Chow Down is an interactive game inspired by the classic video game, Frogger. Players guide a dog toward its food while avoiding distracting obstacles. The project retains Frogger’s core mechanic of moving from point A to point B, while introducing a new context and interaction.
Players navigate a randomized game board using a MIDI controller. Bones act as distractions; getting too close triggers a response that sends the dog back to the start. The team used distance calculations and visual connecting lines to develop and test the hit detection.
The concept grew from experimenting with familiar game mechanics while learning how to translate them into code and interactive behaviors.
The project’s main learning was the value of paired programming: combining their different skillsets helped them build on the fundamentals from class and tackle technical challenges together. They also found that some elements, such as MIDI controls, were easier to implement than expected, while simplifying the code improved the overall functionality.
