The Tile Game project was an ambitious endeavor aimed at creating a puzzle game where players must interact with colored tiles and pressure plates to unlock doors and progress through levels. The game featured several unique mechanics, including a color harmony system, a soul swap mechanic, and various interactive elements designed to challenge players and enhance their problem-solving skills.

What Went Right

1. Color Harmony Mechanic

• Explanation/Story: The implementation of the Color Harmony mechanic was a significant success. This mechanic allowed players to change the color of cubes, tiles, and doors to match specific requirements. This added depth to the gameplay and required players to think critically about their moves. The development of this feature involved understanding color theory and ensuring seamless integration with other mechanics.
• Outcome: The color-changing feature was well-received, adding an engaging layer of strategy to the game.

2. Pressure Plate Logic

• Explanation/Story: Successfully creating pressure plates that only opened doors when the correct color was applied was a major milestone. This involved intricate blueprint scripting to ensure that only specific objects with matching color indexes could trigger the plates. This feature tested my ability to handle complex interactions and enhance the puzzle aspect of the game.
• Outcome: The pressure plates worked as intended, adding a satisfying challenge for players.

3. Integration of Soul Swap Mechanic

• Explanation/Story: Integrating the soul swap mechanic from a fellow classmate added an exciting dynamic to the game. This mechanic allowed players to swap control between characters, making it seem like teleporting from one side of the map to the other. This enabled the creation of puzzles that required players to complete challenges based on teleporting back and forth across the map. Collaborating with a classmate provided valuable insights and improved my ability to incorporate external code into my project.
• Outcome: The soul swap mechanic enriched the gameplay, providing varied challenges and keeping players engaged.

4. Community Engagement and Research

• Explanation/Story: Engaging with the gaming community through platforms like Reddit, Discord, and YouTube was immensely beneficial. By asking questions and sharing my progress, I connected with industry professionals and enthusiasts who provided invaluable feedback and advice. This experience highlighted the importance of community support and continuous learning.
• Outcome: The community's input helped refine the game's mechanics and inspired new ideas.

5. Sound and Puzzle Level Design

• Explanation/Story: Implementing sounds and designing challenging puzzle levels were additional highlights. The sounds enhanced the immersive experience, while the puzzle levels required players to think creatively and strategically. Designing these levels taught me the importance of balancing difficulty to ensure players feel challenged but not frustrated.
• Outcome: The sound design and puzzles were well-received, contributing to an engaging and immersive gameplay experience.

What Went Wrong

1. Overambition and Time Management

• Explanation/Story: I aimed to challenge myself by incorporating multiple complex mechanics, which led to a longer development time than anticipated. Balancing schoolwork and project development was a struggle, and I often found myself overwhelmed by the scope of the project.
• What I Would Have Done Differently: I would have started with a more focused scope and gradually added features as I progressed, ensuring each mechanic was polished before moving on to the next.

2. Color Index Recognition Challenges

• Explanation/Story: Implementing the logic for the pressure plate to recognize the color index of objects was particularly challenging. It required a deep understanding of Unreal Engine's blueprint system and debugging to ensure accuracy. There were moments of frustration when things didn't work as expected.
• What I Would Have Done Differently: I would have dedicated more time to learning the intricacies of Unreal Engine's blueprints and sought guidance from experienced developers earlier in the process.

3. Balancing Mechanics with Collisions

• Explanation/Story: Using complex mechanics instead of simple collision boxes posed several challenges. Ensuring that the interactions between various elements were smooth and bug-free required extensive testing and iteration. This often led to unexpected issues that needed quick resolution.
• What I Would Have Done Differently: I would have conducted more thorough pre-development planning to anticipate potential issues and streamlined the interaction logic to minimize complications.

4. Handling Complex Interactions

• Explanation/Story: Integrating multiple mechanics and ensuring they interacted correctly was a constant challenge. This complexity often led to bugs that were difficult to track and resolve. The process of debugging and refining these interactions was time-consuming.
• What I Would Have Done Differently: I would have used a modular approach, testing each mechanic in isolation before integrating them, to identify and resolve issues early.

5. Documentation and Version Control

• Explanation/Story: Proper documentation and version control were areas I initially neglected. This oversight led to confusion and difficulty in tracking changes and debugging. Properly documenting the development process and using version control would have streamlined development and collaboration.
• What I Would Have Done Differently: I would have established a clear documentation and version control strategy from the beginning, ensuring that all changes were tracked and easily reversible.

Conclusion

The Tile Game project was a rewarding learning experience that allowed me to explore various mechanics and improve my problem-solving skills. The successes, such as the implementation of the Color Harmony and Soul Swap mechanics, showcased my ability to create engaging gameplay. However, the challenges, including managing time and handling complex interactions, highlighted areas for improvement. Reflecting on this project has provided valuable insights that will guide my future endeavors in game design and development. Overall, this project has strengthened my skills and prepared me for more ambitious projects in the future.