Key and Lock Puzzles in Procedural Gameplay

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Key and Lock Puzzles inProcedural Gameplay

• Calvin Ashmore
• Project Defense
• April 10, 2006

2
What this project is about

• What is procedural gameplay?
• Why is it important?

3
Conceptual Terms
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Conceptual Terms

• Keys

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Conceptual Terms
Locks
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Conceptual Terms
Tension
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10 Properties
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10 Properties

• 1) Keys have bearing on gameplay
• 2) Locks precede their key
• 3) Keys are rewards

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10 Properties

• 4) Keys are encountered regularly
• 5) Old keys are useful
• 6) About 3 to 10 new areas are opened with each
  key

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10 Properties

• 7) Locks protect small rewards and new areas
• 8) Keys improve movement through space, and
  change perception of it
• 9) Locks are not immediately visible
• 10) Some keys are non-essential

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The Model
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The Model

• Areas

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The Model

• Connections

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The Model

• Keys and Locks

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The Model
end
start

• Zones

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The Model
Placed key
Lock name
Zone name
Early Implementation
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Representation ofproperties in the Model
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Representation ofproperties in the Model
All Models
Valid models
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Representation ofproperties in the Model
All Models
Valid models
???
Renderable models
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The Renderer(Charbitat!)
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The Renderer
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The Renderer
RiverEntrance(North) RiverExit(East)
RiverEntrance(South)
RiverEntrance(West)
Coast(NW)
Lake
Coast(NE)
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The Renderer
RiverEntrance(North) RiverExit(East)
River Mouth Configuration
River Curve Configuration
RiverEntrance(South)
RiverEntrance(West)
Coast(NW)
Lake
Coast(NE)
Lake Sink Configuration
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The Renderer
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The Simulator
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The Simulator
0.81 1.03 0.54 0.97 0.12 0.70 0.0367

• Keys precede locks?
• Tension balances properly?
• Zones balance enough?
• Key distances OK?
• Keys reused enough?
• Enough new areas for keys?
• Total Score

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The Simulator
Score 0.38
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The Simulator
Renderer
Simulator
1.21
2.43
0.00
0.75
1.21
0.35
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The Simulator