SPACE SPRINT: DUCK-01

A pixel platformer where gravity isn’t a rule — it’s your weapon.

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Inspiration

Most platformer games focus on movement, combat, or collectibles. We wanted to explore a different idea: What if players could control the laws of physics instead? The inspiration came from classic pixel platformers and physics sandbox games. We imagined a world where gravity isn’t fixed — it’s something you actively manipulate. That idea evolved into Hack-space-duck, a physics-switching platformer where players change the universe in real time to overcome obstacles. And yes — our astronaut is a duck 🦆.

What it does

Hack-space-duck lets players switch between five physics modes at any moment:

  • 🌍 Earth Mode – familiar gravity for precise platforming
  • 🌙 Moon Mode – low gravity for long jumps
  • ❄️ Ice Mode – zero traction, momentum-based movement
  • 🔁 Bounce Mode – trampoline floors for vertical launches
  • 🚀 Jetpack Mode – free flight with limited fuel
    Players combine these modes on the fly to solve puzzles, avoid hazards, and navigate space. 🎯 Objective: Collect energy stones, fuel the rocket, and help our duck return home. Gravity isn’t a rule — it’s a tool!

How we built it

We built Hack-space-duck as a web-based game using:

  • HTML5 Canvas
  • JavaScript / TypeScript
  • Custom physics switching system
  • Cursor AI for rapid prototyping
  • Vercel for deployment
    Each physics mode dynamically modifies gravity, friction, jump force, and special abilities in real time.

Challenges we ran into

⚡ Real-time physics switching: Switching modes mid-movement initially caused unstable velocity.
We solved this by smoothing transitions and normalizing momentum. 🎯 Level balance: Some modes made early levels too easy.
We redesigned layouts multiple times to force creative combinations. ⏱ Scope control: We cut extra features to focus on polishing the core mechanic.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

  1. Implemented five fully switchable physics systems
  2. Designed levels with multiple valid solutions
  3. Built a complete playable demo during the hackathon
  4. Created a mechanic-driven experience instead of a traditional platformer
    Most importantly — people actually enjoy playing it!!!

What we learned

  1. Small physics changes dramatically affect player experience
  2. Rapid prototyping beats over-planning
  3. Systems design matters more than adding features
  4. Playtesting early saves huge time later
    We also learned that the best gameplay comes from experimentation.

What's next for Hack-space-duck

Next, we’d love to add:

  1. More levels and environmental puzzles
  2. New physics profiles and hazards
  3. Better visual feedback for mode switching
  4. Speedrun and challenge modes
  5. A deeper story for our space duck
    Our long-term goal is to grow Hack-space-duck into a full physics-driven indie game. Thanks for playing 🚀
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