Noodle - The Greatest Pasta Game ever Created

[jmcginley]

Noodle
Liberate the Meatballs from their Saucy Prison.
Loop around each meatball to free it.
The noodle moves strangely, but you'll get the hang of it.
Think like a Noodle and you'll be fine.

Noodle is a gamer's game and features a unique control scheme.
It's 100% free, 100% crap free (no adware), and 100% bug free (hopefully).
If you find it as entertaining as Swarm Racer, my mission is accomplished.
The graphics stink, but what do you think of the gameplay?

Noodle Download

Noodle Page

Noodle Videos

Noodle ScreenShots
Screen1
Screen2
Screen3

Noodle Requirements
Low. Windows (any version). Pentium 4 2GHz+. 512MB RAM. 1024 x 768.

Noodling
The original version of Noodle was created for the Toronto Indie Game Jam (TOJam) 2007 - an event I help organize.
After the event, I spent another 3 days making it worthy of your time.
Stay tuned for TOJam 2008 - Fettucini Edition.

[John Cutter]

I don't have time to download and try out the game, but the video made me laugh. ;-)

I'll try to check out the gameplay later.

[jmcginley]

The lack of feedback can mean only 1 of 2 things:

1. There is little interest in games made from water, eggs, and flour.

2. Noodle is indeed the Greatest Pasta Game ever Created.



Looking at my posting, I unfortunately wasn't clear that I was looking for feedback. I was thinking of expanding this prototype into a full game and wanted to know what people thought about the gameplay.
i.e. Noodle is too hard to control.
i.e. Liked the game, want to see more.
i.e. Ouch.

Thanks!

[lakibuk]

Ouch, this game is worse than the spaghetti with instant sugo that i had for lunch today, a lot worse.
The control scheme is crazy - you can only move diagonally and have to push two keys (e.g. up and left) to move.
Sorry, the game does not come close to Swarm Racer.

[jmcginley]

That's what I was afraid of
Thanks for the feedback.

While it probably won't change your mind, it's worth noting that you can move without having to push 2 keys.
Otherwise, looping around the meatballs would be impossible.

Your noodle always moves in curves (because he's a noodle).
If you're facing left / right, you can only move up or down.
If you're facing up / down, you can only move left or right.

Hence, you're always toggling between the two. Since you can hold down keys, moving diagonally becomes the easiest thing to do.
i.e. When up is not available, left clicks in, when left is not available, up clicks in.
Easy diagonols are simply a byproduct of the noodle movement rules.

I'll find a way of explaining this in game (without boring everyone).

[WaveRider]

I shall forever be ashamed and consumed with regret... for I have failed to impress the goat.

[jmcginley]

After some feedback, I added improved graphics and mouse support.
Surprisingly, using the mouse turned out to be better than using the keyboard - which is the last thing I expected.
I haven't updated the site or YouTube videos, so you'll have to trust me that the improved graphics (tomato sauce now looks like tomato sauce) are worth checking out.

Noodle Download

[lakibuk]

The game is still very bad.
The mouse control feels different.
The keyboard controls felt like one's hand will break soon.
The mouse controls feel more as if the mouse is detached from the noodle on the screen in a strange way.

[jmcginley]

Thanks for trying out the improved version - I do appreciate the honesty and the effort.
While you (and probably many others) will find this laughable, I personally think that the controls are what makes Noodle great!
Controlling the noodle, and mastering its eccentric movement, is what the game is all about.
Fixing the controls (i.e. making the noodle movement more straightforward) would remove the gameplay.
Based on the current feedback, that might not be a bad thing.

Speaking of breaking one's hand, in the first version of Noodle (available at TOJam),
you weren't able to hold the keys. I still have scars...

[jmcginley]

One final improvement: GamePad support.
(Mouse and Keyboard controls remain untouched)

Noodle now supports the XBOX 360 controller (and hopefully other gamepads).
You can use either of the joysticks, and even the thumbpad.
Be sure to check the GamePad checkbox on the title screen, and adjust the sensitivity scrollbar as you see fit.

The 360 Controller is the easiest way so far of controlling that rascally Noodle.
There's even a decent chance that Lakibuk may now find Noodle bearable (a FIRST!).
Perhaps Noodle is destined for XBLA?

Noodle >should< work with other GamePads / Joysticks. Not owning any, I'm unable to test.
If you've got something besides an XBOX 360 controller, I would really appreciate you trying out Noodle to see what happens.
Send me a private message with your controller info and the subsequent explosions.

Next Up... Wii controllers.

Jimmy

p.s. Just Kidding.

p.p.s. Play Noodle and make your Mom proud.