripe:
Spoiler
The walking on the platform outside of the station is a bit boring because it takes too long. I guess this adds to the realism and it's hard to do anything about when you use real time, but still there's a lot of walking. A fast forward of some kind would have been a nice addition in this part.
[close]

Otherwise: Great atmosphere and reasonably difficult. I'll try to reach all seven endings.  ;-D

Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated! I hope you get to endings #6 and #7 which are the ones actually explaining the backstory

Spoiler
Fair point, I have to think about a solution for a second version- which is not obvious - maybe adding some events during the spacewalk
[close]
Title: Re: 30 minutes
Post by: Shadow1000 on Tue 14/07/2020 15:54:50
My thoughts:

Spoiler
I like to take my time figuring things out when playing games and trying different actions on different objects. The 30 minute timer promotes rushing through things rather than exploring. I suppose if I could hurry up the player's walkcycle so walking from place to place doesn't take precious minutes it would be different. I opened the book and spent a few of my 30 minutes trying to close it but it seems that you can't?
[close]
Title: Re: 30 minutes
Post by: heltenjon on Tue 14/07/2020 16:28:59
Quote from: Shadow1000 on Tue 14/07/2020 15:54:50
My thoughts:

Spoiler
I like to take my time figuring things out when playing games and trying different actions on different objects. The 30 minute timer promotes rushing through things rather than exploring. I suppose if I could hurry up the player's walkcycle so walking from place to place doesn't take precious minutes it would be different. I opened the book and spent a few of my 30 minutes trying to close it but it seems that you can't?
[close]

You have to
Spoiler
click in the corners of the book to turn the page or close the book.
[close]
Title: Re: 30 minutes
Post by: Shadow1000 on Tue 14/07/2020 17:16:09
Quote from: heltenjon on Tue 14/07/2020 16:28:59
Quote from: Shadow1000 on Tue 14/07/2020 15:54:50
My thoughts:

Spoiler
I like to take my time figuring things out when playing games and trying different actions on different objects. The 30 minute timer promotes rushing through things rather than exploring. I suppose if I could hurry up the player's walkcycle so walking from place to place doesn't take precious minutes it would be different. I opened the book and spent a few of my 30 minutes trying to close it but it seems that you can't?
[close]

You have to
Spoiler
click in the corners of the book to turn the page or close the book.
[close]
Aha! Thanks!
Title: Re: 30 minutes
Post by: MA Moncada on Tue 14/07/2020 19:16:22
Quote from: Shadow1000 on Tue 14/07/2020 15:54:50
My thoughts:

Spoiler
I like to take my time figuring things out when playing games and trying different actions on different objects. The 30 minute timer promotes rushing through things rather than exploring. I suppose if I could hurry up the player's walkcycle so walking from place to place doesn't take precious minutes it would be different. I opened the book and spent a few of my 30 minutes trying to close it but it seems that you can't?
[close]
t

Hello, thanks for your comments! My answers below :)

Spoiler
Regarding the book, you can close it, but ... yes that's an interface not so user friendly... I have to improve in the next release by adding an explicit close book button. Regarding the pace, that's an intentional design choice aimed at giving a time constraint (I intentionally removed the regulation on the charachter speed) - I understand that not everybody may like it
[close]
Title: Re: 30 minutes
Post by: heltenjon on Wed 15/07/2020 03:12:43
Got one of the good endings (#6) and a plan to get to the last one. This game is really good. I enjoy the puzzles, the setting and the story.

Found a bug: When you press the date line on the first electronic panel, the game crashes.

One question:
Spoiler
Is the power supply for everything on timers? That is, after turning on the passcode panels, do I only have to wait? I tried various other actions, and suddenly it had power. But I'm not sure if I should simply let time pass or if I triggered it by doing something else. The ship gives a message it's powering up, and if that's the case with everything, perhaps there could be similar messages when the player turns on other switches?
[close]
Title: Re: 30 minutes
Post by: iamlowlikeyou on Wed 15/07/2020 14:54:30
Very nice game with a great atmosphere!

It may be that I'm just too stupid, but it seems maybe a bit too difficult - or it might just need a few hints. I managed to get to ending #2, but now I'm stuck.

