Challenges

The challenges in this game revolve around the utilization of speed, the most important resource. Multiple challenges would require certain amounts of speed to surpass. Levels would be designed to fit such limitations, since player precision over the character is inversely proportional to how fast the player moves.

Obstacles: Physical barriers, switches, and speed-based impasses Opponents: Alien enemies Dilemmas: Speed resource use and proper utilization of the projectile to reach time limit

Both physical barriers and aliens are very similar due to the fact that they directly impede your progress in reaching the end of a level. Overall, physical barriers are designed such that the player and projectile may be able to ricochet at an angle. Most aliens are also designed to be destroyed once enough speed has been reached.

Obstacles
Obstacle types include:

- Breakable walls with speed requirements - Pitfalls with speed requirements - Switches pressed through contact with player or ball - Conveyor belts that push the player back

These obstacles can be overcome by the players interaction between his speed, objects, and the ship environment.

Opponents
Enemy behavior include a possible mix:

- Unable to move and shoot - Move in a scripted path - Unable to move, but shoots in a scripted pattern - Chases the player - Shoots towards the player or projectile within range

Enemy attributes include: - Speed requirement necessary to defeat the foe - Spikes- Unable for player to destroy, harms the player, projectile can destroy. - Plate armor- Unable for neither player nor projectile to destroy when in contact. - Sizes (small, medium, large)

= Resource Management =

Speed as health:

Speed is your life bar, so the player must make meaningful decisions depending on the situation towards how fast he wants to go. In most situations, the player would try to maximize his average speed during the level. The player loses if his speed is low and he hits an enemy, or if the player fails to meet the speed requirement for a pitfall.

Speed in puzzles:

The player needs high speed to finish the level in time, but needs to slow down when analyzing puzzles or requiring high precision in maneuvering. There may be destructible walls that the player does not want to destroy, or terrain that may affect the player’s movements.

Projectile management:

Projectiles have a heavy impact towards overcoming all kinds of challenges, so the player must make a meaningful choice towards when and how he shall throw the ball. The way the player imparts momentum and throwing direction to the ball helps decide the player’s subsequent action in relation to the previous throwing action.

Ideas for In-Game Challenges
-conveyor belt pushing player back -narrow corridor with alien turret shooting at player -switch that activates door must be hit with precision to allow player to pass through