CSci 1301: Problem Set 10 (Project: Designing a game)

Total: 50 points + possible extra credit based on voting

Intermediate submission: Friday, December 3rd at 6pm by e-mail

Final submission: Tuesday, December 7th at 11:59pm by e-mail.

As always, please include a contract and a purpose for each function. Functions that are not graphical also require examples and tests.

Work in groups of 2 or 3. You may not put more than 10 hours (including in-class time) into this project.

Designing a small game

Your task is to design a small game (or a "create your own adventure" story) that gives the user choices and creates a story based on these choices. There are two forms provided for you, one that allows a user to choose an item from a drop-down menu, and another one creates a simple text form to type in input. The sample file has examples of using the forms.

Your game must have two phases: an accumulation phase in which a character acquires some items or properties that can be used later. Those might be treasures, weapons, powers - whatever is appropriate for your game. They must be stored as a list or lists. You may represent individual items as structures or strings or numbers: whatever works better with your game.

The second phase uses the items. The items may be taken off the list or transformed or their quantities reduced, i.e. the list(s) must be modified somehow.

Throughout the game you will use the canvas to tell the story. The canvas will display text and/or drawings. You don't need to draw every step of the game, but the pictures should be sufficient to illustrate key points. Be creative.

Important notes

• Start by copying the file project_start.rkt. It has the predefined functions for forms (that you can just use, you don't need to understand the code) and a sample of using these functions. Please study the sample code carefully, read all the comments.
• The two functions provided are get-choice and get-answer. Read their contract and purpose carefully.
• You will need teachpacks gui.ss and draw.ss
• The language is Advanced Student

Requirements for a game

Features:

• You must have at least 3 rounds in the accumulating stage of the game and at least 3 in the stage that uses the accumulated items.
• The canvas must be updated at least 10 times throughout the game. At least 5 of these updates must be drawings.
• You must use user input at least three times.
• You may use randomness if you want.
• Be creative.

Programming requirements:

• Lists must be used for storing collections of items. Using structures in addition to lists is a bonus, but not required.
• You may use predefined list functions (map, build-list, etc.) and/or write your own recursive functions. At least 5 uses of recursion (direct or via predefined functions) are required.
• You will be modifying existing lists using set! or its variations. At least one function that uses a variable in-place update is required.
• Complexity of your game will be graded. Satisfying just the minimum requirements may not give you full credit. You should use extra features, as appropriate for your game. They may include: structures, more recursive functions (direct or indirect), extra drawings or memory updates, randomness, etc. Make sure to document the extra features that you are using for your final submission.
• Your program has to be well written and easy to read. Avoid code duplication: if you find yourself writing very similar code several times, you probably need a function for that functionality.

Grading criteria

The work will be graded based on satisfying the requirements above, the quality and level of your work (more challenging projects will get more credit), creativity and originality of your project, clarity, style, and documentation of your code, your attendance during project lab time, and the extra credit based on voting.

CSci 1301 course web site.