Milestone #5, by Thomas Grindinger - tgrindi@clemson.edu

This web page was created for Milestone #5 for CpSc 681 - Sensor-Enabled Game Development. This milestone involves making a webpage which presents milestone #4, which is an intermediate step of our final project, a sensor-enabled 3d computer game.

1. The source may be downloaded here. There is an executable present in that download, but it is compiled for 64-bit Windows Vista. If you have another operating system, you may need to recompile it. Note that it was also built using Visual C# Express Edition 2008, XNA Game Studio 3.0, and you will need those software packages to compile it.

2. This game is based around the "strategic dismemberment" of a structure resembling an atom. The player assumes the role of a guy running around the atom, shooting projectiles at it. Right now, he may run in a circle and toward or away from the atom. He has a basic attack of throwing a grenade type of object at the center of the atom, where it will detonate in the central core.

3. I had originally envisioned this as a more puzzle-like game, where the player makes slices and retrievals of a complex shape from a first-person perspective. I decided that it was more interesting and exciting to have an avatar and an environment in which to do these operations. Thus, I decided to make it a third-person game, set on a chunk of terrain. The basic idea still stands, but less emphasis will be on placement and more emphasis on movement and actions.

4. One strength of this project is that it generates random terrain, thus boosting replayability by a large degree. It also uses a very expressive particle system to render interesting effects. The shift from placement of slices to automatic aiming should make it easier to get into and more fun to experience.

5. The directional keys or the WASD keys may be used to move the avatar left, right, forward, and backward. The space key will throw a projectile toward the core of the atom, where it will detonate. There will be more actions in future versions, but these actions make up the bulk of the user interaction.

6. The particle system and terrain generator were borrowed from the XNA Creator's Club website. I combined them in this project and changed a great deal of code to what is now the prototype of my final game. All programming and graphics work is done by me.

7. There is a great deal of future work to be done. I will implement a menu system with different options and high scores. I will make levels and difficulties. I will add more actions to the player. I will make the atom attack the player in various ways. I will add models, which will hopefully be contributed by the DPA members of the class. I will also have sound effects and background music. The player will also be able to use the Wii-mote to play the game if he wishes.

Screenshot: