Gameplay footage can be seen here!
<iframe src="//player.vimeo.com/video/113820278" width="500" height="252" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe>Space Racer from Keith Cavanaugh on Vimeo.
Game Idea
Space Racer is a time trial racing game. The avatar is a spaceship that has to avoid or destroy asteroids with bombs in space and collect powerups, such as extra boosts, extra health, extra bombs, and fly through speed boost balls to facilitate the navigation of the course.
Game Rules / Environment
You control the ship up, down, left, right with quick response. You can use a boost with the space bar and a bomb using the C key. Each are limited; however, you can collect more of each by blowing up or running into colored asteroids. Green asteroids add bombs, blue asteroids add boost, and red asteroids add to your health. Health is lost on asteroid collision; you must complete the course before running out of health. After the course is completed, your score is recorded and the game keeps track of the best score obtained so far.
The avatar is confined within an octagonal tunnel inside an asteroid cloud. Within the tunnel, are scattered asteroids and speed boost balls. The end of the tunnel is a checkered area that the avatar must reach to complete.
Game Feel The gameplay is fast-paced, but with very tight controls. A balance between planning ahead and quick reactions enables the player to navigate the dangerous arena. The avatar control is smooth but responds quickly to movement.
Moreover, the physics do not necessarily simulate a real-space environment. They resemble flight in a gravityless environment where you have a lot of acceleration available. However, there is also strong air-resistance which will quickly stop your sideways movements.
Group Roles
Script Architecture - Leo
Start Screen/HUD - Keith
Explosions/Effects - Keith
Avatar Controls/Bomb - Leo
Environment - Sanchit & Leo
Collisions/Pickups - Leo & Keith
Submissions - Sanchit
This was our final project for CS 4455 at Georgia Tech (Video Game Design and Architecture). Created from start to finish in about a month, earlier builds can be seen our on class webpage:
http://ael.gatech.edu/cs4455f14/projectgroups/jupiter-groups/