Shroom Rush

The Game Start Screen
Level 1 Game Screen
Level 2 Game Screen
Level 3 Game Screen
Game End Screen

Inspiration

We created Shroom Rush as a light-hearted escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Our goal was to design a cute, whimsical game with a charming main character, Finley the Mushroom, whose journey reflects the power of resilience. Through his story, we hope players can enjoy a mental break, even if just for a few minutes, and feel a sense of joy and relaxation while guiding Finley through his challenges.

What it does

Shroom Rush offers players a delightful adventure where they control Finley the Mushroom, navigating a whimsical world filled with challenges and rewards.

Character Control: Players can move Finley left and right, as well as jump to explore the environment.
Obstacle Navigation: Players must avoid obstacles by timing their jumps or sometimes choosing to stay on the same level to dodge slimy hazards.
Coin Collection: Jumping and moving allows players to collect coins scattered throughout the levels, adding to their score and enhancing the gameplay experience.
Lives Management: With three lives to spare, players must carefully navigate the world to avoid losing them and ultimately reach the end portal.
Story Lore Exploration: As players progress through the levels, they uncover more about Finley’s story, making each jump and dodge meaningful in this charming adventure.

How we built it

Python & Pygame: Pygame served as the main framework, handling game mechanics like movement, collisions, and rendering.
Tiled Map Editor and PyTMX: We used the Tiled Editor to create levels and imported them with PyTMX, simplifying asset management.
MongoDB: We utilized MongoDB to keep track of high scores and plan to implement user authentication, with user data also stored in MongoDB.
OpenAI API: We integrated OpenAI's API to generate unique conversations for Finley after reaching the end of level 1, right before the next part of his story.
Graphics & Design: We used Adobe Express to design and create assets and graphics for our game, crafting a whimsical world and an adorable look for Finley. Version Control: Git allowed us to collaborate seamlessly, merging and testing features as a team.

Challenges we ran into

This project came with its fair share of challenges, pushing us to innovate and problem-solve:

Collision Detection: Ensuring accurate collisions between Finley and the environment required a lot of trial and error.
Level Design with Tiled & PyTMX: Integrating PyTMX with custom maps took some debugging to achieve smooth gameplay.
Balancing Difficulty: We focused on creating a level of challenge that keeps players engaged while also maintaining the game’s relaxing, escapist feel.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We take great pride in several key accomplishments throughout the development of Shroom Rush:

Graphics and Asset Design: We created unique and vibrant graphics that enhance the whimsical atmosphere of the game. Each asset was thoughtfully designed to contribute to the overall aesthetic and feel of Finley's adventure.
Custom Game Map Creation: Instead of relying on random open-source maps from the internet, we crafted our own game map using the Tiled Map Editor. This allowed us to personalize the gameplay experience and ensure that each level reflects our vision for the game.
Engaging Gameplay Mechanics: We successfully developed intuitive controls and gameplay mechanics that provide a smooth and enjoyable player experience, encouraging exploration and interaction with the environment.
Storytelling Integration: By incorporating unique conversations and lore into the gameplay, we created a narrative that enriches the player's journey and adds depth to Finley’s character.

What we learned

Building Shroom Rush was a fantastic learning experience that deepened our knowledge in several areas:

Game Design: We explored character animation, level design, and pacing to create an engaging, enjoyable experience.
Pygame Module: Working with Pygame allowed us to leverage Python’s libraries in a creative way, covering topics like character control, collision detection, and event handling.
Project Management: Dividing tasks, managing timelines, and refining features taught us a lot about teamwork and prioritization.
User Experience: We learned how even small tweaks in gameplay, such as adjusting character speed or difficulty, can greatly affect the player’s experience.

What's next for Shroom Rush

As we look to the future of Shroom Rush, we have exciting plans to enhance the game further:

Web App Development: We aim to transform Shroom Rush into a web app, hosted on platforms like Vercel or other hosting services. This will make the game more accessible to a wider audience and allow players to enjoy Finley’s adventure from anywhere with an internet connection.
Additional Levels: We plan to introduce more levels, each featuring unique challenges and environments that enrich the gameplay experience and keep players engaged.
Expanded Story Lore: We’re excited to develop and integrate more story lore, offering players a deeper understanding of Finley’s world and the characters within it. This will enhance the narrative experience, making each level feel like a meaningful part of the journey.

We’re committed to continuing our development efforts and creating an enjoyable experience that players can return to time and time again!