Platform Types

Platform Types Reference

This page documents all available platform types, their behaviors, and visual indicators.

Overview

Platforms are defined in the Platform class in src/code/skeletons/platform.py. Each type has distinct gameplay behavior and visual appearance.

New in v2.0: Platforms can now have multiple types simultaneously. For example, a platform can be both CHECKPOINT and SLIPPERY at the same time.

Type Constants

from skeletons.platform import Platform

Platform.NORMAL      # "normal"
Platform.DEATH       # "death"
Platform.SPAWN       # "spawn"
Platform.CHECKPOINT  # "checkpoint"
Platform.FINISH      # "finish"
Platform.SLIPPERY    # "slippery"
Platform.NOCLIP      # "noclip"
Platform.BOOST_UP    # "boost_up"
Platform.SPEED_UP    # "speed_up"
Platform.SLOW_DOWN   # "slow_down"

Multiple Types

Platforms can have multiple types, combining different behaviors:

Code Example:

Platform(
    x1=400, y1=450,
    x2=600, y2=450,
    grid_size=32,
    platform_types=[Platform.CHECKPOINT, Platform.SLIPPERY],  # Both checkpoint and slippery
    texture=Texture.ICE,
)

JSON Example:

{
  "x1": 15, "y1": 12, "x2": 25, "y2": 12,
  "types": ["CHECKPOINT", "SLIPPERY"],
  "texture": "ICE"
}

Legacy Support: The old single type field is still supported for backward compatibility:

{
  "type": "NORMAL"
}

Detailed Reference

NORMAL

Purpose: Standard walkable surface

Behavior:

• Player can walk and jump on it
• Normal friction (0.8)
• No special interactions

Visual:

• Default: Gray (100, 100, 100)
• Typically uses a texture

Code Example:

Platform(
    x1=0, y1=500,
    x2=300, y2=500,
    grid_size=32,
    platform_type=Platform.NORMAL,
    texture=Texture.GRASS,
)

JSON Example:

{
  "x1": 0, "y1": 15, "x2": 10, "y2": 15,
  "type": "NORMAL",
  "texture": "GRASS"
}

---

DEATH

Purpose: Hazard that kills the player

Behavior:

• Player dies on contact
• Respawns at last checkpoint (or spawn)
• Does NOT block player movement (no collision)
• Can be touched from any direction

Visual:

• Default: Red (255, 0, 0)
• Shows X pattern overlay (if no texture)
• Recommended: Use LAVA texture

Code Example:

Platform(
    x1=200, y1=550,
    x2=300, y2=550,
    grid_size=32,
    platform_type=Platform.DEATH,
    texture=Texture.LAVA,
)

JSON Example:

{
  "x1": 10, "y1": 17, "x2": 14, "y2": 17,
  "type": "DEATH",
  "texture": "LAVA"
}

---

SPAWN

Purpose: Player starting position marker

Behavior:

• Visual indicator only
• Does not affect gameplay
• Initial checkpoint is set above this platform

Visual:

• Default: Green (0, 255, 0)
• Shows “S” marker in center

Code Example:

Platform(
    x1=100, y1=450,
    x2=100, y2=450,
    grid_size=32,
    platform_type=Platform.SPAWN,
    texture=Texture.GOLD_BLOCK,
)

JSON Example:

{
  "x1": 3, "y1": 14, "x2": 3, "y2": 14,
  "type": "SPAWN"
}

Note: Usually a single cell, placed above a NORMAL platform.

---

CHECKPOINT

Purpose: Save respawn position

Behavior:

• Activates when player touches it
• Sets new respawn point
• Once activated, cannot be deactivated
• Tracks page number for multi-page levels
• Required for FINISH (if checkpoints exist)

Visual:

• Default: Yellow (255, 255, 0)
• Inactive: Shows flag icon
• Active: Shows green border

States:

• checkpoint_activated = False → Flag shown
• checkpoint_activated = True → Green border, no flag

Code Example:

Platform(
    x1=500, y1=400,
    x2=500, y2=400,
    grid_size=32,
    platform_type=Platform.CHECKPOINT,
)

JSON Example:

{
  "x1": 25, "y1": 10, "x2": 25, "y2": 10,
  "type": "CHECKPOINT"
}

Methods:

platform.is_checkpoint()       # Returns True
platform.activate_checkpoint() # Activates the checkpoint
platform.checkpoint_activated  # Check activation state

---

FINISH

Purpose: Level completion trigger

Behavior:

• Player must touch to complete level
• Requires ALL checkpoints to be activated first
• Triggers transition to FinishScreen
• Saves level completion to progress

Visual:

• Default: Blue (0, 150, 255)
• No special indicator

Code Example:

Platform(
    x1=900, y1=300,
    x2=900, y2=300,
    grid_size=32,
    platform_type=Platform.FINISH,
)

JSON Example:

{
  "x1": 35, "y1": 6, "x2": 35, "y2": 6,
  "type": "FINISH"
}

Completion Logic:

# In GameScreen.run()
if platform.is_finish() and player_rect.colliderect(platform.rect):
    if self.checkpoints_activated >= self.checkpoints_required:
        self.level_completed = True
        self._mark_level_complete()
        # Transition to FinishScreen

