Assignment 5 Particle System

Aimlab

Link to Project —

Motivation

I created this game as a simplified “aim training” tool, inspired by Aimlab and other reaction-based practice games. The goal is straightforward: circles spawn at random positions on the canvas, and the player must click them quickly before they disappear. Each successful click rewards points and triggers a “shatter” effect—particles bursting from the circle’s center.

How It Works

1. Circle Spawning
   • Circles appear at adjustable intervals (using a slider).
   • Random positions keep the user on their toes and help train reflexes.
2. Circle Lifetime
   • Another slider controls how long circles remain on screen. A shorter lifetime forces quicker reactions.
3. Click Detection & Score
   • Clicking a circle increments the score—a good indicator of performance over time.
4. Shatter Particles
   • Each click spawns a burst of particles, providing visual feedback and making the target’s disappearance more satisfying.

Why This Helps Train Aim

1. Rapid Target Acquisition:
   You have to move the mouse and click on quickly vanishing circles. Over time, this helps build up both speed and precision.

2. Difficulty Tuning:
   By adjusting sliders for spawn interval (how often circles appear) and lifetime (how long they stay), you can scale the difficulty as you improve.

3. Feedback Loop:
   The score system offers immediate feedback on your performance. You can try to beat your personal best or see how many circles you can click in a given time.

4. Visual Tracking:
   Because circles appear randomly on the canvas, your eyes and mouse hand learn to track and move more efficiently.

Possible Extensions

• Varying Circle Sizes:
  Smaller or larger circles can further tweak difficulty.
• Movement Patterns:
  Making circles move before disappearing can mimic more advanced aim training scenarios.
• Audio Feedback:
  Adding a sound effect on successful clicks can boost the sense of reward and help with reaction timing.

Conclusion

• Though simple, this clicker game can serve as a fun, lightweight aim-training exercise. The combination of random spawning, timed disappearance, and immediate scoring forms a practice loop similar to commercial aim-training software, but in a much more customizable and lightweight format. Enjoy experimenting with the settings and watch your reflexes improve!