Stickman StealAI · Claude 3.5

Core Game Loop and Mechanics

Stickman Steal is a physics-based puzzle game where players help a stickman thief navigate through increasingly challenging scenarios to steal valuable items while avoiding detection by guards.

Moment-to-Moment Gameplay

• Players observe a single-screen level showing the thief, target loot, guards, and interactive objects
• Players tap/click on interactive objects in the environment to trigger actions (pull levers, pop balloons, push objects, etc.)
• Each interaction causes a chain reaction using physics (objects fall, roll, bounce)
• The goal is to create the right sequence of interactions to distract guards and clear a path to the loot
• The thief automatically moves to grab the loot once the path is safe
• Guards have vision cones and patrol patterns - if they spot the thief, the level fails

Progression and Engagement

• 20 levels with increasing complexity
• Early levels teach basic mechanics (1-2 interactive objects)
• Later levels require multi-step solutions and precise timing
• Each level introduces new interactive elements (balloons, boxes, seesaws, dominoes, etc.)
• Star rating system (1-3 stars based on moves used and time taken)
• Unlock levels sequentially - must complete a level to unlock the next

Win/Lose Conditions

Win: Thief successfully reaches and grabs the loot without being spotted Lose: Guard spots the thief (enters vision cone) OR thief gets hit by falling object

What Makes It Compelling

• Satisfying "aha!" moments when discovering the solution
• Humorous animations (thief celebrating, guards confused, slapstick failures)
• Physics-based interactions feel dynamic and unpredictable
• Quick retry - failed attempts restart instantly
• Short levels perfect for mobile play sessions
• Creative problem-solving with multiple possible solutions

Starting Scope

For the initial implementation, we'll create a polished 5-level prototype that demonstrates all core mechanics:

Implement First:

• Core physics engine (gravity, collisions, momentum)
• 5 complete levels (tutorial through intermediate difficulty)
• Essential interactive objects: balloon (floats up), box (pushes/falls), lever (triggers events)
• Guard AI with vision cones and simple patrol
• Thief character with idle, walking, celebrating, and caught animations
• Level complete screen with star rating (based on moves)
• Level select screen showing progress
• Touch/click controls for interacting with objects
• Sound effects for interactions and outcomes
• Background music

Add in Future Iterations:

• Remaining 15 levels (levels 6-20)
• Additional interactive objects (seesaws, dominoes, trampolines, magnets, etc.)
• More complex guard behaviors (multiple guards, faster patrols)
• Hint system
• Time-based challenges
• Edit mode for custom levels

Game Perspective

Fixed-screen perspective with side-view presentation. Each level is a single screen showing the entire puzzle layout - no scrolling required. This allows players to see all elements and plan their solution before acting.

The camera is positioned to show:

• Ground level where the thief and guards stand
• Background elements (buildings, landmarks) for visual context
• Interactive objects positioned throughout the scene
• Clear visual hierarchy (foreground = interactive, background = decorative)

Game World and Level Design

Visual Setting

The game takes place in various urban locations around the world, with each level featuring iconic landmarks and city elements:

• Paris (Eiffel Tower)
• New York (skyscrapers, fire hydrants)
• London (Big Ben, phone booths)
• Tokyo (neon signs, cherry blossoms)
• Each level has a distinct background but maintains consistent ground plane

Level Structure

Each level consists of:

• Ground plane: Flat surface where characters stand (beige/tan sidewalk)
• Background layer: Iconic landmark or building (non-interactive, for atmosphere)
• Interactive objects: Positioned at various heights and locations
• Starting positions: Thief on left side, loot on right side (typically)
• Guards: 1-3 guards with patrol routes or stationary positions

First 5 Levels Design

Level 1 - Tutorial: "Easy Grab"

• Location: Paris street with Eiffel Tower in background
• Thief on far left, briefcase on far right
• One guard in center, facing right (away from thief)
• One balloon tied to ground between guard and loot
• Solution: Pop balloon - it floats up and distracts guard (looks up), thief runs to loot
• Teaches: Basic interaction, guard vision mechanics

Level 2 - "Box Drop"

