🔧 🚀 Software Engineering Post-Mortem: Crown & Conquest 🏰⚔️
Nachrichtenbereich: 🔧 Programmierung
🔗 Quelle: dev.to
🎯 Project Overview
Crown & Conquest is a 4X strategy game built with Unreal Engine 5.5 for the Yogscast Games - Jingle Game Jam. Players step into the role of a ruler, striving to conquer neighboring kingdoms by acquiring their crowns. The gameplay revolves around the four key pillars of 4X:
- Explore: Navigate the fog of war to uncover new lands. 🗺️
- Expand: Grow your empire by crowning neighboring kingdoms. 🌍
- Exploit: Harness resources from conquered territories. ⚒️
- Exterminate: Subdue hostile kingdoms and bring them under your rule. 🛡️
Crown & Conquest delivers a thrilling blend of strategy, resource management, and medieval conquest. 🏆
🛠️ Initial Project Goals
The primary objectives were:
- Create a medieval 4X game using Unreal Engine. 🎯
- Complete and submit the game for the Jingle Game Jam. 🎄
✅ How We Met Our Goals
Using Agile methodology, I:
- Broke down features into User Stories. 📝
- Tracked progress with a Kanban Board in GitHub Projects. 📋
🎉 Result: The game successfully incorporated all 4X elements, included two playable scenarios, and featured a tutorial for new players.
✨ What Went Well
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Level Design:
- Designed two engaging scenarios for players to step into the shoes of an empire leader. 🗺️
-
Core Mechanics:
- Successfully implemented the key 4X elements (Explore, Expand, Exploit, Exterminate). ✅
-
Player Guidance:
- Created a tutorial—a much-needed addition from my previous 4X game—to help new players ease into the mechanics. 📖
⚠️ What Went Wrong
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Art Style:
- Needed assets to capture a medieval atmosphere and immerse the player. 🖼️
-
Music:
- Lacked an original soundtrack to enhance the gameplay experience. 🎵
🛠️ How Challenges Were Addressed
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Art Style:
- Purchased medieval-themed assets from the UE Fab Store, which added the visual flair I needed. 🏰
-
Music:
- Acquired a soundtrack from the UE Fab Store to enrich the player’s experience. 🎶
💡 Lessons Learned
- Level Design: Gained valuable experience in creating scenarios tailored for 4X gameplay.
- Tutorial Design: Learned how to craft a player-friendly tutorial that simplifies complex mechanics. 🛠️
🔮 Future Recommendations
-
Combat Mechanics:
- Add deeper battle and combat mechanics to enhance the "Exterminate" phase of 4X gameplay. ⚔️
-
Dynamic Systems:
- Incorporate dynamic systems like diplomacy or trade to add more strategic depth. 🤝
🏆 Conclusion
Crown & Conquest was a rewarding project for the Yogscast Games - Jingle Game Jam. 🎉 It pushed my skills in 4X game development, from level design to tutorial creation, while challenging me to deliver a polished product under a deadline. I’m excited to evolve these mechanics and build even greater experiences in the future! 🚀
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