Variable Movement Speed
Use of the console system’s analog controller for movement in these directions will
allow Sam to move either slowly or quickly in a given direction. If the player pushes the
analog controller fully in a given direction, Sam will move in that direction at high
speed. If the player presses it only a small amount in that direction, Sam will move
much slower. This will give the player precise control over Sam’s position in the world.
Flying Movement
Key to Sam’s navigation of the game-world is the rocket-pack he wears on his back. The
player has Fly Up and Fly Down buttons to control this rocket-pack, which allow Sam to
move vertically in the game-world. Once in the air, Sam will hover at a given altitude if
neither button is pressed.
Moving Up and Down
Sam will not move up and down at a constant speed. When the player presses up, at first
Sam will move slowly, gaining speed the longer the player holds down the Fly Up but-
ton. This speed will eventually (after about a second of upward movement) reach a
terminal velocity after which Sam will not gain any more speed. The downward move-
ment functions in much the same way.
Stopping
When the player stops flying either up or down or in a given direction, Sam will not stop
immediately, but instead will “coast” to a stop. Sam’s animation when stopping will
show him quickly shifting his weight to change the direction the rocket-pack faces. This
means the player will have to practice flying Sam in order to get him to stop precisely
where she wants.
Flight Speed
Sam’s pack is not an extremely fast device, providing a maximum speed approximately
1.5 times Sam’s speed when he is jogging on the ground. Whenever the player maneu-
vers Sam to the ground Sam will return to a walking/jogging animation and will move at
the slower speed associated with being on the ground.
Directional Flying
Sam can, of course, move forward, backward, left, or right while also moving vertically.
The player can accomplish this simply by pressing the analog control in a direction
while also pressing the Fly Up or Fly Down buttons. Sam will appear to pitch in the
appropriate direction to correspond with his overall movement.
Burst Speed
The Fly Up and Fly Down buttons will both move Sam at the same maximum speed, but
tapping either button twice quickly will result in a “burst” of speed in that direction,
moving approximately 1.5 times faster than the regular maximum speed for a short
period. But moving at this high speed will also use up more of the rocket-pack’s charge.
This can be helpful for quickly dodging enemy attacks.
544 Appendix A: Sample Design Document:Atomic Sam