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[QCPolmer]

Hi.

I have been making this game designed around the periodic table,
and am looking for reactions to it.
(particularly if something doesn't work or make sense)
http://gamejolt.com/games/other/cat-with-a-bat/27826/


Also is available as a APK, but it is a larger filesize.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5a-Uagg7txDeGxpUWJFa2xMeTQ/edit?usp=sharing

[Quicksand-S]

My first impression wasn't particularly good. The first thing I saw was "EndGame". Then I saw "Start", then "Click Ball To" and finally the ball itself. Something's wrong there. Maybe it's that the "EndGame" text is larger than the starting text. Maybe it's that the starting text is strangely broken into two lines. Even the hyphen makes it look like a sub-point, rather than the most important item in the menu. Also, your name and "Mute" are obscured by the background squares. I do like the way the title text is presented, with the stuck-together letters. It's nice and clean, but still a bit fun/cartoony.

As for the game itself, I think it's all right. It took a second to realize I was controlling the targeting rather than the cat itself, but the control method works fine (maybe a bit generous on how close your mouse has to be to things).

A few things are still unclear. I have no idea why certain elements were emphasized at various times (that rectangle on the periodic table). "Block" rows came out of nowhere and I'm not sure what I did to cause that. They also disappeared at seemingly random times, but I'm guessing they can just take a certain number of hits.

I didn't like the clutter in-game. There are too many words and things flying around that I wasn't about to focus on too much while playing. The game also stuttered quite often once things really got going.

Possible Bug: I could be wrong (since I was focusing on another part of the screen), but I feel like I lost even with one or two "Block" rows in place.

I would strongly suggest a "Play Again" or "Restart" button on the Game Over screen.

Anyway, it's a decent game. It worked quite well. The things I mentioned that weren't clear seemed to suggest that there's more depth to the gameplay. I hope that's the case. That said, I think the current version is pretty good and can even get fairly intense at times.

[QCPolmer]

Thank you very much for trying it out.

I will look into focusing the players attention on the ball at the start of the game
('SWIPE ME!' blinking under the ball, or something.)

A 'Play Again' button? OK.

About the 'block's:
--it's entirely possible you lost two at some point,(a bug)
--and they appear based on time, no player influence. Hm... I could
probably make it something  the player must swipe or something.

A few things are still unclear. I have no idea why certain elements were emphasized at various times (that rectangle on the periodic table).

Emphasized as in color change, or the changes in the outer frame?
One of the original ideas was to try to make a purely passive learning
tool, so the various graphic effects are intended to help group the
elements based on location and type.
(It is largely untested)

About the stutter, were you playing online or on a mobile device?

[Quicksand-S]

Emphasized as in color change, or the changes in the outer frame?
One of the original ideas was to try to make a purely passive learning
tool, so the various graphic effects are intended to help group the
elements based on location and type.
(It is largely untested)

I meant the rectangles of the table being temporarily enlarged. Do you think people will be reading or paying attention to element locations, names, etc. while focusing on keeping the balls from falling? The thing I noticed most was the words at the top that used the elements' symbols. Everything else was just in the way and it changes so rapidly that I don't think anyone will be doing any learning.

Maybe you should consider trimming it down to just clearly show the most important things. Putting the atomic number in a more prominent/noticeable position could be good.

One thing that might make for a better learning experience, in addition to possibly improving pacing, would be to have the game broken into waves. Each wave could be introduced with an elemental symbol and atomic number (so nothing would distract from it), and maybe certain groups (ex. metals or the noble gases) could cause atoms to act a bit differently during their waves for some more added variety.

About the stutter, were you playing online or on a mobile device?

Sorry. I should've mentioned that. I was playing online.

[QCPolmer]

Thanks again for the response.

For the GameJolt version of the game,
I have cut out about half the text in game,
and adjusted the speed of the remaining text.

It is still a work in progress, but you were
definitely right in that most of the text was
going unread anyway and only served to distract.

[joe_eyemobi]

Interesting - yet educational