Squashbound

Squashbound is a game where you play a very simplified game of squash using a hero of your choice.

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Inspiration

Squashbound was inspired by the excitement of squash and the fun of couch co-op gaming. We wanted to create a game that combines strategic decision-making with quick reflexes, allowing players to choose unique heroes with special abilities. The goal was to create an engaging, fast-paced experience that brings friends together on a single device for competitive fun.

What It Does

Squashbound is a simplified squash game with a unique twist. Players choose from 12 heroes, each with distinct stats and skills, and compete in a turn-based match. The objective is to score points through skillful attacks and reactions, with the first player to reach 11 points declared the winner. Each hero's special abilities add a layer of strategy, making every match dynamic and exciting.

How We Built It

We developed Squashbound using Flutter 3.27.1 for cross-platform support, ensuring smooth gameplay on web browsers. AWS services played a key role in hosting and managing assets:

  • Amplify: For hosting the game.
  • S3: To store artwork.
  • CloudFront: To deliver assets efficiently via CDN.

Amazon Q was instrumental in development:

The reaction meter mechanism and coin flip spinner were implemented using its insert feature. Autosuggestions were used to streamline building the game logic and theme setup.

Challenges We Ran Into

Designing a balance between hero abilities to ensure fair and competitive gameplay was challenging. Implementing the reaction meter mechanism with dynamic adjustments based on stats required fine-tuning. Ensuring a smooth and responsive user interface while handling the logic for hero skills and stamina management was complex.

Accomplishments That We're Proud Of

All cards have methods that are executed throughout the battle allowing skills to adjust and alter the battle status and card stats easily during gameplay. Designing and developing this workflow was a challenging yet fun experience.

What We Learned

The importance of balancing simplicity and complexity in game mechanics for a broad audience. How to utilize AWS services effectively to optimize hosting and asset delivery. Leveraging tools like Amazon Q can enhance productivity and streamline development workflows.

What's Next for Squashbound

Multiplayer Support: Expanding beyond couch co-op to include online multiplayer modes. Hero Expansion: Adding more heroes with unique abilities to increase variety. Leaderboard Integration: Enabling players to track and compete for high scores globally. Artifact cards: Collectable artifacts in varying rarity that further enhance game play. Leveling: Lock heroes and artifacts behind a level requirement. AI Opponents: Introducing AI players for solo gameplay modes.

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