• Location: Paris street
• Thief on left, briefcase on right
• One guard facing left (toward thief)
• Box on elevated platform above guard
• Lever on left side
• Solution: Pull lever to drop box on guard (knocks him out), thief proceeds
• Teaches: Lever mechanics, using objects as weapons

Level 3 - "Balloon Ride"

• Location: New York street with skyscraper background
• Thief on ground level left, briefcase on elevated platform right
• Guard patrolling ground level
• Balloon on ground near thief, box on platform
• Solution: Pop balloon so it floats up, push box off platform to distract guard below, thief climbs up
• Teaches: Timing, multi-step solutions

Level 4 - "Double Trouble"

• Location: London street with Big Ben
• Thief on left, briefcase on right
• Two guards: one facing right (center), one facing left (near loot)
• Two balloons at different heights, one box
• Solution: Pop lower balloon to distract first guard, push box to roll and hit second guard's feet (he looks down), thief sneaks through
• Teaches: Multiple guards, sequencing

Level 5 - "Chain Reaction"

• Location: Tokyo street with neon signs
• Thief on left, briefcase on elevated right
• Two guards patrolling in opposite directions
• Three boxes stacked, lever, balloon
• Solution: Pull lever to topple box stack (domino effect), boxes roll and distract both guards, pop balloon to create secondary distraction, thief advances
• Teaches: Complex chains, timing precision

Level Progression Philosophy (Levels 6-20)

• Introduce new mechanics every 3-4 levels
• Increase number of guards and interactive objects
• Add environmental hazards (falling objects that can hit thief)
• Create levels requiring precise timing and order of operations
• Final levels (18-20) combine all mechanics for maximum challenge

Edit Mode Design

Edit mode allows players to customize level parameters and create variations without breaking core gameplay.

Editable Properties

Visual Customization:

• Thief appearance: Choose hat style (beret, top hat, baseball cap, beanie, none)
• Thief color: Select primary color for thief's outfit (black, blue, red, green, purple)
• Guard appearance: Choose guard hat style (police cap, security cap, fedora, none)
• Guard color: Select guard uniform color (blue, brown, black, gray)
• Background landmark: Select from available landmarks (Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, Statue of Liberty, Tokyo Tower, etc.)
• Ground color: Choose sidewalk color (beige, gray, brown, red brick)

Gameplay Parameters:

• Guard vision range: Adjust how far guards can see (50-150 pixels)
• Guard patrol speed: Adjust guard movement speed (slow, medium, fast)
• Star thresholds: Adjust number of moves required for 3/2/1 stars
• Physics gravity: Adjust gravity strength (affects falling speed)

Level Content (Simple Adjustments):

• Number of guards: Add/remove guards (1-3 maximum)
• Guard starting positions: Drag guards to new positions
• Guard facing direction: Toggle left/right
• Interactive object positions: Drag objects to new locations
• Loot position: Move briefcase location

Constraints

• Minimum 1 guard, maximum 3 guards per level
• Guards must be placed on ground plane (not floating)
• At least one interactive object must be present
• Loot must be reachable by thief
• Vision range: 50-150 pixels (prevents impossible or trivial levels)
• Patrol speed: 0.5x to 2x normal speed
• Cannot remove core objects (thief, loot, at least 1 interactive object)

Edit Mode Interface

• Edit button in level select screen and pause menu
• Property panel slides in from right side showing all editable options
• Visual feedback: Selected objects highlight, drag handles appear
• Preview mode: Test changes without saving
• Reset button: Restore level to default configuration
• Save button: Commit changes to gameConfig

Control Design

Mobile Controls (Touch)

Primary Interaction: Tap to interact with objects

• Tap any interactive object (balloon, lever, box) to trigger its action
• Visual feedback: Object briefly scales up when tapped
• Tap "Restart" button (top-left) to retry level
• Tap "Menu" button (top-right) to pause
• Tap "Next Level" button on victory screen

No Movement Controls: The thief moves automatically once the path is clear - players only interact with puzzle elements

Desktop Controls (Mouse + Keyboard)

Primary Interaction: Click to interact with objects

• Click any interactive object to trigger its action
• Visual feedback: Object highlights on hover, scales on click
• Press R key to restart level quickly
• Press ESC key to pause/menu
• Click "Next Level" button on victory screen