---

SLIPPERY

Purpose: Low friction surface (ice)

Behavior:

• Very low friction (0.05)
• Player slides and maintains momentum
• Movement uses acceleration instead of direct position change
• Gradual deceleration when not pressing keys

Visual:

• Default: Light Blue (100, 200, 255)
• Shows wavy lines (if no texture)
• Recommended: Use ICE texture

Physics:

# In Spieler class
if self.friction < 0.1:  # Slippery
    self.velocity_x += self.acceleration * self.dt
    # Gradual deceleration
else:
    self.player_pos.x += 300 * self.dt
    # Direct movement

Code Example:

Platform(
    x1=400, y1=450,
    x2=600, y2=450,
    grid_size=32,
    platform_type=Platform.SLIPPERY,
    texture=Texture.ICE,
)

JSON Example:

{
  "x1": 15, "y1": 12, "x2": 25, "y2": 12,
  "type": "SLIPPERY",
  "texture": "ICE"
}

---

NOCLIP

Purpose: Passthrough platform that doesn’t block player

Behavior:

• Player can pass through from any direction
• No collision detection
• Visual indicator only
• Often combined with other types (BOOST_UP, SPEED_UP, SLOW_DOWN)

Visual:

• Default: Light Gray (200, 200, 200)
• No special indicator

Code Example:

Platform(
    x1=300, y1=400,
    x2=500, y2=400,
    grid_size=32,
    platform_types=[Platform.NOCLIP],
)

JSON Example:

{
  "x1": 10, "y1": 12, "x2": 15, "y2": 12,
  "types": ["NOCLIP"]
}

---

BOOST_UP

Purpose: Boost player upward when passing through

Behavior:

• Player can pass through (like NOCLIP)
• Applies upward velocity boost when touched
• Useful for creating wind currents or jump pads
• Often combined with NOCLIP type

Visual:

• Default: Light Green (150, 255, 150)
• Shows upward arrow indicator

Code Example:

Platform(
    x1=300, y1=400,
    x2=300, y2=500,
    grid_size=32,
    platform_types=[Platform.NOCLIP, Platform.BOOST_UP],
)

JSON Example:

{
  "x1": 10, "y1": 10, "x2": 10, "y2": 15,
  "types": ["NOCLIP", "BOOST_UP"]
}

---

SPEED_UP

Purpose: Increase horizontal movement speed on contact

Behavior:

• Increases movement speed multiplier
• Usually combined with reduced friction for faster traversal
• Can be combined with NOCLIP for speed zones

Visual:

• Default: Cyan (0, 200, 255)

Code Example:

Platform(
    x1=300, y1=400,
    x2=500, y2=400,
    grid_size=32,
    platform_types=[Platform.SPEED_UP],
)

JSON Example:

{
  "x1": 10, "y1": 10, "x2": 18, "y2": 10,
  "types": ["SPEED_UP"]
}

---

SLOW_DOWN

Purpose: Reduce horizontal movement speed on contact

Behavior:

• Reduces movement speed multiplier
• Uses higher friction than normal platforms
• Useful for mud/sand/slow zones

Visual:

• Default: Orange (255, 150, 0)

Code Example:

Platform(
    x1=300, y1=400,
    x2=500, y2=400,
    grid_size=32,
    platform_types=[Platform.SLOW_DOWN],
)

JSON Example:

{
  "x1": 20, "y1": 10, "x2": 28, "y2": 10,
  "types": ["SLOW_DOWN"]
}

---

Helper Methods

The Platform class provides type-checking methods:

platform.is_deadly()      # True if DEATH in types
platform.is_checkpoint()  # True if CHECKPOINT in types
platform.is_finish()      # True if FINISH in types
platform.is_spawn()       # True if SPAWN in types
platform.is_noclip()      # True if NOCLIP in types
platform.is_boost_up()    # True if BOOST_UP in types
platform.is_speed_up()    # True if SPEED_UP in types
platform.is_slow_down()   # True if SLOW_DOWN in types
platform.get_friction()   # Type-based friction
platform.get_speed_multiplier()  # Type-based movement multiplier

Default Colors

Type	RGB	Hex
NORMAL	(100, 100, 100)	#646464
DEATH	(255, 0, 0)	#FF0000
SPAWN	(0, 255, 0)	#00FF00
CHECKPOINT	(255, 255, 0)	#FFFF00
FINISH	(0, 150, 255)	#0096FF
SLIPPERY	(100, 200, 255)	#64C8FF
NOCLIP	(200, 200, 200)	#C8C8C8
BOOST_UP	(150, 255, 150)	#96FF96
SPEED_UP	(0, 200, 255)	#00C8FF
SLOW_DOWN	(255, 150, 0)	#FF9600

Custom Colors

Override the default color:

Platform(
    ...,
    platform_type=Platform.NORMAL,
    color=(139, 69, 19),  # Custom brown
)

{
  "type": "NORMAL",
  "color": [139, 69, 19]
}

Recommended Textures by Type

Type	Recommended Textures
NORMAL	GRASS, STONE, FLETCHINGTABLE
DEATH	LAVA
SPAWN	GOLD_BLOCK
CHECKPOINT	(use default color)
FINISH	(use default color)
SLIPPERY	ICE, ICEBROKEN variants