Jump Game with Matter.js Library – Week 10

Concept
This week’s sketch is all about creating a simple platform game using the Matter.js physics library. The game involves controlling a ball that jumps from platform to platform, trying to reach new heights. The ball collects points as it climbs higher, and the goal is to score as much as possible before falling off the screen. This sketch explores gravity, jumping mechanics, and collision detection, creating a fun game where timing and precision matter.

Code Highlight
One of the main parts of this code is the handleCollision function, which checks when the ball lands on a platform. When the ball hits a platform, it enables jumping again, letting the player continue their ascent. Here’s a snippet of how this works:

function handleCollision(event) {
  for (let pair of event.pairs) {
    const { bodyA, bodyB } = pair; // Get the bodies in collision
    // Check if ball collides with any platform
    if (
      (bodyA === ball && platforms.includes(bodyB)) ||
      (bodyB === ball && platforms.includes(bodyA))
    ) {
      if (ball.velocity.y > 0) { // Allow jump if ball is moving downward
        canJump = true;
      }
    }
  }
}

In this function, each time the ball collides with a platform, the canJump variable is set to true if the ball is moving downwards. This allows the player to jump again, making the gameplay smooth and responsive. This function is essential because it controls when the player can jump, ensuring the ball only jumps after touching a platform.

Embedded Sketch

Reflection and Future Ideas
I’m happy with how this game turned out! The ball’s movement and simple controls make it easy to pick up and play, and the scoring system adds a fun challenge. Watching the ball jump from platform to platform is satisfying, especially with the smooth collision detection and responsive jumping mechanics. Setting up the collision events in Matter.js was a new experience, and it was exciting to see how different forces and gravity values could create realistic movement in the game.

In the future, I’d like to explore more ideas to make the game more dynamic. Adding different platform types, like moving or disappearing ones, would introduce an extra layer of difficulty and variety to the gameplay. Visually, adding effects like particle trails for jumps or enhancing the ball’s design would make the game feel more polished. Another improvement would be adding sound effects for actions like jumping and landing, which would make the game more immersive and engaging.

 

References

https://editor.p5js.org/hinatahave91/sketches/G91aWNP_9

https://github.com/jakewarrenblack/p5.js-ball-game