Project Title:

Pac-Man Clone with Ghost AI in .NET

Project Overview:

This project is a clone of the classic Pac-Man arcade game, developed using .NET technologies. The game features a player-controlled character (Pac-Man) navigating a maze, eating dots, avoiding ghosts, and collecting power-ups. The added twist in this version is the AI-controlled ghosts that move autonomously according to specific behaviors, simulating intelligent opponents that chase or evade the player.

Key Features:

• Pac-Man Movement: The player controls Pac-Man, who moves in a maze using arrow keys or other input methods. Pac-Man can move up, down, left, or right, eating dots as he travels.
• Ghost AI: The game includes AI-controlled ghosts that follow Pac-Man in a dynamic manner. Each ghost has a unique behavior pattern:
• Blinky (Red Ghost): Follows Pac-Man directly, trying to catch him.
• Pinky (Pink Ghost): Tries to position itself ahead of Pac-Man, anticipating his movements.
• Inky (Cyan Ghost): A mix of the first two, often trailing behind Pac-Man.
• Clyde (Orange Ghost): Moves randomly, but with some logic to avoid the player.
• Power Pellets: These are special items in the maze that allow Pac-Man to eat ghosts temporarily. When Pac-Man consumes a power pellet, the ghosts turn blue and become vulnerable for a short time.
• Maze and Obstacles: The game features a maze with walls, paths, and tunnels where Pac-Man can navigate. The player needs to eat all the dots in the maze while avoiding the ghosts.
• Game Over and Scoring: Players score points by eating dots and power pellets. The game ends if Pac-Man is caught by a ghost. The game also tracks the player’s score and number of lives remaining.
• Levels and Progression: The game includes multiple levels, with each level becoming progressively more difficult. The ghosts get faster and more intelligent as the player advances.

Technologies Used:

• .NET (C#): The programming language used to create the game logic, AI, and handle user input.
• Windows Forms or WPF: For rendering the game in a window and handling user interface elements.
• Graphics (Sprites): 2D sprite-based graphics are used for Pac-Man, ghosts, and the maze. The maze is made up of paths, walls, and collectable dots.
• AI Algorithms (Ghost Movement): Each ghost uses specific AI algorithms for movement. Simple pathfinding, random movement, and targeting are used to simulate ghost behavior.
• Timer for Game Loop: A timer is used to regularly update the game state, including movement and interactions, at consistent intervals.

Learning Outcomes:

• Game Loop and Input Handling: Learn how to manage a continuous game loop, handle real-time user inputs, and update game states accordingly.
• AI Programming: Implement basic AI for the ghosts using different movement strategies, including random wandering and targeted pursuit of the player.
• Collision Detection: Detect and handle collisions between Pac-Man, ghosts, and other game elements like walls and pellets.
• Game State Management: Handle game states like start, play, pause, and game-over, along with a scoring system.
• Rendering 2D Graphics: Understand how to render sprite-based graphics, manage a maze, and animate characters and objects on screen.
• Pathfinding and Movement Algorithms: Learn how to use simple algorithms to control the movement of AI ghosts and make them react to the player's actions.

Possible Enhancements:

• Advanced Ghost AI: Improve the AI behavior with more sophisticated algorithms, such as pathfinding (A* algorithm) to navigate the maze.
• Level Editor: Create a level editor that allows users to design their own mazes and challenge others to complete them.
• Multiple Players: Implement a two-player mode where players can cooperate or compete to eat the dots and avoid ghosts.
• Sound Effects and Music: Add sound effects for actions like eating dots, ghost collisions, and power-ups. Include background music to enhance the atmosphere.
• Additional Power-ups: Introduce new power-ups with varying effects, such as invincibility or speed boosts.
• High Score Tracking: Implement a system to track high scores locally or online, allowing players to compete for the highest score.
• Ghost Customization: Allow players to modify ghost behaviors, appearance, or speeds to create new challenges.
• Achievements and Leaderboards: Add in-game achievements and online leaderboards for competitive play.