Dungeon Hunt: Building a 2D Platformer Game with AWS
The AWS Game Builder Challenge gave me the perfect opportunity to explore game development while leveraging AWS services. My project, Dungeon Hunt, is a 2D platformer that combines fun gameplay with intriguing puzzles, all designed for a web-based gaming experience. Here’s a look at how I brought this game to life and how AWS played a key role in its development.
Inspiration
The idea for Dungeon Hunt came from my love for treasure hunt games and classic 2D platformers. I wanted to create something simple yet engaging, especially for kids, with intuitive mechanics and exciting challenges. The vision was to offer a game where players could embark on a hunt for fruits while navigating traps, hidden pathways, and puzzles.
Game Concept and Mechanics
Dungeon Hunt is a 2D platformer where players collect fruits while avoiding obstacles like spikes, spinning saws, and fire. The goal is to complete the level by reaching the finish line, with hidden pathways and movable blocks adding depth to the gameplay.
Core Mechanics:
Player Controls:
Move Right: Right Arrow Key / D
Move Left: Left Arrow Key / A
Jump: Up Arrow Key / W / Spacebar
Level Features:
Hidden pathways that require exploration.
Movable blocks and moving platforms.
Fruits with varying values based on difficulty of collection.
With four levels currently available, the game is hosted as a web-based application, designed specifically for devices with keyboards.
AWS Services Used
AWS was instrumental in every step of Dungeon Hunt’s development. Here’s how:
Amazon Q Developer
Amazon Q Developer played a critical role in improving and optimizing the Unity codebase. As someone new to C# and Unity, I relied heavily on its chat-based interface to:
Generate and debug scripts for player movement and other mechanics.
Understand the logic behind features and workflows.
The service not only sped up development but also made the process more accessible for a novice developer.
Amazon Amplify
To deploy and host Dungeon Hunt as a web-based game, I used Amazon Amplify. It simplified the hosting process, offering seamless integration and quick deployment.
Additional AWS Tools
Amazon S3: To store game assets, including textures and sound files, ensuring fast and reliable access during gameplay.
AWS CloudWatch: To monitor and optimize the hosting environment for performance and uptime.
Development Journey
Building Dungeon Hunt was an exciting yet challenging experience.
Challenges We Faced:
Setting up Amazon Q Developer: Integrating Amazon Q Developer into Visual Studio 2022 was a hurdle due to initial configuration issues. Troubleshooting this setup taught me valuable lessons about compatibility and setup workflows.
Learning Unity and C#: As a beginner in game development, scripting player movements and interactions required patience and experimentation.
Time Constraints: Limited time meant prioritizing core features, leaving plans for leaderboards and additional levels for future updates.
What We Learned:
This project was an incredible learning experience. I deepened my understanding of Unity, C#, and AWS services. The iterative process of debugging and optimizing taught me how to handle challenges effectively and leverage cloud tools to streamline development.
Screenshots
Here’s a glimpse into Dungeon Hunt:
What’s Next for Dungeon Hunt
The current version of Dungeon Hunt is just the beginning. Here’s what I plan to add next:
Leaderboard and Scoring System: To track and display player scores globally.
Additional Levels: Expanding the game world with new challenges.
Mobile Optimization: Making the game accessible on touchscreen devices.
Enhanced Mechanics: Adding new traps, power-ups, and dynamic environmental elements.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on Dungeon Hunt! Feel free to try the game and share feedback or suggestions for improvement. Let’s keep building and learning together in the game development community!
