Video 01 - Version Iterations:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frjkCX5IopQ&t=1s
Play & Time - to play with time and consider its flexibility in our work, and the ways we can manipulate temporal elements to explore or communicate ideas.
I will create a simple Unity game where the character must jump over obstacles while the user’s key inputs are delayed. Time will be used as a gameplay constraint.
My inspiration for this idea was Google Chrome’s “T-Rex, Run!”, which only becomes available after there is no internet connection in the browser. From this I wondered what would happen if I took the concept of gaming lag and injected into such a game. Lag in online gaming is notorious, however lag only occurs when the software, hardware or internet connection don’t function properly. Therefore, my idea became a sidescroller game that requires perfect timing, but has a constant, in-built lag.
T-Rex, Run! - https://elgoog.im/t-rex/
A simple sidescroller game that requires good timing.
What Causes LAG In Video Games? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bZCT6dhLCE
An explainer video that points out the concept of lag and a simplification of its causes.
After Emmett showed me how to create a simple-to-import functioning player character, I decided to take a second exploration of Unity with the concept I developed. I knew from the onset that I would need to explore the implementation of code, however I was struggling to figure out what exactly I needed to do in the coding. Fabian and Sahaj helped me create a code that caused time to slow down either when the space bar was or was not being pressed.
After explaining to me some of the basics of Unity coding. I took this information and found a code that delays an action at the very beginning of the game. Unfortunately I couldn’t find where each key input was in the character coding, however Chris was able to show me where this was happening and set me up with a new, more complex code that functioned better, explaining the use of Coroutines and IEnumerators. With a finally functioning character with in-built delay, I created a simple scene to test out the gameplay.
Having a very limited understanding of Unity, I knew I would have some troubles figuring out how to implement my concept into the game. Initially I thought it would be as simple as finding the right code online and adding it to the character script, however after seeing Fabian and Sahaj trying hard to get the first code running I realised that even simple ideas can be hard to communicate in coding.
Eventually I was able to find some codes that would do what I wanted, however I wasn’t able to locate where to implement the code. Chris was instrumental in being able to apply said code effectively. I think that the things I would want to make in Unity would all require a greater understanding of coding in Unity, so I may investigate Playmaker to grasp the foundational skills for future endeavours.
By Ben Mansur
Email Ben Mansur
Published On: 05/08/2019