Circuit Conductor James Kaleta CS 495 Overview Circuit

Circuit Conductor James Kaleta CS 495

Overview Circuit Conductor is a maze game based around the concept of electron flow traveling through a circuit. The player guides a “spark”, the visual representation onscreen of the head of the electron flow, through the circuit maze. The goal is to get the flow from the negative end of the power source through the wires to the positive end, thus completing the circuit.

Primary Game Objects n The player n Bad sparks n Light bulbs

Power-ups n n n By lighting up certain numbers of bulbs, the player can receive additional abilities: At least 3 bulbs – (S)peed-up gives the player temporarily increased speed. Can be used simultaneously with any of the other abilities. 4 or 5 bulbs – (D)efense gives the player temporary invincibility but will not harm enemies in collisions. Defense and Force Field cannot be used at the same time. 6 or more bulbs – (F)orce Field gives the player a one-time shield against being hit by a spark. Unlike Defense, this will destroy the first spark that touches the player and has no effective time limit.

Movement Restriction n n Based on ideas where tilemap tiles can be “open” or “blocked”, came up with potential ways to accomplish this: Surround “open” tiles with “blocked” tiles & extend their area of effect. Have tiny “blocked” tiles present in every “open” tile.

Movement Restriction contin’d Eventually decided to simply only allow game Objects to move in certain directions once placed on a tile since objects can only move in a very limited number of directions on each tile.

Game States Player quits Options screen Title screen Player starts game Pause Exit game Player quits Player reaches exit, levels remaining > 0 Game loop Player reaches exit, levels remaining = 0 Defenseless player runs into bad guy Lives remaining > 0 Player dies Lives remaining = 0 Game over

Game States contin’d Top level game loop uses a game state manager which contains a stack of game states. The Game. State interface is implemented by classes representing the title screen, options screen, each level of the game, etc.

Graphics. Environment & Graphics. Configuration n These classes can be used to return images in a format compatible with your graphics environment.

Calamities, Disasters, & Other Conspiracies n n Chest pains, aches, and breathing difficulties CPU fan failure, replacement part 1 month Ergonomic chairs Trip to Emergency Room Positive outcome: Learnt better time management skills due to limitations from injury.

Questions…?