COMP222 - 2018 - First CA Assignment
Individual coursework
Arkanoid-like Game
Assessment Information
Assignment Number
Weighting
1 (of 2)
10%
Assignment Circulated
Deadline
Submission Mode
Learning outcome assessed
Tuesday 16 February 2021
Monday April 5 2021, 15:00
Electronic
2. An appreciation of the fundamental concepts associated with game development: game physics, game arti- ficial intelligence, content generation;
3. The ability to implement a simple game using an
existing game engine
Purpose of assessment To implement a simple 3D game using a game engine
library
Marking criteria The marking scheme can be found in Section 3
Submission necessary in order No
to satisfy Module requirements?
Late Submission Penalty Standard UoL Policy
I enforce a “no error policy” in this module: If your code does not compile,
your mark will be capped at 40%. Thus, you may get a higher mark for an
incomplete solution than for an advanced sketch.
If you want to show me your attempt to add some features that does not compile TOGETHER with your working code, please feel free to submit two ZIP files clearly indicating
which one of them contains working code and which contains an incomplete one. In this
case, you will not be penalised and you can get a higher mark.
1
1 Objectives
This assignment requires you to implement a simple 3D game using the jMonkeyEngine
library. Optionally, you can use Unity 3D or Unreal Engine, provided that you make use
their scripting capabilities, i.e. C#, C++, Blueprints, etc.
2 Game Description
The objective of this assignment is to implement a game inspired by the classic arcade
game Arkanoid, see, for example, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkanoid and https:
//youtu.be/--pBWsS867s. The game is played on a rectangular field with solid top and
sides and an open bottom. In the middle of the field, game objects are positioned. A player
controls a moving paddle at the bottom of the field, which prevents the game ball from
falling from the field. The game ball bounces off the paddle, the boundaries and the game
objects on the field. When the game ball strikes a game object on the field, the object is
removed. When all objects are gone, the player wins the round.
In the classic game, the game objects are rectangular. In the examplle below, we use
balls as obstacles.
3 Marking Scheme
The assignment is split in a number of steps. Every step gives you some marks. You do not
have to implement them in any particular order.
2
Step 1: Modelling the environment 20%
Model the playing field, the paddle, the green balls and the red game ball. You can either
use a 3D modelling tool like Blender or use jMonkeyEngine shapes. You must put at least
three stationary green balls on the field, and have a red game ball.
Up to 10% will be given for a simple bare construction. Further points will be awarded for
using shades, textures and creative lighting.
Step 2: Physics 30% total
The purpose of this step is to model the physical interaction of entities. The step is further
divided into smaller sub-steps.
Step 2.1: Ball motion and collision with the boundary, the paddle and the green
balls 20%
Model the movement of a single ball on the playing field. The ball should start moving either
from somewhere near the bottom centre of the field or from the top of the paddle and can
move in any direction within the field and does not have to bounce off.
Model how a ball bounces off the top and sides of the playing field and off the paddle.
Model the red ball collision with the stationary green balls on the field so that when the red
game ball hits one of the stationary green balls on the, it bounces off realistically.
Step 2.2: Removal of physics entities 10%
Ensure that green balls are removed from the field after the red ball bounces off. Ensure
that when the red ball gets off the field it is removed from the game, respawned, and starts
moving again.
Shades of green balls which are removed after multiple hits.
Step 3: Keyboard (and/or mouse) interaction 10%
Introduce a way to move the paddle left and right.
Step 4: Gameplay 20%
Add a visible points count (every hit of a green ball by the red ball brings 1 point) and some
kind of game levels. The player progresses to the next level when the field is cleared. To get
full marks for this steps, you should have at least two levels and it should be clear when the
player progresses to the higher level.
Extra 20%
You can see that marks for the steps described add up to 80%. In order to get 20% extra you
need to be creative and implement some nice feature. Some ideas: textures, sound effects,
3
green balls forming interesting shapes, power-ups,
more realistic physics, more interesting physics (you may avoid angles too
close to the horizontal line), obstacles on the field, levels of difficulty, some form of AI,. . . 4 Deadlines and How to Submit
Deadline for submitting the first assignment is Monday, 5 April at 3pm.
Submission is via Canvas accessible from
https://liverpool.instructure.com/courses/18967/assignments/71379
All submission must contain the source code, the executable, the necessary file for the
runtime execution and a report.
For jMonkeyEngine submissions you are advided to export your project (File →
Export Project → To ZIP) and submit the ZIP file.
Please submit the report in the form of document (in pdf-format) containing a check
list indicating whether the above marking points have been implemented successfully.
If you add any extra features to get the extra 20%, you need to describe what you’ve
done.
If you want to show me your attempt to add some features that does not compile
TOGETHER with your working code, please feel free to submit two (ZIP) files clearly
indicating in the report which one of them contains working code and which contains
an incomplete one. In this case, you will not be penalized and you can get a higher
mark.
4
Arcanoid Rubric
Criteria Ratings Pts
Modelling the environment
Model the playing field, the paddle, the green balls
and the red game ball. You can either
use a 3D modelling tool like Blender or use
jMonkeyEngine shapes. You must put at least
three stationary green balls on the field, and have a
red game ball.
2 to >1.0 Pts
Full marks
Further points will be
awarded for using
shades, textures and
creative lighting.
1 to >0 Pts
Basis
Up to 10% will be
given for a
simple bare
construction.
2 pts
Ball motion and collision with the boundary, the
paddle and the green balls
Model the movement of a single ball on the playing
field. The ball should start moving either
from somewhere near the bottom center of the field or
from the top of the paddle and can
move in any direction within the field and does not
have to bounce off.
Model how a ball bounces off the top and sides of the
playing field and off the paddle.
Model the red ball collision with the stationary green
balls on the field so that when the red
game ball hits one of the stationary green balls on
the, it bounces off realistically.
2 to >0.0 Pts
Full marks
0 Pts
No marks 2 pts
Removal of physics entities
Ensure that green balls are removed from the field
after the red ball bounces off. Ensure
that when the red ball gets off the field it is removed
from the game, respawned, and starts
moving again.
Shades of green balls which are removed after
multiple hits. 1 to >0.0 Pts
Full marks
0 Pts
No marks 1 pts
Keyboard (and/or mouse) interaction
Introduce a way to move the paddle left and right. 1 to >0.0 Pts
Full marks
0 Pts
No marks 1 pts
Gameplay
Add a visible points count (every hit of a green ball by
the red ball brings 1 point) and some
kind of game levels. The player progresses to the
next level when the field is cleared. To get
full marks for this steps, you should have at least two
levels and it should be clear when the
player progresses to the higher level.
2 to >1.0 Pts
Full marks
1 to >0 Pts
Basis 2 pts
Extra
You can see that marks for the steps described add
up to 80%. In order to get 20% extra you
need to be creative and implement some nice feature.
Some ideas: textures, sound effects, green balls
forming interesting shapes, power-ups, shades of
green balls which are removed
after multiple hits, more realistic physics, more
interesting physics (you may avoid angles too
close to the horizontal line), obstacles on the field,
levels of difficulty, some form of AI,. . .
2 to >0.0 Pts
Full marks
0 Pts
No marks 2 pts