CSE498, Collaborative Design, Spring 2011
Computer Science and Engineering
Michigan State University

Battle Aircraft Position Share, or BAPS, combines strategy and quick thinking as players compete to seek and destroy each other’s targets in a 3D battle arena. BAPS mixes both turn-based and real-time game play. Players have a limited amount of time in which to fire but can always command their fleet.

Opposing players utilize a fleet of radar transmitter and radar receiver planes to reveal the location of enemy targets within the environment. Effective scanning provides a higher probability of hitting enemy targets when firing. Radar is simulated by a simple algorithm determined by unit positions and the angle of reflection. Aircraft are constantly in motion and consume fuel based on pitch and speed.

In order to win a game, a player needs to deal with information overload and respond to feedback resulting from game events. It is the player’s choice whether to micromanage their units or focus their efforts on alternate strategies.

Since BAPS is controlled by a network-based game manager, opposing players can be at different locations. All network communication between the game manager and clients is encrypted. The game manager keeps the game information in sync for both players. The manager also provides a statistical and graphical overview of the current state of the game.

BAPS is compatible with Microsoft Windows XP/Vista/7. OpenSceneGraph is used to render the game environment and handles the game engine. WinSock handles the network connectivity. All models are created with Blender.