Inspiration

We wanted to create a racing game that feels exciting, social, and different from a standard keyboard-controlled game. We were especially interested in using webcam controls so players could physically interact with the game and have fun watching their friends play. Our goal was to make something that people could understand quickly, laugh about, and enjoy together.

What it does

Kart Chaos is a 3D racing game with multiple tracks, power-ups, game modes, and colorful racing environments. Players can race solo or against a friend using either keyboard controls or webcam-based body movements. Players can lean to steer, raise both hands to boost, and squat to use power-ups. We also added personalized drivers, allowing players to use a picture of their face in the game.

How we built it

We primarily used TypeScript, React, and Three.js to build the gameplay, user interface, webcam controls, and 3D graphics. We organized the project into separate files and systems so the racing, controls, visuals, and menus could be developed and improved independently. We also created different environments and trackside details to make each race feel more like a complete game world.

Challenges we ran into

One of our biggest challenges was making the gameplay, graphics, and controls work together smoothly. Webcam controls were especially challenging because body movements needed to feel responsive without making the kart difficult to control. We also had to troubleshoot issues with movement detection, different player positions, loading assets, and making sure the game still worked when players used keyboard controls instead.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We are proud that we turned our idea into a playable racing game with multiple game modes, 3D tracks, power-ups, different control options, and multiplayer support. We are especially happy that the webcam controls became an actual part of the gameplay instead of just a small experiment. Seeing players lean, boost, react, and laugh while racing made the project feel successful.

What we learned

We learned how to work with several technologies at once, organize a larger codebase, troubleshoot problems, and collaborate as a team. We also learned how important it is to test the game with real players. Some features that seemed simple in theory needed a lot of adjustment to feel natural and fun in practice.

What's next for KartChaos

We would like to add more tracks, power-ups, game modes, and player customization options. We also want to keep improving the webcam controls so they feel smoother and more accurate, while adding more visual effects, animations, and sound design. Our goal is to make Kart Chaos feel even more polished, exciting, and fun to play with friends.