Opponent Selection for Duel Mode

After creating the Learning Mode for Sign Pals, I expanded the project with a competitive Duel Mode where players can challenge each other. Today, I'll share how I developed a duel system that allows you to pick your opponent!

Design Goals

My key goals for the opponent selection visuals were:

  1. Intuitive selection of opponents
  2. Engaging animations to create excitement
  3. Support for both profile-based opponents and guest players

I've always believed that competition can be a powerful motivator for learning, which is why I was excited to add this Duel Mode. The opponent selection screen needed to set the tone—creating that pre-match excitement you feel before friendly competition begins.

VS Animation System

The standout feature is the animated VS graphic that appears when an opponent is selected, adding visual excitement and signaling that a match is being prepared.

I'm particularly proud of this animation system. The subtle bounce effect took me longer than I'd like to admit to get right, but the satisfaction when it finally worked was worth every minute! Yay!

After the initial pop-in animation, I implemented a continuous loop animation that combines three subtle effects:

  1. Pulsing: The VS image gently grows and shrinks
  2. Floating: The image moves up and down slightly
  3. Rotation: A subtle rocking motion adds energy

These small movements keep the interface feeling alive and dynamic while players prepare to start the duel.

Opponent Selection Logic

The opponent selection system handles several important scenarios. When a player selects an opponent from existing profiles, the system updates the UI to display the opponent's character and name, hides the "Add" button, and triggers the VS animation. I also built in safeguards to prevent players from selecting themselves as opponents. For quick play, I've also implemented a guest mode option. But I encourage to make your own profile and go through the learning process before dueling with your opponent (A.K.A you will have a higher chance to beat them LOL).

Insights

Building these key components of the opponent selection system combined animation programming and state management to create an engaging pre-match experience. The VS animation adds that touch of excitement that makes the competition feel more meaningful, while the smart selection logic ensures a smooth, intuitive user experience.

Next, I'll focus on implementing the actual duel gameplay mechanics and scoring system! Get Ready!

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