Spoiler
I got the eye, which I used to get to ending #2, and I don't expect I'll need that for anything else?
Then I got the spoon, fork and knife, and the glass of water (I refilled it). And then I just got the password from the poetry book, and thought that would allow me to pass the door with the panel, but I guess I'll have to power it up somehow too. But I have no idea what to do, and I can't think of anything I haven't already tried. Little hint?  :-D
[close]

Oh, and I found a small bug:
Spoiler
after opening the upper left hibernating bed, it seems that the old hotspot still remains underneath the new one.
[close]
Title: Re: 30 minutes
Post by: MA Moncada on Wed 15/07/2020 22:30:37
Quote from: heltenjon on Wed 15/07/2020 03:12:43
Got one of the good endings (#6) and a plan to get to the last one. This game is really good. I enjoy the puzzles, the setting and the story.

Found a bug: When you press the date line on the first electronic panel, the game crashes.

One question:
Spoiler
Is the power supply for everything on timers? That is, after turning on the passcode panels, do I only have to wait? I tried various other actions, and suddenly it had power. But I'm not sure if I should simply let time pass or if I triggered it by doing something else. The ship gives a message it's powering up, and if that's the case with everything, perhaps there could be similar messages when the player turns on other switches?
[close]

thanks for the comment and for spotting the bug - which I have not on my to-do list

Regarding your question
Spoiler
The ship indeed requires some time to charge. When the switch is turned on (AND the power supply is > or= than the power need), then a message appears stating that chargin is ongoing. After some time, the ship is charged and ready to leave
That's the only powerable item that works like this and that's an explicit game mechanic
BUT
there's another thing that works differently. Since you reached the ending #6 somehow you found a way to get past through it
if the minutes left are <15 AND the switch on the semi-ring is on AND the power supply is > or= than the power need, THEN the panel closeby the door that divides the two semiring becomes hot... and the player must use something to cool it down  (that's an hidden mechanic that assumes that the electrical system within that panels is somehow working but not properly and that that system is becoming more and more warm, but you need the switch on to get actual power flowing through it. Cooling it down activates an emergency release)
[close]

Title: Re: 30 minutes
Post by: MA Moncada on Wed 15/07/2020 22:35:41
Quote from: iamlowlikeyou on Wed 15/07/2020 14:54:30
Very nice game with a great atmosphere!

It may be that I'm just too stupid, but it seems maybe a bit too difficult - or it might just need a few hints. I managed to get to ending #2, but now I'm stuck.

Spoiler
I got the eye, which I used to get to ending #2, and I don't expect I'll need that for anything else?
Then I got the spoon, fork and knife, and the glass of water (I refilled it). And then I just got the password from the poetry book, and thought that would allow me to pass the door with the panel, but I guess I'll have to power it up somehow too. But I have no idea what to do, and I can't think of anything I haven't already tried. Little hint?  :-D
[close]

Oh, and I found a small bug:
Spoiler
after opening the upper left hibernating bed, it seems that the old hotspot still remains underneath the new one.
[close]

thank you for the nice comment and for spotting the little bug, which goes in my to-do list for the next release.

Regarding the hint you asked for :)
Spoiler
HINT1. Try to let the water flow in both sinks  ;). HINT2 Try to read carefully what the panels of the hibernating bed say... all have electronic safe release but only one of the beds have...
[close]
Title: Re: 30 minutes
Post by: heltenjon on Wed 15/07/2020 22:55:02
Quote from: MA Moncada on Wed 15/07/2020 22:30:37
Quote from: heltenjon on Wed 15/07/2020 03:12:43
Got one of the good endings (#6) and a plan to get to the last one. This game is really good. I enjoy the puzzles, the setting and the story.

