High Concept
The day of destruction approaches, and the dwarves need your help to build a rocket for their escape from the planet! As you race against time, you'll face challenges from elves and nature determined to thwart your mission. Can you overcome the obstacles and ensure the dwarves' survival?
Developement Time
4 months
Genre
City builder simulator
Platform
PC
Team size
5
Engine
Alpha Engine (School given engine)
Role
Gameplay Programmer / AI Programmer
Contributions
Collaborated with programmers on the team to establish the Grid system.
Worked on the Elf attack system that was a core part of the gameplay loop
Collaborated with team members to design buildings and their function and plan out the development of the story
Created dwarves and dwarf AI that walk around their world to make the game feel alive and more polished
To enhance Rock-It!'s gameplay, I helped developed a dynamic newspaper system that alerts players to in-game world events, such as changes in weather or escalating enemy tensions. The enemies' primary objective is to steal player resources, and the newspaper system provides key information that helps players anticipate and counter these threats by strategically spending resources before the attacks occur. This feature adds a layer of strategy and immersion, enriching the overall gameplay experience.
The goal with Rock-It! was to develop a fun and engaging city builder with a story premise that matched the gameplay’s excitement. A key element in achieving this was integrating engaging features like dynamic weather. Programming the dynamic weather system was a rewarding challenge, especially in designing particle systems and linking the weather to the Elf attack mechanics. This resulted in a fun gameplay loop where players had to make dynamic decisions based on changing conditions, enhancing the overall experience.
The upgrade tree mechanic forms the core of our game, with intelligence as the key resource that drives progress. Most buildings generate valuable resources that allow players to advance further as each day passes, with resources being collected daily from these structures. The buildings are placed on a grid-based tile system, initially limiting placement options. However, as the game progresses, players can gather the resources needed to clear obstacles like rocks and expand their city, ultimately building a rocket to soar into space.