The game tutorial screen. It is an image that displays a breif story for the game and how to play.

Shoku食Rain

A game I made using Tofugu's Wanikani API to help players study their kanji. It is a simple raindrop style game where the user catches falling food. Each food has a word or kanji on it. The user has to match it to the character's craving.

Important Links

Why?

I wanted to make a different type of game with the Wanikani API than my previous one. Something with more real-time interactions that felt more “game-like”. I was still a developer n00b though, so it still had to be simple. Other than a block matcher, which I had already done before in C# & the XNA framework, the next simplest idea that came to mind was a raindrop game!

The background image for the game. A field with a tree and a picnic tarp. There is food raining from the sky, and a little section for UI content.

Relevant contributions

  • Frontend web development
  • Art & Animation
  • Audio

Major tools

Frontend:

  • jQuery
  • HTML
  • CSS
  • Wanikani API

Creative:

  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Adobe Flash
  • Audacity

Process

Much like with Wanicomets, I winged it with this project. I wrote down the basic game idea, & continued my experience learning jQuery while I was coding. When I needed a break, I started making graphics & audio for the game. Other than that, it was so long ago that I really don't remember more of the specifics.

The character animation for the Wanikani. He is idled, standing and bouncing a little. A mayonaise jar turning left and right. The character animation for the Wanikani. He is moving with octopedal motion, a wagging tail, and moving his 2 hands a little.
The character animation for the Wanikani. He is eating something above his head, while his claws simultaneously snap. The character animation for the Wanikani. He is puking. The character animation for the Wanikani. He is looking sad.

Hurdles

What did I learn?

  • More jQuery & Javascript
  • Taking user inputs to make character movements.
  • Timers
The ending screen for if you won the game. The Wanikani is standing happily, saying 'delicious' in Japanese.

What would I improve if I did it again?

  • I'm not sure how yet, but I would refine the gameplay in some way.
    • Maybe make the timer shorter.
    • Maybe add more interesting rules to add a challenge.
  • Add settings to modify things like the timer.
  • Update the graphics to use animation timers instead of GIFs.
The ending screen for if you lost the game. The Wanikani is standing pensively, groading from a bad tummy ache.