Forum Discussion
JavaScript - Point and click RPG prototype/side project
A really nice proof-of-concept! My experience seems similar to yours in that simulating a camera seems to be one of the largest hurdles. Having a giant transparent button to calculate what sounds like trig is very clever.
I think for me personally I'd probably leave it out, though that depends on what your portfolio is trying to convey. If you're currently in and wanting to remain in an instructional capacity, I don't think the project's current state reinforces that. A more applicable project could better showcase your skills or abilities. People visiting your portfolio may only have so much time, and every minute they spend looking at this project is one less minute they have to see another that overlaps more directly with the position for which you're applying.
I've tested the JavaScript API a fair amount myself, and I don't think the average person knows what projects like this require. Other developers will know, especially game developers, but I expect the average hiring manager to reasonably wonder how work like this translates into information transfer, behavior change, and business results.
I know you mentioned rework was out of the picture, but it would definitely change things. RPGs make a fun setting, but this could just as easily be a new employee walking around a store, right? Instead of picking up coins from a chest, they could be picking up their new badge from security.
Combining minigames can extend playtime, so if a counter they use triggers a slide to appear over the game world, and the slide simulates a POS where that store employee would be required to clock in, you wouldn't need to extend the underlying game world with new floors or objects or walls. Just create and trigger a separate slide, and then develop that slide in isolation to have its own win condition of guiding someone through clocking in. I recognize that isn't effortless, but a couple of things like that tied with some "welcome to Omnicorp onboarding" TTS would approximate the kind of training that might better supports an ISD portfolio.
Excellent points, especially regarding what a hiring manager might see as opposed to another developer.
You're idea regarding an employee walking around an office is a fantastic idea though. I already have the framework for it now, so I suppose it would be quite easy to turn it into an office, with a few people to speak to!
Most definitely, essentially creating an "asset flip" of your own project. I'd anticipate finding replacement gifs would be harder than replacing them in the project.
A few carefully planned/triggered slide layers paired with a typewriter effect would be more than enough to give those people a simple dialogue system. The IRL onboardings I've been through have focused less on an office's layout and more on the history of the company and behavioral expectations. I'm sure one could spend months designing the office "levels" but the best ROI is likely from meaningful interactables more than the level design.
I'm interested to see what you come up with. If you revamp it, you should post it here too.
To add to this suggestion, if you have a specific department you're aiming for (HR vs LD vs IT vs CS) you could tailor their dialogue to a real world example. I'm imagining an onboarding situation where you meet the team, or an office walk through of what tools there are and how to use them, etc.
I can't wait to see what you come up with!
