Breakout Game

Overview

Breakout is a classic arcade game, reimagined with modern features, multiple levels, and a relatively usable physics system. This project implements the game using an Entity-Component-System (ECS) architecture, making the game highly extensible and allowing for advanced game logic, such as collisions and power-ups.

Key Features

• Core Gameplay:

  • Control the paddle using the arrow keys ← and → and try to keep the ball (bouncer) in play while destroying bricks.
  • The paddle can be warped if it crosses the screen edges.
  • Paddle’s horizontal velocity influences the ball’s movement, making it partially controllable.

• Special Blocks:

  • Multi Hit Block: Takes multiple hits to destroy.
  • Explosive Block: Explodes and damages surrounding blocks.
  • Laser Block: Fires a horizontal laser that damages blocks in the same row.

• Power-ups:

  • Extra Life: Gives an additional life for a limited time.
  • Longer Paddle: Expands the paddle for better control.
  • Speed Up: Increases the speed of the ball temporarily.
  • Icy Paddle: Makes the paddle slippery (no velocity decrease).

• Cheat Keys: Unlock extra features (extra life, reset positions, etc.) during gameplay (but will mark the score as CHEATED).

• Multiple Levels: Easily add new levels by including new .level files. Check here for example.

• Collision System: An simple ECS-based collision detection and resolution, providing realistic and dynamic gameplay interactions.

Project Attributions

• Learning Resources:

  • Game Engine Design (ECS)
  • Unity Scripting Guide
  • Collision Detection

• Assets Used:

  • Duke University Seal

Gameplay and Running

Key Inputs

• Arrow Keys: Move the paddle (only horizontal movement)
• Mouse Left Click: Interact with the UI
• P: Pause the game
• S: Restart the current level
• 0-9: Load levels (currently level 0-3; levels beyond 3 will load the last level)
• Cheat Keys:
  • L: Gain an extra life
  • R: Reset paddle and ball positions without resetting the level

Dependencies and Setups

• Build Environment: Java 11 or higher
• External Package: JavaFX (should be included in the JDK)

Reflection & Challenges

Implementing the ECS system was both the most challenging and rewarding part of this project. Debugging the complex collision interactions took a significant amount of time, but seeing it work in the final game was very satisfying. I look forward to refining the ECS architecture in future updates to make it more flexible and robust.