So, yeah. Abstract and music-y. Grab green things. This was a difficult title to design for mostly because there’s nothing to really build on. My first approach was a game about placeholding, and it… didn’t really work. So I scrapped it and made a music toy. And then added scoring and a time limit to turn it into a game. Sorry about the delay.Go play it.
This game’s title was provided by Jonathan McCoy.
Game 31: Placeholder II,
Interesting. My main problem with this game (at least initially): It doesn’t make it clear enough when the game is over unless you’re paying attention to the amount of time left. So I don’t know my score from my first attempt since I accidentally started a new game without realizing it.
Cool game, Nathan. Much more than just a musical toy with a score and a timer. I like the how music builds over time and eventually even gets its own beat. Very cool.
It was a little strange that I didn’t know when the game ended, but I was happy enough to play it again. I like how it seamlessly flows into your next try but I wish it was obvious at the same time that you had started again.
It was strange that you didn’t have a top score in this game than you did with all your others. That top score is a strong motivator to keep playing.
I like intentionally clicking on red dots, so that I can get a huge green dot combo. That’s clever fun. I like listening to and seeing the dots come down in their streaks of light.
Like I said, cool game, Nathan!
-John
High score 135. Yo, Nathan, why did you make your scoring system linear and not quadratic? There doesn’t seem like a big incentive to go for really big combos. There is some reason to since you get 2 pts instead of 1 but it’s not as exciting. Still fun though.
-John
I knew you were pressed for time designing this, but if you plan to revisit this, I have two more ideas to add to a wish list.
Like I said, I enjoy how the game progresses musically, how it gets busier and how the drums turn into a beat. I would have liked to hear more chord changes. If clicking plays chords and new dots appearing on screen play notes from those chords, it would be cool to hear those slowly shift throughout the game, i.e. like a chord progression.
Also sound related, I wished there was a sound effect for when you collected green dots and I wished that sound effect became more badass the more green dots you collected. One idea that came to mind was that when you click, it only plays a single note of the chord, but the more green dots you collect, the more notes of that chord it adds to it. So when you get huge combos, your sonically rewarded with a badass sounding harmony.
Fun game, relaxing melody. Personal best of 156
Personally, I find it to be superior to the original placeholder in almost every way.
I gotta say, I agree with all of the above suggestions John made. I do miss the high score counter now that it’s gone. But the music is very neat, and could be made a little better with his suggestions too.