CLUB NIGHT

Jan Studnicka
/
CLUB NIGHT
on 2 Nov 2026
2
35
15
0
9996
game.m
function g = game()
%game CLUB NIGHT - a one-button stick-figure brawler.
%
%   Monsters walk in from both sides. Tap (SPACE or click) to swing the
%   club; the hero automatically turns toward the closest monster that
%   can be hit. Every swing is committed: a miss leaves the hero open
%   for a moment, so timing matters more than mashing.
%
%       >> minihackContest.validate
%       >> minihackContest.play

g.init   = @initState;
g.update = @updateState;
g.render = @renderFrame;
end

function s = initState(ax)
s.ax = ax;
s.G = 110;                       % ground height (y grows upward)
s.N = 14; s.K = 6;               % pool sizes: enemies, popups
s.C = [.62 .86 1];               % light blue for every character
s.BG = [.02 .04 .16];
% Per enemy type: 1 slime, 2 bat, 3 brute, 4 hopper
s.W  = [34 44 48 30];            % body width (hit/touch tests)
s.SP = [70 150 45 95];           % walk speed
s.HP = [1 1 2 1];
s.PT = [10 15 30 20];            % points per kill (before multiplier)
s.t = 0; s.best = 0;
C = s.C; G = s.G;

% Axes-level defaults keep every create call short: nothing eats clicks,
% no outlines, light blue lines and retro monospace text.
for c = ["Line" "Patch" "Rectangle" "Text"]
    set(ax, "Default"+c+"HitTest", 'off', "Default"+c+"PickableParts", 'none');
end
set(ax, 'Color', s.BG, 'DefaultPatchEdgeColor', 'none', 'DefaultRectangleEdgeColor', 'none', ...
    'DefaultLineMarkerEdgeColor', 'none', 'DefaultTextColor', C, ...
    'DefaultTextFontName', 'FixedWidth', 'DefaultTextFontWeight', 'bold', ...
    'DefaultTextHorizontalAlignment', 'center');
D = {'LineStyle', 'none', 'Marker', 's'};   % square "pixel" markers

% Backdrop: two twinkling star layers, crescent moon, hills, ground.
% A matrix argument makes line/text create one object per column.
s.g.st = line(ax, rand(45,2)*800, 160 + rand(45,2)*440, D{:}, 'MarkerSize', 3);
rectangle(ax, 'Position', [620 440 70 70], 'Curvature', 1, 'FaceColor', [.8 .9 1]);
s.g.bite = rectangle(ax, 'Position', [641 452 70 70], 'Curvature', 1, 'FaceColor', s.BG);
patch(ax, [-50:50:850 850 -50], [G + 25 + 55*rand(1,19) G G], [.05 .09 .28]);
patch(ax, [-50 850 850 -50], [-50 -50 G G], [.04 .07 .22], 'EdgeColor', C*.6, 'LineWidth', 2);

% Enemy pool (body + eyes), created before the hero so he draws on top
for k = 1:s.N
    s.g.eb(k) = patch(ax, 0, 0, C);
end
s.g.ee = line(ax, zeros(2,s.N), zeros(2,s.N), D{:}, 'MarkerSize', 5, 'MarkerFaceColor', s.BG);

% Hero: swing trail, stick body (incl. club shaft), round head, club head
s.g.trail = line(ax, 0, 0, 'Color', C*.55, 'LineWidth', 3);
s.g.body  = line(ax, 0, 0, 'Color', C, 'LineWidth', 4);
s.g.head  = rectangle(ax, 'Curvature', 1, 'FaceColor', C);
s.g.club  = line(ax, 0, 0, 'Color', [.85 .95 1], 'LineWidth', 12);

% Effects: hit particles and score popups
s.g.pt = line(ax, 0, 0, D{:}, 'MarkerSize', 5, 'MarkerFaceColor', C);
s.g.q = text(ax, zeros(1,s.K), zeros(1,s.K), '', 'Color', 'w', 'FontSize', 14);

