Mega Dystopia Micro Architect (MDMA)
A downloadable game
Mega Dystopia Micro Architect (MDMA)
NOTICE: This game is available on the Playdate Catalog, but you can purchase a DRM-free copy here.
Hello, architect!
The party leader has acknowledged your outstanding abilities and chosen you to plan a new dystopian city! You alone possess the knowledge to ensure that newcomers spend their cloudy days in a well-designed metropolis. Will you accept the offer? (It's not like you have a choice.)
Features
- Slow-paced mechanics and analog synth soundtrack will provide a relaxed gameplay experience for you.
- Each playthrough is unique; once you reach the goal, you will be presented with a random perk to select for planning your current city.
- Permanent upgrades system allows you to progress through the game and score better with each playthrough, whether it's by unlocking more building types or expanding city borders.
How to play
Dystopias always end the same, but who knows, perhaps this time it's different? Your objective is to plan it more effectively than the last time, so keep your eye on the high score.
You earn points by utilizing building blueprints and strategically placing them (button A) on the map. Buildings have various synergies with each other, but exercise caution as choosing the wrong spot for them can result in a loss of points! Hopefully, your city will gain more variety over time, so remember to upgrade and unlock more building types as you progress through the game.
You can view three available blueprints on the right side of the screen and cycle through them using button B. Once you have placed all three, you will receive new ones. Hold B button to reroll selected blueprint! At the beginning of each run, you start with 5 free rerolls, and you can acquire more by choosing specific perks.
However, be careful! The number of available blueprints is limited, and you can check that on the bottom right side of the screen. Once you run out of blueprints, the game is over.
You can acquire more blueprints by purchasing an upgrade from the upgrades menu (upgrade tokens are obtained by placing a building on them on the map) or by reaching a current goal. You receive +3 blueprints for each goal reached, and as you might have guessed, this can be upgraded too!
The current score goal and its progress can be seen at the bottom of the screen. Once you reach the goal, you will also be able to choose one of two randomly offered perks. Perks allow you to customize the current playthrough with various temporary upgrades. Once the game is over, you lose them.
Remember, mega dystopias are built in small steps.
Version 1.1.0 update!
You can read more about new features in v1.1.0 in this devlog.
Version 1.2.0 update!
You can read more about changes in v1.2.0 here.
Purchase
In order to download this game you must purchase it at or above the minimum price of $6 USD. You will get access to the following files:
Development log
- MDMA 1.2.1 PatchDec 30, 2023
- MDMA Update 1.2.0: New heightsDec 12, 2023
- First major MDMA update: rerolls, stats and more!Oct 28, 2023
Comments
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Hey @gytiszal I have just purchased your game from itch.io and wanted to try it out in the Simulator while waiting for my Playdate to arrive. Unfortunately, when attempted to start the game the following error appeared: "Error: Couldn't find pdz file main.pdz". Running the Simulator on SDK 2.4.2, macOS Sonoma. Could you please assist on that issue?
Hey! I've just uploaded v1.2.3. Let me know if it works for you.
Thanks for the updated file, but still it doesn't work. This time the error message is “pdex.dylib” can’t be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software." and in the Simulator console "/PlaydateSDK/Disk/Games/mdma.pdx/pdex.dylib' not valid for use in process: library load disallowed by system policy)".
It seems like this issue is occurring on the simulator/system end. Are you able to run any other games? What does it show under the "Security" section in your System Settings > Privacy & Security?
https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/mac-help/mchleab3a043/mac
Did you try opening the game from another location (e.g. Downloads)?
It was an odd issue but I've managed to run it now. I had to inspect the package content of the mdma.pdx and explicitly open the pdex.dylib file and confirm that it's not a malware. After that the Simulator was able to load the game.
hey, I am loving this game! Would it be possible for you to release the OST on Bandcamp? I would buy that in a heartbeat.
It's here! https://open.spotify.com/album/6kjbiWljFL7q0YkbHigqBH
Thank you so much! I’m going to listen to this right now. One final thing: any chance of it being released on Bandcamp too? I listen there predominantly and like to purchase albums generally.
wanted to chime in here and say please add it to Bandcamp, i'll throw a few $ your way!
Very relaxing game!
It’s Sim City distilled down to the part that actually matters, putting the buildings in the place they go! It’s yet another perfect game come to Playdate, I don’t know what it is about this platform and creating small games that i’m going to be playing for years but I love it
It seems like this is the only game that only works on my Playdate and not on my Playdate Simulator, any ideas how to fix it?
When I try to open the game in the sim, it immediately closes.
