Mario Kart DirectX
This project was to create a game engine framework capable of producing and running a game similar to Mario Kart using DirectX12. Our group created the “ThiCC engine” (Toolkit, pHysics, Input, Camera, Collision) which by the end of a few months of development was capable of creating a game very similar to Mario Kart.
About the Engine
Because this project was focused on building a game engine over making an actual game itself, our group created all our systems with reusability in mind. We created a number of systems for physics, audio, asset management, and more - all of which are non-specific to the Mario Kart game and could allow the engine to be easily repurposed for another title.
The core of the engine’s backend was the “ThICC Toolkit” which provided easy access to the different features of an engine through a GUI. It’s functionalities included asset importing (models, sounds, images), configuration customisation (fonts,keybinds, cameras) as well as configurations for in-game systems (item system).
Levels are created through Blender an which uses a bespoke python plugin that reads the level’s model into a .ThICC (binary) file which holds a binary representation of each triangle. The plugin also reads in the placements of lap waypoints, itemboxes, cinematic camera positions around the level into another .ThICC file. These files are then handled by the toolkit in organising the levels which is then passed to the engine itself to be run.
Engine Features
*Full asset pipeline *Material editor *Asset management *Configuration editor *Asset previews *GUI toolkit *AI systems *Blender integration *Image-based lighting *Mesh collision & OBB collision *Optimised build target *Scene management *Audio system *Animated materials
Gameplay footage
The character and map selection
Some gameplay
