Junior Game Developer

Objective: In this task, you will create a comprehensive design document for a new game feature. This exercise is intended to help you develop a structured approach in planning and strategizing game features, which is critical in the early stages of game development. Your document should detail the concept, mechanics, technical requirements, and potential challenges related to the feature.

Deliverables: You must submit a single file (PDF or Markdown) containing your detailed design document. The document should include background research, conceptual diagrams, pseudocode where applicable, and a clear implementation roadmap.

Key Steps:

1. Research and brainstorm a game feature that you believe could add value to a typical video game. Consider aspects such as user interactivity, game balance, and novelty.
2. Create a detailed concept outline that highlights the feature’s mechanics, user interaction points, and the user experience you aim to deliver.
3. Develop pseudocode or flow diagrams to represent the internal logic of the feature.
4. Identify potential technical challenges and propose solutions or alternative approaches.
5. Compile your research, diagrams, pseudocode, and technical analysis into a well-organized design document.

Evaluation Criteria: Your submission will be assessed on completeness, clarity, organization, and technical feasibility. Creativity in your concept and the thoroughness of your planning document will be highly valued. The quality of documentation—its readability, detail, and structure—will be a key focus. This task should take approximately 30 to 35 hours to complete. No additional downloads or internal resources are required; you may use publicly available data for reference.

Objective: This task requires you to implement a functional game module using a programming language of your choice (C++, Java, or Python). Your module should incorporate game-specific functionality such as physics handling, AI behavior, or player input management. The emphasis is on developing clean, efficient, and well-documented code.

Deliverables: Submit a compressed file (ZIP) containing the source code files and a README document. The README should include instructions on how to compile/run the module, a description of the functionality you implemented, and explanations of your key code sections.

Key Steps:

1. Select a game-related feature (e.g., a basic physics simulation, enemy AI behavior, or a dynamic user input handler) to implement.
2. Design the module architecture and outline the primary classes or functions you will develop.
3. Write clean, modular, and well-commented code to implement the chosen feature.
4. Perform testing and debugging to ensure that your module functions as expected under simulated conditions.
5. Prepare a README file including instructions for compiling and testing your module, along with an overview of your code structure.

Evaluation Criteria: Your module will be evaluated based on functionality, code quality, adherence to coding standards, documentation quality, and the overall design of your implemented feature. The solution should reflect thoughtful design choices and effective problem-solving strategies within a timeframe of approximately 30 to 35 hours.

Objective: In this task, you will demonstrate your ability to analyze and improve existing code. You will be provided with a self-contained code snippet integrated within your task instructions. Your goal is to identify bugs, optimize performance, and refactor the code to enhance its readability and efficiency.

Deliverables: Submit a text file or a PDF document that includes a detailed report of your debugging process, a refactored version of the code, and annotations explaining the changes made. Include before and after performance benchmarks if applicable.

Key Steps:

1. Carefully review the provided code snippet and run it in your development environment to understand its current behavior.
2. Identify any bugs, inefficiencies, or areas for improvement in terms of performance or readability.
3. Refactor the code to address the identified issues. Ensure your changes do not alter the overall functionality but improve reliability and performance.
4. Document your process in a detailed report, explaining the issues encountered, the steps taken to resolve them, and the results of your optimizations.
5. Include a section with suggested further improvements or alternative approaches that could be explored in similar scenarios.

Evaluation Criteria: The report and refactored code will be evaluated on clarity, thoroughness of debugging explanation, effectiveness of performance improvements, and adherence to coding best practices. Creativity in problem-solving and the depth of your analysis are critical. This task should be completed in roughly 30 to 35 hours without any need for external internal resources.

Objective: This final task focuses on establishing a robust testing and quality assurance process for a game feature. You will create a comprehensive test plan and a set of test cases to ensure that the game feature or module you previously developed meets quality and performance standards. This task emphasizes the importance of thorough testing in game development workflows.

Deliverables: Prepare a detailed testing document (PDF, Word, or Markdown file) that includes your test plan, test cases, and expected outcomes. This file must clearly outline your approach to testing and quality assurance for the game feature.

Key Steps:

1. Review the game feature or module you implemented in earlier tasks. Identify key functionalities and components that need rigorous testing.
2. Create a structured test plan that includes unit tests, integration tests, and if applicable, performance benchmarks.
3. Design a comprehensive set of test cases, detailing the steps to execute each test, expected outcomes, and potential exception scenarios.
4. Document any issues found during testing and propose recommendations for further improvements or fixes.
5. Lay out a potential framework for automated testing if appropriate, and discuss how it could be integrated into the development process.

Evaluation Criteria: Your submission will be assessed on the clarity and completeness of the test plan, the creativity and thoroughness of the test cases, and your ability to communicate the testing process effectively. The documentation should show thoughtful consideration of potential pitfalls and clear strategies to mitigate them. This task is expected to require approximately 30 to 35 hours, and it is self-contained with no additional internal resources needed beyond publicly available information.