Possum Madness is an online fast-paced game developed as part of the CS50's Introduction to Computer Science program. In this game, players guide a fearless possum across a busy highway, dodging oncoming cars with precise timing and keyboard controls.
The game begins with clear instructions, enabling players to dive straight into the action.
The player starts at the bottom of the screen, navigating a busy highway with cars approaching from both directions.
When a life is lost, a red splash highlights the spot, and the possum returns to the starting point.
Successfully crossing the highway advances the level and increases the difficulty by introducing faster cars.
If all lives are lost, the game ends and players restart from level one.
Players start the game with three lives. Each successful highway crossing advances the level and increases the difficulty by introducing faster cars, challenging the player's reflexes and keeping them focused. When the possum loses a life, it returns to the starting point. If all lives are lost, the game ends and players restart from level one. A user interface in the top corner of the screen shows the remaining lives and current level, keeping players informed of their progress and goal: to reach the highest levels without losing all their lives.
This online game was developed using Scratch, a high-level block-based visual programming language and website created by MIT Media Lab. All the assets were sourced from third-party providers and edited within Adobe Photoshop and Audacity.
Possum Madness was primarily an independent project. However, I actively utilised CS50's online resources and community forums to troubleshoot challenges and learn from other developers. This approach fostered my problem-solving skills and ability to collaborate virtually.
One significant challenge was working within Scratch's limited flexibility compared to traditional programming languages. While the block-based system is user-friendly, managing the logic became difficult as the project's complexity increased, requiring me to restructure the blocks to maintain clarity and functionality. Additionally, creating an engaging progression required careful balancing to ensure the game remained fun and challenging as the speed of the cars increased. This involved iterative testing and adjustments to keep players engaged without making the game too difficult too quickly.
Working on this game solidified my understanding of essential gaming and programming concepts, including logic conditions, event management, user interface design, input systems and visual effects. This project highlights my ability to integrate the technical skills acquired during CS50 into a fun and engaging gaming experience. The game is playable on Possum Madness, and its logic and assets are publicly available, offering further insight into my skills and development process.