One question:
Spoiler
Is the power supply for everything on timers? That is, after turning on the passcode panels, do I only have to wait? I tried various other actions, and suddenly it had power. But I'm not sure if I should simply let time pass or if I triggered it by doing something else. The ship gives a message it's powering up, and if that's the case with everything, perhaps there could be similar messages when the player turns on other switches?
[close]



Regarding your question
Spoiler
The ship indeed requires some time to charge. When the switch is turned on (AND the power supply is > or= than the power need), then a message appears stating that chargin is ongoing. After some time, the ship is charged and ready to leave
That's the only powerable item that works like this and that's an explicit game mechanic
BUT
there's another thing that works differently. Since you reached the ending #6 somehow you found a way to get past through it
if the minutes left are <15 AND the switch on the semi-ring is on AND the power supply is > or= than the power need, THEN the panel closeby the door that divides the two semiring becomes hot... and the player must use something to cool it down  (that's an hidden mechanic that assumes that the electrical system within that panels is somehow working but not properly and that that system is becoming more and more warm, but you need the switch on to get actual power flowing through it. Cooling it down activates an emergency release)
[close]

Yes, that's exactly what I did. But I wasn't sure if
Spoiler
the panel went active because time had passed or because I transferred more power.
[close]
Thanks for explaining the mechanics.
Title: Re: 30 minutes
Post by: Shadow1000 on Fri 17/07/2020 02:55:02
Ok I spent some time playing and I got endings 3, 4 and 5. It's amazing how much there is in this little game!
Title: Re: 30 minutes
Post by: MA Moncada on Sat 18/07/2020 22:09:21
Quote from: Shadow1000 on Fri 17/07/2020 02:55:02
Ok I spent some time playing and I got endings 3, 4 and 5. It's amazing how much there is in this little game!

thank you! I hope you'll get to 6 and 7 as well! In case of hints needed, just let me know :)
Title: Re: 30 minutes
Post by: heltenjon on Mon 20/07/2020 13:02:51
My plan to get to ending number 7 brought me to ending number 5 instead. I'd count that one as a good ending, too. But there are some more things to try. I still haven't found ending number 3, in addition to that elusive 7.  :)

I fully agree with Shadow1000. This game makes the most out of its size! I'm growing more impressed by the minute.
Title: Re: 30 minutes
Post by: MA Moncada on Tue 21/07/2020 07:39:28
Quote from: heltenjon on Mon 20/07/2020 13:02:51
My plan to get to ending number 7 brought me to ending number 5 instead. I'd count that one as a good ending, too. But there are some more things to try. I still haven't found ending number 3, in addition to that elusive 7.  :)

I fully agree with Shadow1000. This game makes the most out of its size! I'm growing more impressed by the minute.

Thanks for the nice comment!

Spoiler
If you reached ending #5 and #6, then you are very close to achieve ending #7 (the best one)
[close]
Title: Re: 30 minutes
Post by: Stupot on Mon 27/07/2020 03:55:01
This game looks good. Well done for getting it made.
Title: Re: 30 minutes
Post by: Creamy on Wed 19/08/2020 22:11:17
I didn't fare well on my first attempt.

I won't give up but a couple of things are trying my patience:
- the unskippable walks - especially considering the time limit.
- all the doors look the same. Some indications would be welcome.
- no feedback for the wrong actions.

The couple of puzzles that I solved were good.
Title: Re: 30 minutes
Post by: MA Moncada on Thu 20/08/2020 00:05:33
Quote from: Creamy on Wed 19/08/2020 22:11:17
I didn't fare well on my first attempt.

I won't give up but a couple of things are trying my patience:
- the unskippable walks - especially considering the time limit.
- all the doors look the same. Some indications would be welcome.
- no feedback for the wrong actions.

The couple of puzzles that I solved were good.

Thanks for trying the game, and I am happy you enjoy the puzzles

Thank you also for yoyr feedback on the points you'd like to see different, these are useful to me since I am futting toghether an upgraded version of the game (which includes the resolution of some bugs that were highlighted by some people in the forum) . In particular on these:
- I did not want to have the corridors and the rooms to look different because of the typical modular design of structures like space stations. However, I can think about adding some simple pictograms closeby the doors to give an indication without loosing that 'modular space' feeling
- fair point on the feedback on wrong actions. I will add it
- the walk timing is an intentional design choice that tries to get the feeling of some of the old shool games. I understand that it is controversial and not everyone may like it (some will find it frustrating)

I hope you'll keep playing to the ending (well, to get some of the good ones) - in case of hints needed I'll be happy to help
Title: Re: 30 minutes
Post by: Monsieur OUXX on Tue 02/02/2021 13:54:23
This game is absolutely worth playing. Once you go past the ugliness, it's actually a pretty cool game.