Game Engineering
Welcome to a section not like the others, this one will include one of my levels on an indie game know as Geometry Dash by Robtop Games.
To find out more about Geometry Dash (history, gameplay and about the developer) click the Wikipedia link ==> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geometry_Dash
What is Geometry Dash?
This is a side-scrolling game with great music! The main goal of this game is to control an icon through a fast moving obstacle course. If you crash into the hazards (mostly spikes and walls) you die and have to start again. The icon is controlled just using one button.
The Robtop developer (Robert Topala) has released 26 official levels which I have completed. The best thing about Geometry Dash is how easy is to create your own content. I have created and uploaded several levels which are played by other users.
The Problem
I felt that the game play was too pre-defined as each level is exactly the same each time you play it. I wanted to see if I could introduce an element of chance which could change the gameplay randomly. I therefore created the level called RNG System. I chose this name as the element of chance is powered by a Random Number Generator that I designed.
RNG System
See below for a video run-through of my level with an example of a successful and a failed level:
As the player starts the level, the first key stroke the player makes stops a number generating loop (which is counting from 1-8 at a speed of 0.05s per number). The number generated is then checked by 8 individual modules (e.g. 'Is it 1?' If yes, activate key 1, If no, do nothing.) The module that the number matches will activate one of 8 keys.
The player then needs to follow the activated key which has revealed itself by flashing green. This is tricky as the keys are continually shuffling! See video for a demo of this part
Then the player passes through a tube after which they have to choose the key that they think will let them out (the one that flashed green earlier). If they select the correct one, it unlocks the double-layered spike wall and they beat the level! If they choose the wrong key, the spike wall defeats them.
Below is the developer view where I describe how I engineered the game. This video is around 14 minutes long and covers the random number generation process, toggling and animation.