20: Platform Playhouse (Part 05)

Learning Target

• Identify features for a game that add replayability or quality of life (QOL)
• Implement new features for your game

Instructions

Step 1: 

Share your current game with another person. Use their feedback and your own ideas to identify things that will improve your game.

Here are some common ideas to help you brainstorm:

Enhanced player experience

• • • animation cues
    • sound cues
    • skins
    • simple timer to challenge faster completion
    • display best time using a variable
    • challenge players to beat their own score

Enhanced game mechanics

• • • lives 
    • power-ups 
    • no-damage score bonus
    • hard mode
    • randomly spawn enemies in a few locations

Enhanced UI

• • • timer displayed on screen
    • score display at end of level
    • best time / high score tracking
    • screen decoration

Added immersion

• • • environment
    • lighting
    • story

Level expansion

• • • more levels
    • hidden levels
    • portals
    • multiple paths
    • boss levels

Other things

• • • unlock levels, skins, abilities
    • there really isn't a shortage of possibilities

Step 2: 

Choose several of your own ideas and add them to your game. 

Each of your improvements will be evaluated based on these criteria.

• • extension value = (challenge + effort + quality + impact)
  • total value = sum of all extension values

High value example: 

• • complete 1 extension
  • learn something new
  • good effort
  • high quality
  • improves the game

High value example:

• • complete 4 extensions
  • moderate difficulty
  • good effort
  • high quality
  • improves the game

Marginal value example:

• • complete 3 extensions
  • low difficulty
  • minimal effort
  • low quality
  • minimal game impact

Step 3: 

Implement the ideas you have chosen.

Step 4:

When the teacher isn't helping others, show me your completed work and receive a verification code to enter in Canvas.

Your score will be based on the quality and effort of the additions to your game beyond what is required in Platform Playhouse parts 1 to 4.

Grading