Assignment 9: Final project Proposal

Title: Catch the Horse
Mechanical Horse.mp4 – Google Drive

Concept:

“Catch the Horse” is an interactive two-player game that blends physical and virtual gameplay to create an engaging experience. A physical mechanical horse and a digital cowboy chase are brought to life through Arduino and p5.js integration. The game revolves around strategy, reflexes, and decision-making, where one player controls a cowboy trying to catch a runaway horse, while the other player actively defends the horse using tools like mud, fences, and boosters. With immersive elements like crouching to dodge obstacles and precise timing challenges to throw a lasso, the game offers an interactive and entertaining experience.

Overview:

In “Catch the Horse,” a virtual horse escapes its stable and leaves the screen, triggering a motor that animates a physical mechanical horse placed beside the monitor. The cowboy avatar must chase after the horse, dodging obstacles and using a lasso to attempt capture. The horse player can make the chase challenging with mud, fences, and boosters, while the cowboy must rely on strategic decision-making and skill to win.

Gameplay Mechanics

The Cowboy’s Role (Player 1)

• Chasing the Horse:
  • The cowboy avatar moves left and right using a joystick to dodge mud and other obstacles.
  • Physical crouching (detected by an ultrasonic sensor) is required to avoid fences thrown by the horse player.
  • At set intervals, the cowboy can attempt to throw a lasso to capture the horse or a bag of treats.
• Lasso Mechanic:
  The cowboy has two options when throwing the lasso:
  1. Catch the Horse (Luck-Based):
     • A meter appears with an oscillating needle that moves slower, making it easier to time the throw.
     • If successful, the player rolls a virtual dice. A roll of 5 or 6 captures the horse; otherwise, the chase continues.
  2. Catch the Treats (Skill-Based):
     • The meter’s needle oscillates faster, requiring greater precision to time the throw.
     • Success guarantees the bag of treats, which stops the horse and ensures a win.
     • Failure results in no capture, and the chase continues. 

The Horse’s Role (Player 2)

• The horse player uses three buttons to evade capture:
  1. Mud Throw: Throws mud obstacles that the cowboy must dodge with the joystick.
  2. Fence Throw: Launches fences that the cowboy must crouch to avoid.
  3. Booster: Temporarily speeds up the horse, preventing the cowboy from throwing a lasso.
• All buttons have cooldown periods to maintain fairness and balance. 

Challenges and Solutions

1. Mechanical Horse Durability:
   • The motor runs at a controlled speed to prevent stress on the fragile body.
2. Button Cooldowns and Fairness:
   • Cooldown timers for the horse player’s buttons ensure balanced gameplay.
3. Accurate Crouch Detection:
   • Calibrate the ultrasonic sensor to detect movement precisely while avoiding false triggers.

Winning Conditions

• The cowboy wins if they:
  • Successfully throw the lasso and roll a 5 or 6.
  • Successfully capture the bag of treats.
• The horse wins if:
  • The cowboy fails all lasso attempts, or the timer runs out.