Boom Tanks

Gameplay Example.

Inspiration

My inspiration came from my favorite childhood game, Tanki Online. I used to play it a lot as a kid, and I loved the fast-paced tank battles, strategic movement, and explosive action. I wanted to recreate a similar experience in a simple 2D format, making it accessible and fun for players.

What it does

Boom Tanks is a 2D top-down tank battle game where players control a tank, maneuver through the battlefield, and engage in combat against enemy tanks. The game features smooth movement, precise shooting mechanics, and AI-controlled opponents that challenge the player’s strategy and reflexes.

How we built it

I developed Boom Tanks using Unity with C#, utilizing Unity's physics engine to handle tank movement and projectile collisions. I also incorporated free assets for the tanks, environment, and sound effects. Since it was my first time with Unity and C# I spent most of the time on searching valuable resources on the internet on how to build the game. I have attached the file that includes all of the cited works and resources I used to make my project possible.

Challenges we ran into

Since this was my first time using Unity, I had to adapt quickly and learn C# syntax along the way. Even though I am experienced in C++, C# was somehow confusing in a lot of areas. I was struggling to understand many C# scripts for tank movement, shooting, etc. Also creating enemy tanks that move and attack intelligently was more challenging than expected.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

I am proud of gaining experience in building my first-ever game in Unity from scratch within the hackathon time limit. I am also happy that I had a chance to be surrounded with a lot of CS students. This really motivated me since I felt like I was in a competitive environment.

What we learned

As a complete beginner, I have familiarized myself with Unity for 2D game development and work with C# scripting. I gained experience in debugging physics-based movement and improving AI behavior. I also learned a lot about time management while working on my project for 48 hours.

What's next for Boom Tanks

I haven't added sound or explosion assets, because I was primarily focused on core functionalities of the project. However, I am planning to do it in the nearest future. I am also planning to learn how to add a health bar to display the health of the tanks. I also want to add new tanks that can shoot fire, freeze or ricochet ammo. I think it's a pretty cool concept compared to just having tanks that shoot linear bullets.