Voyage of the Marigold – Author's Notes
4 days ago
- #Star Trek Homage
- #Game Development
- #Interactive Fiction
- Voyage of the Marigold (VotM) is a homage to old-school Star Trek, released over a year ago.
- The game received positive reviews and nominations in the 2024 Best of the Year polls.
- Originally conceived as a one-page solo RPG, it evolved into a computer game using ink and javascript.
- The game features a 5x5 maze generated using Eller's Maze Algorithm, tweaked for balance.
- A graphical navigation screen built with SVG enhances the exploration experience.
- The setting draws inspiration from Star Trek, Larry Niven's Known Space, Alien, and Red Dwarf.
- The writing style mimics a 'Captain's Log,' blending first-person past-tense narrative with action recordings.
- Combat is card-based, inspired by Slay the Spire and Fighting Fantasy gamebooks.
- Art was created using extreme stylization due to the author's lack of drawing skills, featuring aliens made from fruits and vegetables.
- Game design aimed for difficulty but not impossibility, though players found it challenging.
- Resources like fuel, crew, hull strength, and morale influence gameplay and decisions.
- The game includes hidden secrets and puzzles, such as the Stasis Pod and the giant statue pointing the way out.
- The ruined space station features a push-your-luck minigame inspired by Incan Gold.