In addition, I tried to use Playdate Mirror, but that seems to completely bork the audio. This game is legit so much fun, I really hope there's a fix for the Simulator so I can stream it to my homies and convince them to buy it!
Legit, the audio really helps this game. It helps tie the game together, and realllllly makes it into a relaxing but challenging puzzle game/city builder/entirely new genre!
Thanks for making this game, gytiszal!!! I legit love it, and can't wait to get it working on the sim, or at least at full speed on the mirror app!
Thank you for your kind words! Which operating system and simulator (SDK) version are you using? Have you tried updating the version? Additionally, could you provide details about any specific errors you are encountering?
Absolutely! I'm on Windows, on the latest version of the simulator. I click on the game to open it, see the grid background, then it kicks me right back to the playdate home screen.
If you'd like, I can record a video for you once I'm off work!
Any update on this? Seems like a cool game! I'm running the windows SDK too but on my Steam deck with proton compatibility.
It looks like I've managed to fix it. You can now download the latest version (1.2.2). Thank you for your patience, and again, thank you for reporting the issue!
Ah. Damned. I do not own a Playdate and am not planning to buy one.
Is there a way to refund - or are you maybe plannign a Win 10 version?
Also, I think it would be apropiate to make a clearer descripton that this not a Windows-game.
Aw, snap! Sorry for that. You can contact Itch support and request a refund at https://itch.io/support.
Thanx. But it seems I found a way to play Playdate games. Just install the playdate SDK - it includes an Emulator! I´ll try that first :)
Did this work on the SDK for you? seems like another person's comment says it's unplayable there. I don't have a playdate sadly...
Is this really better than the other type of MDMA?
I doubt it, but still looks fancy.
so cool im gona do a lets play as thatindiegamer sometime.
Amazing! Let me know if you need a free copy
Hello ! Will we have to reupdate the game after our console goes to 2.1 ? And what's in 2.1 by the way ? 🤔
Thanks 🙂
Hey! There's no need to reupload the game when you upgrade the OS to 2.1.
You can read more about 2.1 here https://sdk.play.date/changelog, but it is mostly dev stuff
Thanks a lot, and congratulations for this terrific game ! I hope there will be many more updates 😁
I'm having a hard time following the game play strategy. A youtube demo would be helpful if anyone could show how they're playing this.
Hello! I hope you are still having fun. Given that there is a bit of luck involved in determining the perks and blueprints you receive, your high score can fluctuate, especially when you haven't unlocked the upgrades. Is your score improving with each run?
If it feels overwhelming at first, try placing the building in the space where it yields the highest score. Over time, you will notice and learn different building synergies and patterns.
Additionally, if you have any ideas for improvements, please share them!
Ok, I've kept at it and it's starting to grow on me as I get more familiar. It was just a bit of a learning curve without much in-game instruction.
One request, if you're taking them, would be to display the name of the building/material (rocks?) you're currently "highlighting". That would help with remembering what each object is, without having to memorize the shapes of everything.
I'll be playing this for foreseeable future. Looking forward to being able to unlock what's next!
This is very fun.
Looks cool, I will give it a try. By the way, do you think this game could evolve into a sequel based on a full city management game? Just the assets made dream about it :)
Actually, that was the initial idea! Yes, this game involved resources and population, which is why you have access to farms, factories, and tower blocks as your first blueprints. However, I reached a point where I realized that balancing would take much more time than the development itself, and that wasn't what I was looking for at that moment. I still have a dream to create a proper city builder with full resource management mechanics, but I'm really happy with the outcome. Additionally, I have plenty of ideas for new content.
Cool. I will stay tuned!
Are you planning on releasing a demo at some point?
Not in the near future
its 104MB -thats pretty big for the playdate. maybe there is some optimization that can be done there. Do you feel like its worth that much space on the playdate... i guess im asking, is it s huge game with lots of stuff going on lots of things to discover.. endless replay-ability. - or is it just bloated ?
Hey, thank you for your feedback! I have just released v1.0.1 with compressed audio. Note that the game has an original analog synth soundtrack, and before buying, you can judge it yourself by listening to one of the tracks here:
In terms of replay value, the game was designed with endless replayability in mind, as each playthrough offers a unique experience.been loving this game and the soundtrack. worth it in my opinion unless you're just super pressed for space. i've got less than a gig left and am happy with the size. (maybe transfer it over usb tho) :)
This looks awesome! Are you planning to submit it for Catalog?
Oh yes, these are my near-future plans:
Does this have a save game function?
Thank you for the question. Currently, no, because it is designed to have short game loops (up to 10 minutes). Although, I might be a couple of requests away from implementing it for the next version, haha. Also, note that permanent upgrades are saved through different playthroughs.