Inspiration
The motive behind this project was to learn new skills, and to have fun while doing it. The desire to complete a multifaceted project while keeping things artistic and playful made this project worth the effort. The player character, Herby Werby (short for Herbert Wertheim) was primarily inspired by Rachel's cat, Matcha.
What it does
PaintCat.exe is a single-player 2D platformer game with physics-based puzzles themed after common computer software, like MS Paint and Window's Mahjong.
How we built it
We built the project using Unity, as it was appealing due to its versatility. For the programming, we used C# scripts, and we also utilized GitHub for the collaborative aspects.
Challenges we ran into
One of the more challenging aspects of the project was the generative aspect- we knew we wanted to do a 2D game, and we knew the general format of the game, but we struggled to settle on a complete concept. Timing was also quite tough, as it was quite challenging learning a new API while worrying about the smaller, cosmetic details.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
Making a functional and aesthetically pleasing game in just 2 days! It was a testament to our drive and also our ability to focus and stay awake.
What we learned
Rachel: Before this hackathon, I hadn't written a single line of C#, and I had no idea how to even navigate Unity. I now know the basics of writing scripts, API navigation, sprite handling, player movement, projectiles, and game management... my brain is going to explode.
Hannah: I learned a lot about Unity sprite animations, and I learned about script interaction- proper delegation of functionality and project management/scope. Working under pressure and time management were also huge.
What's next for PaintCat.exe
PaintCat.exe isn't even closed to being polished. There is definitely room for more movement mechanics, and even better and more interesting gameplay. New mechanics and maybe an overarching plot or goal would really take it to the next level!
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