% HUD: 1 score, 2 best, 3 hearts, 4 combo, 5 title, 6 subtitle
s.g.tx = text(ax, [110 690 110 400 400 400], [575 575 543 575 410 300], '');
set(s.g.tx, {'FontSize'}, {16; 16; 22; 16; 52; 14});
s.g.tx(3).Color = [1 .45 .6];
s.g.tx(4).Color = 'w';

s = resetRound(s);
s.mode = 0;                      % 0 title, 1 playing, 2 game over
end

function s = resetRound(s)
[s.pt, s.score, s.combo, s.kills, s.cd, s.buf, s.inv, s.shake, s.freeze, s.overT] = deal(0);
% Enemy (e*), particle (p*) and popup (q*) pools as parallel arrays
[s.eon, s.ex, s.ey, s.ed, s.ev, s.eh, s.ep, s.ef, s.ek] = deal(zeros(1, s.N));
s.et = ones(1, s.N);
[s.px, s.py, s.pvx, s.pvy, s.pl] = deal(zeros(1, 60));
[s.qx, s.qy, s.ql] = deal(zeros(1, s.K));
s.qs = repmat({''}, 1, s.K);
% face: +1 right / -1 left; sw: time since swing began (-1 idle);
% res: current swing already resolved
[s.mode, s.lives, s.face, s.sw, s.res, s.spawnT] = deal(1, 3, 1, -1, 1, 1);
end

function s = updateState(s, dt, pr)
s.t = s.t + dt;
[s.cd, s.inv, s.shake] = deal(s.cd - dt, s.inv - dt, max(0, s.shake - dt));
if s.mode ~= 1
    s.overT = s.overT + dt;
    s = stepFx(s, dt);
    % title starts at once; game over ignores taps for a second
    if pr && (s.mode == 0 || s.overT > 1), s = resetRound(s); end
    return
end

% Input: swing now, or buffer a tap that lands just before the cooldown ends
if pr
    if s.cd <= 0, s = swing(s); elseif s.cd < .15, s.buf = 1; end
end
if s.freeze > 0                  % hit-stop: hold the world for a beat
    s.freeze = s.freeze - dt;
    return
end
s.pt = s.pt + dt;
if s.cd <= 0 && s.buf, s = swing(s); end
if s.sw >= 0
    s.sw = s.sw + dt;
    if ~s.res && s.sw >= .04, s = strike(s); end
    if s.sw > .32, s.sw = -1; end
end

% Spawning speeds up and unlocks new monster types over time
s.spawnT = s.spawnT - dt;
if s.spawnT <= 0
    s = spawn(s);
    if s.pt > 60 && rand < .3, s = spawn(s); end
    s.spawnT = max(.5, 2 - s.pt/45)*(.7 + .6*rand);
end

% Move the whole enemy pool at once (inactive slots are simply ignored)
G = s.G; t = s.et;
s.ep = s.ep + dt;
u = mod(s.ep, 1.2)/.75;          % hopper jump phase, >1 = resting
s.ey = G + (t == 2).*(45 + 18*sin(5*s.ep)) ...   % bat weaves at head height
         + (t == 4).*150.*sin(pi*min(u, 1));     % hopper arcs
v = s.ev*(1 + s.pt/150).*(t ~= 4 | u < 1);
s.ex = s.ex + s.ed.*(v - s.ek)*dt;
s.ek = max(0, s.ek - 1400*dt);
s.ef = s.ef - dt;
d = abs(s.ex - 400);
k = find(s.eon & d < 14 + s.W(t)/2 & s.ey < G + 80, 1);
if s.inv <= 0 && any(k), s = hurt(s, k); end
s.eon = s.eon & d < 480;         % knocked far off screen -> recycle
s = stepFx(s, dt);
end

function s = swing(s)
% Turn toward the closest monster, preferring ones that are hittable now
[m, i] = min(abs(s.ex - 400) + 300*(s.ey > s.G + 70) + 1e4*~s.eon);
if m < 1e4, s.face = sign(s.ex(i) - 400 + eps); end
[s.sw, s.res, s.cd, s.buf] = deal(0, 0, .22, 0);
end

