A game is created
Hello everyone! Today, let’s dive into the fascinating story of a unique video game called “Manludo,” which began its life with a different name: “Rock, Paper, Scissors, Bluff.” Created during a very special event by the Portland Indie Game Squad in July 2021, this game has quite a story to tell.
Origins of Manludo
The summer of 2021 was buzzing with creativity, especially at the Portland Indie Game Squad’s summer slow jam, with a focus on Remix Games. The theme of this particular jam was “unreliable narrator,” a challenging and intriguing concept. Developers from all over participated, spurred by the need for community and engaging hobbies during the COVID-19 pandemic—a time when many turned to game development for some indoor fun.
“Manludo” was crafted in this creative surge. It took the classic game of rock, paper, scissors and twisted it by adding a bluffing element. This twist perfectly fit the jam’s theme, as players could bluff about their next move, embodying the idea of an unreliable narrator within the gameplay.
Artwork and Setting
The visual appeal of “Manludo” owes much to the wonderful artwork titled “Alien Scifi Portraits” by RetroWolf, available on opengameart.org. These portraits provided the perfect alien ambiance for the game’s setting—a space station. One particular blue alien from these portraits, which we came to know as Ebriigito in the game, was depicted with its mouth covered in green drink, sparking the creative storyline: a player needs to gather enough coins to leave the space station after a wild party night.
Open Game Art: https://opengameart.org/
Gameplay and Development
During the month-long game jam, “Manludo” was developed with a few random events to ensure each playthrough was a fresh adventure, enhancing the game’s replay value. When the games from the jam were showcased on a livestream, an unexpected issue, known as a softlock (when you get stuck in certain part of a game with no way to keep going), occurred where players could get stuck if they were injured, had only the rock move available, and were low on trust. This issue was spotted during the live session and was later fixed, improving the game’s overall flow and player experience.
Moreover, when the famous Twitch streamer and YouTuber Alena Fenomena played “Manludo” on her stream, she pointed out several grammar and spelling errors in the Esperanto text. The game features both Esperanto and English, catering to a diverse audience, and these corrections were vital before its official release on Steam in 2024.
AlenaFenomena’s Playthrough of the game
Conclusion
“Manludo” showcases how community, creativity, and feedback come together to create something fun and engaging. From its roots in a game jam to its final polished version ready for Steam, the journey of “Manludo” is a testament to the indie game development spirit. Keep an eye out for this game and experience the thrill of bluffing your way through a space station, all while deciding your destiny among the stars!
This story isn’t just about making a game; it’s about creating a world and telling a story that brings people together, sparking joy and imagination. What will your next move be in “Manludo”? Will you bluff, or will you strategize your way off the space station? The choice is yours, gamers!
Manludo on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2963130/Manludo/
Manludo 2 on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2966100/Manludo_2/
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