Skip to main content

On Sale: GamesAssetsToolsTabletopComics
Indie game storeFree gamesFun gamesHorror games
Game developmentAssetsComics
SalesBundles
Jobs
TagsGame Engines
A jam submission

HeadcountView game page

How many guests were there again?
Submitted by mostmadlabs — 1 day, 13 hours before the deadline
Add to collection

Play game

Headcount's itch.io page

Results

CriteriaRankScore*Raw Score
Creativity & Theme Interpretation#33.3123.312
Scope & Completion#53.1883.188
Overall#53.2123.212
Technical Execution#63.1883.188
Gameplay & Core Idea#63.0623.062
Polish & Presentation#103.3123.312

Ranked from 16 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.

Team members and roles
Most MAD Labs

Engine and tools used?
Unity 6.5 + Bezi + Claude Code + ElevenLabs

What are you entering?

Both Game and Fan Art

Where can we find your Fan Art?
Art and wip video in my discord submission

https://discord.com/channels/937477396951601253/1563967494186737734

Submission Confirmation

I have read the Bezi Mega Jam rules
This submission was created during the jam period
All team members and contributors are listed
Third-party assets are credited where applicable

Leave a comment

Log in with itch.io to leave a comment.

Comments

Submitted(+1)

Loved the neighbourhood feel and the sweet music playing! Awesome game, enjoyed playing it a lot.

Developer

Thank you for playing!

Submitted(+1)

I had to play it twice to make sure if I wasnt missing anything. First time I just counted 8 and nothing happened in the end. So then I played it again and counted 9 every time and then the picture was empty and I hear a "smile daddy" and the game just ended abruptly. Not sure what to make of it but the atmosphere was good and kept me engaged to play it twice. I also like the camera mechanics.

Developer(+1)

Thank you for playing and for the feedback! On that particular ending, you might've been surprised if you turned around after the last picture on the wall :P

Submitted(+1)

The game is great from every point of view! It gives the feel of completion that is rare for a 4 day project.

I see you used both Bezi and Claude Code. Curious what you used each for?

Developer(+1)

Thank you for the feedback! 

The first big thing I used Bezi for was to create a Proof -- a tool for me to help manage the pacing of the game. This helped me plan out the script, make super quick edits, and adjust the timings. I really wanted to focus on making sure the game was short enough that people would play through the whole thing while preserving the feel of being at a kids party.

Bezi also managed the level block-out to include the house, backyard, and neighborhood.

Claude did most of the systems and code for this project, as well as orchestrating the kids' movement and behavior. Claude also handled the audio integration/generation via ElevenLabs

Submitted

Oh, wow, I've never thought about using AI this way. Very interesting. And how did Proof get the data about segment length? Was it actual agent playing or some approximation based on code/scripts?

Developer(+1)

It was a bit of song and dance for the segment length. I started out letting it assign lengths to everything and then after certain changes it would come back and explain how it estimated any changes to the segment length and where I could trim/adjust to keep my total desired time.

I let Claude do a lot of the playthroughs to check quickly how strict the timing was compared to estimates and I would come in and validate that actual feel. 

45s doesn't sound like a lot of time on paper but in the game itself it felt like an eternity at times. Lots of back and forth calibrating.

Submitted

You are right. Pacing is always important but in narrative focused games it is essential. Your approach sounds super reasonable. I could try smth like that my next jam :) 

Thank you very match for sharing!

Submitted

Do you participate in Devlog category? I want to see your detailed workflow.

Submitted(+1)

i keep wondering more than id like to say how you made this game in only 4 days?? absolutely amazing!!

Developer

Thanks for playing! I will admit I am very aggressive in my use of tools to build faster :D

Submitted(+1)

I really enjoyed playing it! The only thing I'd like to see added is a volume setting, but it's not a dealbreaker for me. Great game :)

Developer(+1)

Haha that's one thing I add to basically every game and I left it out this time :)
Thanks for playing!

Submitted

Normally, this wouldn't be an issue, but I had turned up my browser's volume for a different game and got jumpscared by yours instead 😅

Submitted(+1)

Wow, this is an absolutely incredible game—you created this in just 4 days! The story, the visuals, and the mechanics are all fantastic. Best of luck to you!

Developer(+1)

thank you so much :D

Submitted(+1)

You’re welcome, sir. Respectfully.

Submitted(+1)

I got 2 endings.
My head lore is :
Ending 1 : She is your sister 'ghost' who drowned in a lake when you were 8. You played hide-and-seek with her, At count 9 (where it supposed to be 10) you cheated and opened your eyes. But your sister was nowhere to find. Later, they found her body. That is why counting to 9 will trigger this psychological condition. You feel guilty to cheat her during your last time together. You wish you counted to 10 like an honest boy and things will be different. Maybe she was careless and hurried because she knew you would cheat? Who knows.

Ending 2 : She is Lily's ghost friend that manifested in real life. Lily's is a mutant and because of her unique skill, she will be entering Xavier's School for Gifted Children. Congratz!

Anyway, i love how polished this game is. The children walking around make things feel lively. In one playthrough i got Ava stuck at the fence though, later she got unstuck when blowing the candle started.

Good graphic and shader, nice sfx and music. One thing i wish is there is buttons so i can play this on mobile.
Superb submission 👌

Developer

Wow thanks for taking the time to get through it twice! It brings me a lot of joy that you were able to extrapolate such vivid meanings in the endings :D


Submitted(+1)

I love the game, and it's really interesting, but it was very scary, and I don't want to go ending hunting after that (nothing against the game, just too scary for me) . Great game, and I do believe that the "Game contains disturbing concepts/imagery which may not be suitable for Kevin or people under 18." message is necessaary.

Developer

Thank you for trying it out and for the feedback.
I wanted to push the concept but I wasn't sure where the line was. Hopefully it wasn't too disturbing for you <3

Submitted

I feel like it was the right amount disturbing for average people, but you could if you ever expand on the game add extra content based on how scary the player wants it to be, but it is still a great game now! If you enjoy action games, could you maybe try out and rank my game, Christmas of death?

Submitted(+1)

A bright June backyard party where the guest list doesn't add up is a perfect Anything But Halloween setting. Cutting the cake, hanging the piñata and checking names off the list while nobody else seems to care sounds wonderfully uneasy, and three endings in a five-minute game is a nice amount of replay.

Would you mind trying my game too? Forever is a cute dating app on a phone in a dark bedroom, and the ♥ meter isn't measuring what it says it is. It's about 10 minutes, mouse or touch only, and every rating really helps!

Developer(+1)

Thanks so much for giving my game a play!

Submitted(+1)

I played the full game and even if it short i love how when you take pic that kids come closer and closer to you and at the end when i have to flip the pictures i was kinda scared cuz it was night and i did not know what will happen if i flip all 7 i was expecting a jump scare. but over all i really like the game :) 
if you have time can you also try my game? 

Developer

Thanks for trying it out Raimi! I tried to make sure it was short enough people could experience one of the three endings without it dragging on too much :D

Submitted(+1)

Wait there are 3 endings?!

Developer

There are very subtle actions you can take (or not take) in the game which lead to slightly different endings :P

Submitted(+1)

I couldn't really figure out how to play. The controls felt confusing, I couldn't move the camera around properly, and moving my character was difficult too. I never really understood what I was supposed to do.

Developer

Sorry to hear that Snayneo. The game uses standard first person controls and gives you instruction step by step of what you're supposed to be doing. I'll take a look to see if there's anything to improve going forward. All the best!