Ratsnet

Ratsnet is a nostalgic browser game where users may keep various pets and explore the world.

Year: July 2021
Tools: PHP 7, CodeIgniter 3, jQuery
Software: Sublime Text 3, Paint Tool SAI

This project was inspired by two unique games I enjoyed - Glitch and Neopets.
They were both slow-paced games, which was centered around social activity and casual farming.
They also both used the browser as their platform, which made for a peaceful aesthetic.

Ratsnet was set up to be a demo for a browser-based game.
It features some pets, maps, a minigame, and a social board.
The resources on this game are: Money (PP), energy, and mood. Energy determines what actions you may perform, and mood determines the experience multiplier.

Users start off with registration:

The registered citizen user may then choose to Explore.

Inside the deli, the first pet can be summoned by going to the microwave and putting the queue number ticket from registration in it.

The store sells some consumables.
I am proud of that Orange Juice icon.

At the custard tree in the middle of town, you may either nap or sleep on the bench. Neither actions do much.

The optometrist sells a cosmetic.
Cosmetics have a unique sprite for each pet.

Going to the Rucksack page would allow you to equip it on a pet.

Here are some examples -
Maruchon with angel wings:

Pok with a sprout:

Yourtab with glasses:

As you can probably tell, the game runs off the same color palette as this website.

The world map is unfinished, but two location are accessible from it.
The first was the deli, shown above, and the second is a farm.

If the user selects "Game" in the menu,
they will be taken to a list of one whole minigame.
These minimages are meant to be the primary way to gain money.

The one minigame which was complete for this was made in Godot, where you can export for web browsers.
It's a game where it's raining acid and you have to hit people with acid water balloons.
The wind direction changes over time, which affects the arc of your throw.
The game is over when you are out of balloons. Some balloons may be recovered by hitting the zepplin.

The "Social" page is a BBS where you can write messages for others to see.
Each message is randomly converted into special characters.
Each message must have your special catchphrase appended to it to be a valid message. Like in Animal Crossing.
Users may vote either "I concur" or "Reconsider this message".

The "Skills" page shows the user's skills.
Skills can be leveled up with money and time - i.e. it may take 2 hours real-world time for you to level up a skill.
The skills are displayed like a periodic table of elements.
Skills enable a variety of things, such as ability to eat food if you level Food Consumption 1, or ability to craft items.

The "Abode" page takes you to your player home.
Each component is a separate layer so it's supposed to be customizeable.
Clicking on the house will take you to your room.

The room is also made up of separate sprites.

The first menu item takes you to your profile page, where you can set your location, catchphrase, and look at your pet rats' statuses.

Lastly, below are the NPC avatars. Some of them aren't used.

This was a fun project to work on.