No Keyboard Movement: Consistent with mobile - thief moves automatically

Interaction Feedback

• Hover state (desktop only): Cursor changes to pointer, object glows slightly
• Tap/Click state: Object scales to 1.1x briefly, plays sound effect
• Disabled state: Objects that have already been used become semi-transparent and non-interactive
• Guard vision cones: Visible as semi-transparent colored overlay showing detection range

UI Controls

• Level Select: Tap/click level cards to start
• Pause Menu: Tap/click buttons for Resume, Restart, Level Select, Edit Mode
• Victory Screen: Shows stars earned, tap/click Next Level or Retry

Art Style and Visual Theme

Overall Art Style

Cartoon stick figure style inspired by the reference images - simple, expressive, and humorous. The art should feel hand-drawn and playful, with clean lines and bold colors.

Key Characteristics:

• Stick figure characters with personality (expressive faces, dynamic poses)
• Simple geometric shapes for objects (circles, rectangles, triangles)
• Flat colors with subtle shading
• Thick black outlines (3-4px) for all objects
• Minimal detail - focus on clarity and readability
• Slightly wobbly/imperfect lines to maintain hand-drawn feel

Color Palette

Characters:

• Thief: Black body with white face, various hat colors (blue beret, black top hat, etc.)
• Guards: Dark blue or brown uniforms, white faces, sunglasses
• Skin tone: Simple white/cream for faces

Environment:

• Ground: Beige/tan sidewalk (#D4B896)
• Sky: Light blue gradient (#87CEEB to #B0E0E6)
• Landmarks: Realistic colors (Eiffel Tower = golden brown, Big Ben = tan/gold)
• Interactive objects: Bright, saturated colors (red balloons, brown boxes, silver levers)

UI:

• Buttons: Warm brown/tan (#8B6F47) with cream text
• Highlights: Bright yellow (#FFD700) for stars and success
• Danger: Red (#DC143C) for guard vision cones and failure states

Asset Sizes and Scale

Character Scale:

• Thief: ~80px tall (stick figure proportions)
• Guards: ~90px tall (slightly larger to feel imposing)
• Head diameter: ~24px for both

Object Scale:

• Balloon: ~40px diameter
• Box: ~50x50px
• Briefcase/Loot: ~45x30px
• Lever: ~60px tall
• Fire hydrant: ~50px tall

Environment Scale:

• Ground plane: Full width (720px), ~200px tall
• Landmarks: Background scale, ~300-400px tall
• Vision cone: 100px radius (default)

Viewing Angle

Side view for all characters and objects - classic 2D platformer perspective. All assets should be drawn from a straight-on side angle for consistency.

Exceptions:

• Balloons: Slight 3/4 view to show roundness
• Briefcase: Slight angle to show depth
• Background landmarks: Can have slight perspective for visual interest

Animation Style

Characters should have simple but expressive animations:

• Thief idle: Slight breathing motion, looking around nervously
• Thief walking: Classic stick figure walk cycle (4 frames)
• Thief celebrating: Jumps with arms up, big smile
• Thief caught: Hands up in surrender, worried expression
• Guard idle: Standing alert, slight head turn
• Guard patrol: Marching walk cycle
• Guard alerted: Exclamation mark appears, turns toward thief

Visual Effects

• Balloon pop: Small burst of confetti-like particles
• Box impact: Small dust cloud on landing
• Star collection: Stars sparkle and scale up
• Vision cone: Pulsing semi-transparent cone (red when thief detected, yellow normally)
• Success: Confetti burst, screen flash

Asset Generation vs Code Rendering

Generate as Image Assets:

• Thief character (multiple poses: idle, walking, celebrating, caught)
• Guard character (multiple poses: idle, patrolling, alerted)
• Briefcase/loot
• Balloon (inflated)
• Box
• Lever (up and down positions)
• Fire hydrant
• Background landmarks (Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, etc.)
• UI elements (buttons, star icons, level cards)

Render with Code (Canvas/CSS):

• Vision cones (semi-transparent triangles)
• Ground plane (solid color rectangle)
• Sky gradient (CSS background)
• Particle effects (confetti, dust)
• UI overlays (pause menu, victory screen backgrounds)
• Star rating display (can use generated star icon)
• Level numbers and text