Game Start: Working on Core Gameplay

When designing a game, developers often focus on creating a core mechanic to drive the gameplay experience. This core mechanic is the essential activity that players repeatedly perform throughout the game. It is what sets the game apart and defines its unique gameplay. Without a strong core mechanic, a game can feel disjointed and lackluster.

In some games, the core mechanic is a simple, singular action. For example, in a footrace, the core mechanic is running. Players must run as fast as possible to cross the finish line before their opponents. In a trivia game, the core mechanic is answering questions. Players must use their knowledge and quick thinking to answer questions and earn points correctly.

We finished our initial pathfinding implementation using Bread First Search (BFS). The red path shows the player's path, while the dark area is non-passable.

We can also click and select a tile using a mouse click. We will use such a mechanic to select the player in the later stage of development.

We can spawn the robot object together with its status, such as level, damage, and health point.

Lastly, we develop a tile generator so the designer can just design the map layout using a simple text editor.