This repository contains the Unreal Engine 5.3 project for a 2D side-scroller game developed as part of a research study. The game, named DarKnight, was created to investigate the impact of camera movement on player performance and experience.
The core of the research question was:
Does the direction of camera movement and game flow - whether progressing from left-to-right or right-to-left - significantly affect player performance, behavior, and perceived difficulty in a 2D platformer?
- Two Playtest Modes: The game features two distinct playtest modes, each with a different camera orientation (left-to-right and right-to-left).
- Multiple Characters: Players can choose from a selection of characters, each with unique abilities, adding depth to the gameplay.
- Varied Levels: The game includes multiple levels with varying difficulty, providing a range of challenges for players.
The study found no statistically significant correlation between camera direction and player performance metrics, suggesting that camera orientation does not substantially affect gameplay outcomes in a 2D side-scroller.
- Unreal Engine 5.3 Project Files: The complete Unreal Engine project containing all game assets, blueprints, and configurations.
- Thesis: The full thesis provides a detailed account of the research project, including literature review, methodology, results, and analysis.
- Data Analysis Scripts: Python scripts used for the analysis of the data collected during the playtesting phase.
- Download the Project: Clone or download the repository to your local machine.
- Open with Unreal Engine 5.3: Open the project using Unreal Engine 5.3.
- Compile and Run: Compile the project and run the game to experience the different playtest modes and levels.