function s = strike(s)
s.res = 1;
r = (s.ex - 400)*s.face;         % distance in front of the hero
h = find(s.eon & r > -12 & r < 118 + s.W(s.et)/2 & s.ey <= s.G + 70);
s.eh(h) = s.eh(h) - 1;
s.ef(h) = .12;                   % white hit flash
s.ek(h) = 520;                   % knock-back (only matters if it survives)
for k = h(s.eh(h) < 1)
    s = kill(s, k);
end
if any(h)                        % hit-stop + a little shake sells the impact
    [s.freeze, s.shake] = deal(.05, max(s.shake, .1));
else                             % whiff: lose the combo, slow recovery
    [s.combo, s.cd] = deal(0, .65);
    s = popup(s, 400 + 70*s.face, s.G + 130, 'MISS');
end
end

function s = kill(s, k)
s.eon(k) = 0; s.combo = s.combo + 1; s.kills = s.kills + 1;
p = s.PT(s.et(k))*mult(s);
s.score = s.score + p;
s = popup(s, s.ex(k), s.ey(k) + 60, sprintf('+%d', p));
i = find(s.pl <= 0, 12); n = numel(i);       % burst of debris
a = rand(1,n)*pi; v = 150 + 250*rand(1,n);
[s.px(i), s.py(i), s.pvx(i), s.pvy(i), s.pl(i)] = ...
    deal(s.ex(k), s.ey(k) + 15, cos(a).*v + 120*s.face, sin(a).*v, .5 + .4*rand(1,n));
if mod(s.kills, 25) == 0 && s.lives < 5     % bonus life every 25 kills
    s.lives = s.lives + 1;
    s = popup(s, 400, s.G + 220, ['+1 ' char(9829)]);
end
end

function m = mult(s)
m = min(5, 1 + floor(s.combo/5));
end

function s = hurt(s, k)
[s.lives, s.inv, s.shake, s.combo, s.ek(k), s.freeze] = deal(s.lives - 1, 1.2, .35, 0, 600, .08);
if s.lives < 1
    [s.mode, s.overT, s.best] = deal(2, 0, max(s.best, s.score));
end
end

function s = spawn(s)
i = find(~s.eon, 1);
if isempty(i), return, end
P = [1 1 2 3 4];                 % one new type unlocks every 10 s
t = P(randi(min(5, 1 + floor(s.pt/10))));
d = 2*(rand > .5) - 1;           % walk direction: +1 comes from the left
[s.eon(i), s.et(i), s.ed(i), s.ex(i), s.ev(i), s.eh(i), s.ep(i), s.ef(i), s.ek(i)] = ...
    deal(1, t, d, 400 - 440*d, s.SP(t)*(.85 + .3*rand), s.HP(t), rand, 0, 0);
end

function s = popup(s, x, y, str)
[~, i] = min(s.ql);              % reuse the oldest popup
[s.qx(i), s.qy(i), s.ql(i), s.qs{i}] = deal(x, y, .8, str);
end

function s = stepFx(s, dt)
s.pl = s.pl - dt; s.pvy = s.pvy - 900*dt;
s.px = s.px + s.pvx*dt;
s.py = max(s.G, s.py + s.pvy*dt);   % debris settles on the ground
s.ql = s.ql - dt; s.qy = s.qy + 45*dt;
end

function renderFrame(~, s)
g = s.g; t = s.t;
% Screen shake via the axes limits, red damage flash via the sky colour
o = 9*min(1, s.shake/.3)*[sin(t*97) cos(t*83)];
c = s.BG + [.4 0 0]*max(0, s.inv - .9)/.3;
set(s.ax, 'XLim', [0 800] + o(1), 'YLim', [0 600] + o(2), 'Color', c);
g.bite.FaceColor = c;                        % moon's "bite" matches the sky
for k = 1:2
    g.st(k).MarkerFaceColor = s.C*(.55 + .35*sin(t*(1.3 + k) + k));
end

