for some reason, the game kept freezing when i got past the intro cutscene (which was really beautiful). on a mac and on chrome :(
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CountDown On Me's itch.io pageResults
| Criteria | Rank | Score* | Raw Score |
| Narrative | #137 | 4.190 | 4.190 |
| Artwork | #245 | 4.476 | 4.476 |
| Audio | #1005 | 3.571 | 3.571 |
| Enjoyment | #2908 | 3.286 | 3.286 |
| Creativity | #4451 | 3.286 | 3.286 |
Ranked from 21 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.
How does your game fit the theme?
The game features the counting down of "happiness battery percentage" every time you interact with NPCs or make choices in the game. After each guest the protagonist's "battery count" continues decreasing despite having moments of positivity in the interactions. It is also a play on word: In a world where happiness is a sacred resource, "count on me" to listen and support you through hardships, even at the cost of my own battery.
(Optional) Please credit all assets you've used
See description for full credits.
(Optional) What would you like to be called if GMTK features your game?
PunnyStudio
Comments
Artistic visuals, audio, and writing. Well done! I'm a little touched and wonder how some of the characters fared
Submitted
Beast o'ClockQuite a calm ambience, I like it!
Overall, I would have slightly expected something with more interactivity, but it's understandable as a visual novel.
Still, I liked the concept of it!
Submitted
Temporal AscensionCute and atmospheric game! Unfortunately I found the font a bit hard to read, maybe adding some more space between lines could help! :) I really like the music track you chose. Good job!
Submitted
The Last Cigarettethe ambience of the entire game, from the cutscene to the raindrops in the background, works so well. it’s so melancholic and touching! i really enjoyed getting to learn more about every guest and trying to help them. i think you two knocked it out of the park with this, and i’m excited to see how you expand it!
Submitted
Earth OdditiesSo close to home! The concept of the social battery as a countdown limiter is very good! Tho the story goes a little shy so you don't really feel the pressure of a countdown.
Art and writing are amazing and definitely heartwarming.
Submitted
Space BarbarianMan I don’t want to rate this game yet because I can’t start on it but I loveee the intro so much. The atmosphere is so good. Unfortunately I’ve tried the browser, v4 windows, and v3 windows and everything seems to crash after the cutscene. I’m gonna follow y’all ’cause I really want to play a fixed version after the jam.
Submitted
The Soul of the CardsNooooo 😭 we’re so sorry it must’ve wasted so much of your time 😭
We’ll definitely get the fixed version uploaded as soon as the Jam’s over. Thank you so much for your patience and interest, rated or not, we really appreciate it when you’re willing to give our love child a try! Have a good day wherever you are and have a fun Jam!
that was partially it! tried to get the intro in right before the deadline and man does it costs. I checked out yours and it has such a clever combat system, what a shame the bug prevents people from experiencing it fully :(. If you're patching it up after the Jam lmk, I love deck building games with fresh mechanics
Heartwarming and charming. I relate a lot listening to their problems, especially the kid with the math struggles T_T
Yet it was overall relaxing and cozy experience. The therapist choice of words is soothing too. Great game 🫶
Submitted
999: Escape the LabyrinthMan, just the intro was already priming me to feel things
SPOILERS
math kid storyline got me to tear up ahahaaaaaa oof, especially the math kid->grandma story connection
although the ending was a bit abrupt.
I love the "May Happiness be with you" because from the outside, it looks like either a corporate tagline, or a cult's mantra, BUT in this game, I think it's said with the utmost sincerity.
That was a good play. I'm gonna run it back and help the lover
Submitted
Code AthensWe’re so glad that the story resonate with you!
We meant to make a short 3-day gameplay, but after reconsidering it, it was compressed into one day. There are still space for further development, so that’s why the ending feels a little bit sudden.
Thank you so much for your comment. May happiness be with you ☺️
Ahhh, this game is so sad. The music is beautiful, the story is beautiful. I'm so sad this didn't get more traction. I wanted to keep my battery going just to see how everyone turned out! I had to play the downloaded version in order to see the actual game, the intro was was amazing, I just had to play. My friends on mac won't be able to play.
The art, the music, the story. Perfect across the board. I can't believe a technical glitch is going to prevent this from getting more attention.
One note, KPI makes it seem so sterile, I don't want to have my perspective be from that. Also It would be great to hide the battery drain percentage from the user or make the "correct" decisions cost more.
Isn't that just like in real life? The harder decisions cost more to make. If they were easy, they would already be made.
Just having the music playing in the background, it's making me tear up.
There are also some minor grammar mistakes in the middle of the old lady questline.
I want to replay it, but I feel like it's almost too sad to. If this was a full game I'd definitely buy it and recommend people.
And the ART! The rainy ambiance,.
I am going to rant about this game to my friends.
Thank you so much for making this game!
Submitted
New Years FrenzyThank you so much for all the compliments. Thank you for your patience with all of the technical issues the game has ToT
It’s touching to hear that our story have resonated with you. Just for clarification, there are many kinds of “countdowns” of the battery: the countdown screen after every guest, and the hidden “cost” of each guests’ dialogues. We plan to expand the story further, and the “KPI”, like you said, is a sterile but necessary part for the plot.
Some “correct” decisions do not seem to cost more on the surface, but when you adds up the decreases, they does cost more to make. Thank you so much for the recommendations.
As the artist , main writer and ambience sound mixer of this project, your comment definitely made my day.
OMG thank you for the thoughts that you put into this comment!!! Imma keep it short because moon have covered pretty much what I wanted to say as well. But yes! the KPI is lore-related :wink wink: (we're thinking of continuing development to expand the game).
You've pretty much captured the essence of it! "The harder decisions cost more to make. If they were easy, they would already be made." This is such a beautiful line. Some decisions cost more because it reflects the level of 'care' you're giving to the guest, and when the guests are venting their (needed) emotional exhaustions, it affects you as well whether you likes it nor not (Hence the "hidden cost" in moon's comment)
It does makes our effort worth it to see people enjoying our love child, with or without the ratings. Thank you once again.
We have a Mac version readily available (with all the bug and dialog fixed), I'll notify you when it got uploaded (after the jam is over ofc) if your friend is interested!
(damn thats not very short LOL)
I love the topic this game uses. It's a interesting twist on the idea of count down. Good job!
Submitted
HYPERSLICE™The intro cutscene is amazing, the art is stunning, and this is really great take on the theme!
Submitted
The Wizard Who Stole TimeI LOVE the handpainted look and the cozy inspiring feel of the game which is also uplifting in a way!
Submitted
Time StriderHey thank you for the notice! May I know which platform you're playing on?
We've notice the web version on mobile is struggling with loading the game's assets, happens 2/3 times and we still haven't found the culprit TToTT (suspecting low memory on web tabs)
For now I'd rcm downloading the window version for the best chance, or reloading/opening new tab on a desktop web. Thank you for giving it a try and reporting the issue either way! Really appreciate it!!
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