It definitely has a few rough edges, though. The equation in the first screen has the right behavior but is complex enough to probably be concerning for the target audience, and I'm not sure it clearly spells out what the player is going to be doing in the greater game. `y = x` is a great actual starting point and it clicked for me then. I'm not sure how to thread that first-level needle from a design perspective, to be honest.
Again, though, I do really like it. There's some trial-and-error on each level (at least for me) but I think that's part of what could make it an effective learning tool.
John2022•2h ago
They should, in my view, have had y as a function of t, and dropped x. Or another solution that doesn't create confusion.
I also think it's weird that changing the equation changes the shape of the mountain, but the text is about changing the path of the sled.
empath75•1h ago
John2022•1h ago
But even ignoring that, nowhere does it define the relationship between t and x. What I assume they mean but don't say is that x=t. That's arbitrary.
Also I assume you mean the path of the sled is (t, f(t)) where f is the function defining the slope. If the path of the sled had a value of (x,y) it would be stationary :)
dylan604•12m ago
mlyle•1h ago
Then you could have only had a flat floor that moved up and down. If you need shape that changes, you need it to be a function of both x and t.
So e.g. (x-t)^2 / 5 is a parabola shaped "bowl" that moves right at 1 unit per second.
John2022•1h ago
mlyle•37m ago
In later levels, you use t to make a floor that actually moves.
The relationship between y and x is the coordinate plane behind the level (you can hold down right click to see it, IIRC).