Game Development - Task 3: Game Prototype
xx.xx.2024 - xx.xx.2024 / Week 8 - Week 10
IAN CHOO XIN ZHE / 0369451
Game Development / Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media
MIB
Task 3: Game Prototype
Students given the task to create the prototype of their game. The prototype doesn’t need to have the final art asset, and the use of grey boxing is allowed. The focus here is to quickly test out the game mechanics and to troubleshoot any technical difficulties discovered during the development. The focus should be the MVP of your game.
Task 3: Game Prototype
Before diving into the creation of my game's first level, I needed a solid foundation of inspiration and knowledge to guide me. Since this was a completely new experience, I turned to platforms like Pinterest and Google to gather ideas for level design. This initial research phase gave me a better understanding of the visual and structural elements that make up engaging 2D platformer levels. I also watched various tutorials to familiarize myself with the process and gain insights into effective level design techniques.
 |
| Fig 1.1 Progress in Unity & Visual Studio |
Once I felt ready, I began working on the prototype. However, as a beginner in Unity, navigating the tools and interface felt like deciphering an alien language. The learning curve was steep, and progress was slow at first. Even basic mechanics like moving and jumping were challenging to implement smoothly. Despite these hurdles, I persevered by troubleshooting every issue I encountered. With patience and persistence, I was able to identify and correct the errors, gradually building a functional prototype.
 | |
|
This phase of the project was both challenging and rewarding, marking a significant step in my journey as a game developer. Each difficulty taught me valuable lessons about problem-solving and familiarized me further with Unity's capabilities.
 | |
|
As I continued working on the prototype, I began to develop a clearer understanding of the Unity interface and tools. The process became smoother as I familiarized myself with how everything works together. However, coding still remained a major challenge for me. Being new to programming, I often found myself stuck on issues I couldn't seem to resolve. In these instances, I turned to AI and online resources for help, using them to troubleshoot the errors that were beyond my grasp. This was a crucial learning experience, as it taught me the importance of seeking help and experimenting with different solutions.
 | |
|
 | |
|
After a lot of hard work and troubleshooting, I finally completed the design for my game’s level, and it was a huge relief. The level is fairly long, featuring 4 distinct checkpoints, each with increasing difficulty to keep players engaged and challenged. The progression from one checkpoint to the next adds layers of excitement and anticipation, which I believe will enhance the overall player experience.
With the game mechanics now functioning as intended, my focus is shifting to the final stages of the project. The next steps involve implementing the art assets and incorporating the graphical user interface (GUI) to give the game its visual identity. These elements are crucial to elevating the game’s presentation and making the experience more immersive for players. Completing these remaining tasks will bring me closer to finalizing my game, marking the culmination of everything I’ve learned and accomplished in this project.
Prototype Walkthrough link: https://youtu.be/b6AD2j7tOg8?si=EqC3DmhOJlyPDM4w
Prototype Game: https://chasingcloudsgameprototype.netlify.app/
Reflection
Embarking on this game development project has been an incredibly challenging yet rewarding experience. At the start, I felt a mix of excitement and anxiety. Designing my first game level was an intimidating task, especially since I had little experience with Unity or coding. The learning curve was steep, and at times, the process felt like I was speaking a foreign language. I struggled with even the most basic mechanics, like movement and jumping, and I often found myself frustrated when things didn’t work as planned.
But with each obstacle, I grew more determined. The initial slow progress didn’t deter me; it motivated me to dive deeper into research and learn from tutorials. I spent hours troubleshooting, slowly piecing together the knowledge I needed to make sense of the tools and the code. When I encountered coding issues I couldn’t resolve on my own, I leaned on AI and online communities to guide me. It wasn’t easy, but every small breakthrough brought a sense of accomplishment and boosted my confidence.
As I continued, the coding challenges gradually became less overwhelming. I began to understand the mechanics and the logic behind them, and eventually, I managed to implement all the key features—movement, jumping, jump boost, death, respawn, checkpoints, and hazards. The sense of relief and pride when everything came together was immeasurable. I had created a level with a clear structure, increasing difficulty, and a flow that I felt was both challenging and rewarding for players.
Now that I’ve reached the final stages of the project, I feel a mixture of pride and anticipation. The game’s core mechanics are in place, and I’m excited to see how the art assets and GUI will bring it to life. While the road ahead is still filled with work, I’m proud of how far I’ve come. This journey has taught me so much about problem-solving, persistence, and the satisfaction that comes with seeing a project evolve from an idea into something tangible. The challenges I faced have only made the process more fulfilling, and I can’t wait to finalize the game and share it with others.
Comments
Post a Comment