Operation: Arcturus

TSA Video Game Design

High Technology High School

2023

Created with Unity:

• Julian Sanchez: Lead Developer, Game Mechanics, Level Mechanics, Project Lead
• Zachary Levy: Level Design, Level Creation, Level Mechanics, Developer
• Xhaiden D'Souza: Music, Sound FX, Developer
• Arhan Nagavelli: Instructional Info, Menus
• Sharabh Ojha: Art, Level Creation, Developer
• Brian Ye: Documentation

Purpose, Target Audience, and Gameplay of Operation: Arcturus

Purpose

Operation: Arcturus is an interactive learning tool that aims to improve students’ understanding and mastery of mathematical graphing concepts. In the game, players must navigate through a series of challenges and puzzles that require them to use their knowledge of algebra, coordinate systems, and other graphing techniques to succeed. The game features a variety of different levels, each with their own set of obstacles and challenges. Players must use their critical thinking skills to overcome the obstacles and progress through the game. Players will have access to templates representing the standard forms of various equations, through which they can manipulate and graph equations, as well as domain adjustment. Players will be able to see the fruits of their labor quickly, and learn from their mistakes when testing out their graphs in the level. Players can retry levels, adjusting their strategies at each turn to progress. For new players, the game offers tutorials and hints to guide you through the first levels of the game.  By combining mathematical concepts with gameplay, players are able to put theory into practice. The game offers a unique approach to math education, allowing players to have fun and learn at the same time, potentially encouraging players to develop their own deep understanding of math. 

Target Audience:

The game is targeted towards teens aged 13-18, as teens at this age have developed their math skills to the point where they can understand the graphing concepts behind our game. 

The game provides a tutorial in order to help players get up to speed quickly and start playing with ease. Operation: Arcturus is an easy game to understand, making it accessible to younger teens, but a hard game to master, making it enjoyable for older teens.  Operation Acturus develops the math skills typically required for a middle school and high school curriculum.

Gameplay

The objective of the game is to move a ball from the entrance of the level to the exit. To move the ball, the player can create structures for the ball to follow with graphs. For example, a straight line with a negative slope can be graphed to create a ramp for the ball to roll on. The player can use up to three separate graphs on a level. However, the player will have to choose from set equations for their graphs. To pick a graph, the player can move the slider on the bottom right of the screen. After picking which graph to use, the player can modify those graphs to fit their needs. For example, a player might transform a graph up or down the plane to raise or lower the height. The game is broken down into levels, with each level containing a unique challenge for the player to beat. In some levels, there will be an additional optional collectible for the player that they can obtain. This collectible is a “keycard” , and can be obtained by having the ball contact the collectible while also reaching the exit of the level as well. The player will also have a variety of objects to assist them in completing the level. Some levels have objects that accelerate the ball forwards. The player completes the game when they complete all of the levels.

Operation: Arcturus Controls

Title Screen

Left click on buttons to select them.  Selecting the “How to play” button will show instructions for the game. To enter a level, select a world designated as “Line”, “Poly”,  “Exp”, or “Trig” and left click on a level number to enter a level.

Level Gameplay

To start the simulation, left click the white triangle on the top left. This will spawn a ball into the level, and you can see the result of your graph. When first starting a level, there will not be any graphs.

Navigation

To zoom in, use the scroll wheel on the mouse. Right clicking allows you to pan around the level.

Graph Usage

To spawn a graph, click on one of the boxes containing functions on the bottom right of the screen. Hold down the left click on the mouse and drag the pink box to the box on the bottom left labeled “Y = ”. This will spawn a graph into the level.

Graph Modification

To change the parameters of the graph, find the highlighted numbers in the functions on the bottom right. Left click on the highlighted numbers, and type in a new number to change the parameter. To change the domain of a function, left click the purple box on the bottom left of the screen with the numbers -5 and 5. By left clicking on the highlighted numbers, you can change them by pressing a new number on the keyboard to change the domain of the function. 

Menu 

Left click on the menu button in the top right to bring up a selection menu. From here, players can return to the home screen, access the tutorial, and change settings. To return to the level, simply left click the button “Back to Game”. To access the tutorial, left-click the button “How to Play”. To return to the home page, left-click the button “Return to Home Page”.