Progress creeping forward

I have been randomly progressing on the game mechanics and the bling at the same time - depending on what takes my preference from day to day.

I've recently been peeking into the game day match algorithm that controls the bot players on the courts and essentially rewrote it to be my dynamic. It's still a WIP but there will be more things to watch during a game. It will take quite a few iterations over a period of time to get the bot players moving and acting in ways that make sense to basketball players. For the moment, I'm adding game rules that stop bots taking shots from the court halfway line that will clearly miss or for passing the ball instead of shooting when the shot clock is running down. All this means they won't be super-smart for now, but hopefully not super-dumb!

This is what the algorithm can do at the moment:

1) pass the ball to a team mate

2) move a random player in a random direction

3) move multiple players in random directions

4) take a shot

It understands when the shooter is too far from the basket and it also understands the shot clock runs down. Still a LONG way from what it needs to be. I want all 3 positions (guard, forward, centre) to act and feel like they would in real life but to also act like they are on a team.

I've also revamped the replay system - this is a unique feature I don't think I've seen anywhere before (outside screen-capture). Every move on every bot on every game is recorded. This allows you and your friends to play back any match and check stats, strategies, skills or just enjoy rewatching a super tight game.

My next few priorities:

- tidy up the match algorithm so it is playable

- start the animations on the scoreboard so that looks nice

- fix an audio bug on the replay

- start thinking about incorporating some between-season draft mechanism

- get the player bots on the court to position themselves in ways that make a little more sense (i.e. less random)

- add bling to each of the screens

If any of this niche and quirky game appeals to you then volunteer to be an alpha-tester and shape the way the game is developed:

https://discord.gg/cRHFqGC4pP

And here is a random screenshot - it shows the end of season promotion/demotion screen. Four teams get promoted and four teams get demoted. In this example, Underdogs have reached the elite division 1.

I'm finding the "self-sorting" mechanism of the promo/demo league very satisfying. From a league sense, each division remains competitive as the best and worse teams leave each division. As a player, it gives a sense of achievement and accomplishment. During my play-test, I watch my teams season performance and week by week check if I'm likely to get promoted. 

Thanks for reading the blog and let me know if you'd like to get more involved with this quirky game.