Littleberry Fires : Sumi & Portia's Story.

It’s been a whole month since Ludum Dare 55. Since then, Sumi & Portia have come a long way!

Here are the headlines:

Sumi & Portia reach the top 100

This was my first entry into a Ludum Dare and I was happy to receive some decent scores, including

• 21st in Graphics
• 45th in Audio
• 70th in Innovation
• 97th Overall

In a field of 462 entries

Not bad for a first timer! I can’t wait to enter the next one in October

Story added:

Block puzzlers are all fine and well, but the aspect of gaming that has always hooked me in is the worldbuilding and storytelling. Sumi & Portia deserved a bit more of a world to live in. 

Level Select

This aerial view of Littleberry allows you to navigate to where Sumi & Portia are needed most. Here you can progress through 9 levels of fire-battling, citizen-saving goodness in a picturesque coastal town surrounded by lush forests.

(Note: local woodsmen have put out an announcement - look out for glitched trees)

Dialogue

Sumi & Portia can now converse through the dialogue feature. You’ll learn a bit about them and their relationship and how they are feeling.

Name Change

While this is still very much Sumi & Portia’s game, I felt that a name change was needed to reflect the extra aspects that the story brings in. The new title, Littleberry Fires, reflects the phenomenon that sets this story in motion.

Workflow changes

Part of the reason that I was able to turn around these updates in a few weeks is the addition of Github Copilot to my workflow. The code hinting that Copilot provides is usually pretty spot on - to be on the brink of mind reading - though it has some room for improvement to be sure. A part of me is hesitant to give up control to an AI, but in reality it means that I can implement my ideas quicker and spend more time on the art and writing - which I would never outsource to a robot.

That’s it for now. There will probably be some more art and sound updates soon, but for now - enjoy your time in Littleberry!