Clever Cowboys Never Ever Bite That Cactus

"Clever Cowboys Never Ever Bite That Cactus" is a short read&ride alt.ctrl psychedelic vegan terror experience.

This was our submission for (1) the ALT+CTRL @ HOME 2022 game jam and (2) a famous and labyrinthine indie game festival... 🤞🤞🤞

Mechanics are simple as hell: READ the dialogues and RIDE your chicken while PUSHING all cows to the central cactus. Do it before time runs out and dawn breaks. That's all.

The best way to play "Clever Cowboys Never Ever Bite That Cactus" is making your own REIN-O-MATIC. Don't be afraid, it's super-easy!

1. Get a piece of string and make a slipknot around each joystick (see photos below).
2. Fix your gamepad to a plain surface using painter's tape. You can use its plastic blister or a cardboard box for example (see photos below).
3. If you don't have these materials at hand, ask a friend or familiar to hold the gamepad with their hands instead. Please don't try to hold the gamepad with your feet, knees, tits or testicles (clever cowboys don't do this!!!).

Here you can see our custom version: the REIN-O-MATIC Deluxe Edition, ready to ride in events and festivals! \m/

If you aren't into arts & crafts, you can also have a "less satisfying experience" using the keyboard. Here goes an scheme with all the controls explained:

If you aren't into moving your fingers, you can also have an "even less satisfying experience" watching this FULL GAMEPLAY (≈15′).

David (@drnlab) - Design, Code, Narrative and Sound FX.
Fernando (@taletronic) - Design, Code and Technical Art.
Paco (@PacoDiago) - Music and Yodeling.

3D Models
Desert props from Tanks! Tutorial by Unity Technologies.
Animals Mega Pack by Omabuarts Studio.
Lophophora williamsii Cactus (Peyote) by trevorsm.

VFX
Starfield Skybox by Pulsar Bytes.
Simple Kaleidoscope 2 shader by TekF.
Spilled shader by Florian Berger.
UnityCGProgramming by Tyler Minegar.
Obi Rope by Virtual Method.
Text Animator by Febucci.

Audio
All sound FX from freesound.org (all under a CC0 license).
Made with FMOD Studio by Firelight Technologies Pty Ltd.

Fonts
Rustler (free for personal use).
Pocus Primera Distorted (free for personal use).
Bullfrog (free for personal use).

Special thanks to Juergen, Clare and [INSERT YOUR NAME HERE IF YOU TEST THE GAME AND GIVE US MEANINGFUL FEEDBACK BEFORE 31/JAN/2023].

Hope you enjoy it! :)

By the way, if you like rein-based games with adorable animals you're going to love ATTACK OF THE BRIC-A-BRAC by Tatiana Vilela and Olivier Drouet! <3