Apps Making a 2D Temple Run Style Maze Game

[MCBadong]

Hi everybody!

I'm currently developing a simple app that has a game that looks like this:



The gameplay will be similar to Temple Run, except on a simple 2D plane, inside a maze (harder levels will have bigger, more complex mazes, but still within one screen). To add to the challenge, the game starts immediately after 3 seconds, and pausing will be disabled.

Like Temple Run, once the game starts, the character will run by default to the right (all mazes will be designed with the first part of the maze having a free space to move rightwards) and will not stop moving until:

a) He reaches the goal, resulting in a win, or
b) He bumps into any of the maze walls, resulting in a loss.

Like Temple Run, the user will swipe up/down/left/right (Except in this case up and down swipes make up and down movements rather than jumps or slides) to move the character.

With that, can anybody help me out in making this very simple implementation of a maze/temple run style game? Thanks!

 

[Unforgiven]

I've moved this to the Application Development forum so you can get the help you need.

 

[MCBadong]

I've moved this to the Application Development forum so you can get the help you need.

Many thanks!

 

[350X]

"b) He bumps into any of the maze walls, resulting in a loss."

sounds like a bad idea if the maze is complex, people will only try a new game so many times, side wall should not end it, only end walls in a dead end.

 

[MCBadong]

"b) He bumps into any of the maze walls, resulting in a loss."

sounds like a bad idea if the maze is complex, people will only try a new game so many times, side wall should not end it, only end walls in a dead end.

I'll see about changing the mechanics once I am able to at least get a working game with the specifications above - can you offer help or advice? Codes?

 

[jonbonazza]

I think you are underestimating this project. From how it sounds, you aren't quite ready to undertake a game (no offense). Games are much harder to program than applications, for multiple reasons, and even seasoned application developers often times stumble in game development. The concepts behind game dev are far different than those behind app dev. Even though this game "sounds" simple, at an atomic level, it is far from it.

What kind of programming experience do you have already?

 

[MCBadong]

I think you are underestimating this project. From how it sounds, you aren't quite ready to undertake a game (no offense). Games are much harder to program than applications, for multiple reasons, and even seasoned application developers often times stumble in game development. The concepts behind game dev are far different than those behind app dev. Even though this game "sounds" simple, at an atomic level, it is far from it.

What kind of programming experience do you have already?

Quite a bit, but with Android, not that much

Well then if this doesn't seem feasible at my level of coding could you recommend a simple functional gaming app I could make instead? Because we are required to submit a basic gaming app before mid-October, and frankly with so many other subjects with projects to handle, I'm not sure if I'll have the time to study coding a complex game...That's why I dropped by here for advice...

 

[jonbonazza]

Why not something like Pong? That's an easy one to code on any platform, even Android. Alternatively, you could do something like a simple scavenger hunt game or something. This wouldn't really require any real time rendering, and could be done entirely using the SDK.

 

[MCBadong]

Why not something like Pong? That's an easy one to code on any platform, even Android. Alternatively, you could do something like a simple scavenger hunt game or something. This wouldn't really require any real time rendering, and could be done entirely using the SDK.

Thanks for the idea! I think I'll go for a scavenger hunt game instead - the title will still be Think Fast, since it will be the objective to look for the stuff within a pretty fast time limit. Any tips on beginning such?

 

[jonbonazza]

You'll need to look into Location Based Services (LBS) and how to use the Google Maps API. Also, you'll need to think about how to facilitate the networking capabilities. How will others compete against each other? Things like that. I recommend you sit back and do some major design work (mechanics design more than UI design at first) and decide how exactly you want the game to work; define the rules, etc... This should give you an idea where to start with the actual code.

 

[MCBadong]

You'll need to look into Location Based Services (LBS) and how to use the Google Maps API. Also, you'll need to think about how to facilitate the networking capabilities. How will others compete against each other? Things like that. I recommend you sit back and do some major design work (mechanics design more than UI design at first) and decide how exactly you want the game to work; define the rules, etc... This should give you an idea where to start with the actual code.

Oh, um...When you said scavenger hunt I was thinking something like, ahh, Mystery Case Files - you know, finding objects hidden in plain sight and stuff.

See multiplayer capabilities isn't a requirement, and I plan to make this game a singleplayer escapade to make it simpler. Did you have something else in mind?

 

[jonbonazza]

Well, that will work too. lol Either way, you need to sit back and design the game before you get anywhere near code.

 

[MCBadong]

Well, that will work too. lol Either way, you need to sit back and design the game before you get anywhere near code.

All right, um, I'll get started on making the design - afterwards, will you be able to help out a bit with the coding?

 

[jonbonazza]

I honestly don't really have the time for any tutoring, but if you have any specific questions, just post them here and I or someone else will try to get to them as soon as possible.

 

[MCBadong]

I honestly don't really have the time for any tutoring, but if you have any specific questions, just post them here and I or someone else will try to get to them as soon as possible.

Thanks! I already have one specific question in the Simple Bluetooth thread I made:

http://androidforums.com/applicatio...imple-bluetooth-transfer-app.html#post4888820

Hope you could look into it

 

[jonbonazza]

If you need some game design help please check our portfolio
here is our thread there
Link

when I spoke of "game design" I was more referring to design of the mechanics, not the graphical design, just to clarify.