Karen: Retail Rampage

Inspiration

I was inspired by the chaotic and often humorous world of retail, particularly the "Karen" stereotype—the entitled shopper. I combined this with classic arcade mechanics like Pacman to create a game that’s fast-paced, funny, and easy to pick up. I wanted to capture the fun of a shopping spree, but with a twist: avoiding rival Karens and security guards, while racing to collect items. The result is a lighthearted, action-packed experience.

What it does

Karen: Retail Rampage is a simple arcade-style game where I control a "Karen" as she races through a store to collect as many items as possible. The challenge is to avoid security guards and other rival Karens while trying to outpace them. There are no complex obstacles—just a straightforward competitive race. I integrated a leaderboard so players can see how their scores stack up against others, adding a competitive element to the game.

How I built it

I built the game using Phaser, which is a powerful 2D game engine, to handle the gameplay mechanics and physics. The frontend is powered by React to ensure a responsive, interactive user interface. I used Tailwind CSS to style the game and make it look polished. For score submission and leaderboard functionality, I integrated the Devvit API, allowing players to submit scores and view their rankings. It was an enjoyable challenge to create a smooth, seamless gaming experience that felt both engaging and fun.

Challenges I ran into

Scoreboard and Leaderboard integration: Getting the scoreboard and leaderboard to work smoothly was a challenge. I had to ensure the API integrated properly so that scores were submitted and displayed in real-time.

Frequent Bolt.new resets: I had to reset Bolt.new multiple times during development due to connectivity and performance issues, which was frustrating and slowed down the process.

Movement mechanics: Fine-tuning the movement of the characters—especially with multiple rival Karens and security guards on screen—was tricky. I had to work through issues with collision detection and responsiveness to make sure the gameplay was fluid.

Accomplishments that I'm proud of

Simple yet engaging mechanics: I’m proud of how the game balances simplicity with fun. It’s easy to jump into, but it offers just enough challenge to keep players engaged and wanting to improve their scores.

Smooth API integration: Despite the challenges, I successfully integrated Devvit’s API to handle score submissions and display the leaderboard, which added a competitive element to the game.

Polished visuals: I’m happy with the look and feel of the game. The interface is simple and intuitive, and it doesn’t distract from the core gameplay.

What I learned

Managing external APIs: I learned how to effectively handle API calls and manage data such as high scores and leaderboard rankings, which added depth to the game.

Game mechanics and optimization: I had to carefully balance simplicity with excitement, making sure the game was accessible but also offered a good challenge. I also learned the importance of optimizing character movement and game responsiveness.

Debugging and troubleshooting: Working through frequent resets with Bolt.new taught me how to debug and troubleshoot performance issues, which helped me improve my approach to fixing bugs.