CPSC 4160 / Cone Craze
Trisha Andres
Game Description
Cone Craze is an ice cream parlor game where the player is working as the ice cream ‘chef’ who makes orders for customers. The player will work to successfully complete each customers’ order correctly. If orders are wrong or not completed in time, customers will get sad and leave.
The objective of Cone Craze is to have the player manage customer flow by creating correct orders and giving them to the correct customer to achieve a monetary and score award while leveling up. There will be a predetermined amount of customers coming in to the ice cream parlor every day (level) and the main objective is for the player to successfully fulfill all orders.
The player will be able to move around in the kitchen area to obtain ice cream cones, ice cream scoops of different flavors, serve orders to customers, and throw away orders. The trash can component is added in the case of the player realizing they have made a mistake and need to throw away an order.
Game Mechanics
The gameplay involves the player controlling the chef character around the kitchen area to make and fulfill orders of customers.
Key components include the player using the ‘E’ button on their keyboard to interact with the different components in the kitchen. The components the player can interact with are the ice cream cones, the different ice cream flavors, the trash can, and customers.
The customers will automatically come in to the ice cream parlor and place an order. The order will be placed in a bubble next to the customer with an image of the ice cream order they are wanting.
Technical Description
The Game was developed using Python and the Pygame library, a cross-platform set of Python modules designed for writing video games. The game leverages Pygame's sprite handling, collision detection, and audio playback features to create an engaging 2D experience. Ice Cream Maker runs at a consistent 60 frames per second, ensuring smooth gameplay and responsive controls.
Controls
The controls for this game typically involve the movement keys on one’s keyboard using the up, down, right, and left arrow keys. The player will use these keys to move the chef player around the kitchen area.
Future Work
Future iterations might include more upgrades and add-ons into this game. As well, I would add more levels and more incentives to the game.
Furthermore, some additional graphics upgrades and variety could be added for ice cream flavors, cone options (waffle cone, sugar cone, or bowl), customer looks / emotions, etc. Lastly, sound effects for specific actions could be added.
Game Objective
Game Screenshots
Players can also utilize the ‘E’ key on their keyboard to interact with certain components in the game. These components will all be reachable from the kitchen area the chef player is bounded to and will be crucial in the ice cream order fulfillment process.
Game Limitations
The game, Cone Craze, while sufficient for a 2D experience, are constrained by the Pygame library's reliance on software rendering. This limits the level of graphical detail and smoothness compared to hardware-accelerated engines. Additionally, the game’s audio playback depends on the compatibility of the .ogg format with the system's audio drivers, which may cause inconsistencies across platforms. The absence of advanced AI algorithms restricts customer behaviors to basic timing and response logic, leaving room for improvement in complexity and variety. Lastly, the game's resolution and sprite scaling are optimized for smaller screen sizes, which may appear less sharp on higher-resolution displays.
Players can also utilize the mouse click to serve customers their orders. The player will click on the thought bubble that holds the ice cream scoops of the customers orders. The mouse click is crucial to successfully serve all customer.