% Hero pose in local coords (x forward, y up), then mirrored/rotated
r = (s.mode == 2)*min(1, s.overT*4)*pi/2;    % falls over on game over
b = 2*sin(t*4)*(r == 0);
% Club angle from vertical: raised at -35 deg, smashes down to 140 deg in
% 0.12 s, then slowly returns while the swing recovers
w = max(0, min(1, s.sw/.12) - max(0, s.sw/.2 - .6));
a = (175*w - 35)*pi/180; u = [sin(a) cos(a)];
S = 68 + b; H = [0 S] + 24*u;
c = H + 38*u;                                % end of the club shaft
pl(g.body, s, [-12 0 12 NaN 0 0 NaN 0 c(1)], [0 40 0 NaN 40 S+8 NaN S c(2)], r);
pl(g.club, s, H(1) + [34 54]*u(1), H(2) + [34 54]*u(2), r);
y = S + 20;
g.head.Position = [388 - s.face*y*sin(r), s.G - 12 + y*cos(r), 24, 24];
q = linspace(-35*pi/180, a, 8);              % motion smear behind the club
pl(g.trail, s, 62*sin(q), S + 62*cos(q), 0);
g.trail.Visible = s.sw >= 0 && s.sw < .14;
v = s.mode ~= 1 || s.inv <= 0 || mod(floor(s.inv*14), 2) == 0;
set([g.body g.head g.club], 'Visible', v);   % blink while invulnerable

for k = 1:s.N
    v = s.eon(k);
    set([g.eb(k) g.ee(k)], 'Visible', v);
    if v
        [x, y, e] = shp(s.et(k), s.ep(k), s.ey(k) - s.G);
        d = s.ed(k);
        set(g.eb(k), 'XData', s.ex(k) + d*x, 'YData', s.ey(k) + y, ...
            'FaceColor', min(1, s.C*.85 + .6*(s.ef(k) > 0)));   % white when hit
        set(g.ee(k), 'XData', s.ex(k) + d*[2 10], 'YData', s.ey(k) + [e e]);
    end
end

x = s.px; x(s.pl <= 0) = NaN;
set(g.pt, 'XData', x, 'YData', s.py);
for k = 1:s.K
    set(g.q(k), 'Position', [s.qx(k) s.qy(k)], 'String', s.qs{k}, 'Visible', s.ql(k) > 0);
end
% HUD and screens
m = s.mode; k = mod(t, 1) < .6;              % k: blinking prompt
c = repmat(sprintf('COMBO %d  x%d', s.combo, mult(s)), 1, s.combo > 1 && m == 1);
H = {'CLUB NIGHT' '' 'GAME OVER'};
U = {{'TAP = SWING THE CLUB', 'YOU FACE THE NEAREST MONSTER', ...
    'MISSES ARE SLOW - TIME IT', '', repmat('> TAP TO START <', 1, k)}, '', ...
    repmat('> TAP TO RETRY <', 1, k && s.overT > 1)};
set(g.tx, {'String'}, {sprintf('SCORE %06d', s.score); sprintf('BEST %06d', max(s.best, s.score)); ...
    repmat(char(9829), 1, s.lives*(m > 0)); c; H{m+1}; U{m+1}});
end

function pl(h, s, x, y, r)
% Mirror local hero coords by facing and rotate about the feet by r
set(h, 'XData', 400 + s.face*(x*cos(r) - y*sin(r)), 'YData', s.G + x*sin(r) + y*cos(r));
end

function [x, y, e] = shp(t, p, air)
% Monster outline (x from centre, y from feet) and eye height
a = linspace(0, pi, 9);
if t == 1                        % slime: wobbling dome
    w = .1*sin(8*p);
    x = 17*cos(a)*(1 + w); y = 24*sin(a)*(1 - w); e = 13*(1 - w);
elseif t == 2                    % bat: flapping wings
    f = 11*sin(18*p);
    x = [-22 -5 -4 0 4 5 22 0];
    y = [6+f 2 16 10 16 2 6+f -10]; e = 4;
elseif t == 3                    % brute: horned block, bobbing as it stomps
    q = 2*abs(sin(5*p));
    x = [-24 -24 -18 -12 12 18 24 24];
    y = [0 46+q 60+q 48+q 48+q 60+q 46+q 0]; e = 34 + q;
else                             % hopper: stretches in the air, squats on landing
    k = 1 + .3*(air > 2) - .25*(air <= 2);
    x = 15*cos(a)/k; y = 24*sin(a)*k; e = 14*k;
end
end
Play Game
Preview

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