If this were any other concept, I would likely have just left in frustration.
However, it is true that the intent of the artist has a great deal of influence over how you perceive a game and its mechanics.
I played through to the end with every disability, because this game spoke to me on a level that few do.
You have earned my respect.
Hi im jsu here to say u f***ed this game up okay since wen does that appen tall me u f*ck in the end u had a chance to put the winzard talling u that life was worth it and that BUT NO U JUST ENDED IT IT THERE HAVE SOME RESPECT! (great graphics :3 sorry for the review)
Interesting idea.
I played through crippled, was fine.
played most of illiterate, as long as you dont care about the signs you can do it well enough, accidentally hit reset before the end didn't get the badge.
THEN we come to spaztic.
I see what you were going for there. BUT you needed to space the timing out a BIT farther apart between 'siezures'. I was going good, the occasional death. Then I hit the room with the wall of fireballs. 20 deaths... THEN the game had me go back 5 rooms, THEN I had to sit there holding right 5 five minutes because of non stop spaz left/jump left attacks... Then it started overriding my 'go right' key which had been making me stand still, costing me another 2 rooms. I said 'well screw this'.
I see what you were going for. Daring in thought but horribly, HORRIBLY implimented.
As for some of the crippled dialoge it just got... repedative and annoying to scroll through. Example 'rot' guy. I see them saying it 2 or 3 times but having to mash the button 20, 30 times? no thanks.
Nice graphics and controls, but haphazardly slapped together with a side of offensiveness. The basic idea for the game is interesting but execution wasn't stellar. I think you were too ambitious given the dare's time limit, trying to cram in too many character mechanics and skimping on level design and overall game mechanics. Pick one character mechanic and refine from there. I did feel frustrated, which is good, but it was just too random. Kudos for tackling the issue of disabilities, but to be blunt: you are too blunt. The tone and language are offensive and condescending. Still, it seems like this stems more from naivety rather than insensitivity (hence, forgivable I guess). The epithet "cripple" is pejorative pretty much anywhere I believe. Illiteracy is not a disability but possibly a symptom of one. Spasticity is a medical term but the epithet "spastic" is offensive to a broad swathe of English speakers. Saying that someone is "plagued by a random disability" also comes off as insensitive. Do you think all people with disabilities feel that they are plagued? Do you have a disability, or did you collaborate with someone who does, and are you attempting to show players the frustration you or your collaborator sometimes feel? That would be cool. Steady Eddy and Josh Blue are awesome. Not saying you should never touch a subject like this, but you need to be certain you can negotiate the territory before diving in. Many people with disabilities might say "who cares, it's just a game," while I'm sure others would be quite saddened. Which itself is sad, because I'm sure your heart is in the right place.
This was indeed a bit overambitious for a 72 hour jam. I'm going to try and be more focused with future game competitions.
I'm a strong believer that context and the intentions of the speaker are more important than the words used.
Do disabled people not wish to be more able-bodied and/or able-minded? I would. If I suddenly lost my ability to see, walk, read or control myself, I believe I would feel that I was plagued with a disability.
i would have made efforts to inquire about what it's like to be disabled, but unfortunately, I couldn't. Another downside to the time limit.
To be honest, I was a little worried about some of the concerns you brought up, but after reading and hearing some of the positive and thoughtful feedback, I think making this game was worth it. Perhaps it's not well-researched or focused, but some people have really connected with it and it's made a few players think about disabilities and the way disabled people may be treated.
I appreciate your feedback, and thanks for playing.
it's a bit of an awkward game...