Neat Particles

Neat particles is a small sandbox game all about seeing, generating and toying with neat particle patterns and behaviors!

Complexity from Simplicity

Neat particles generates particle behaviors by combining and randomizing simple behaviors. For example one modifier is "turn by X degree every Y time" Even alone this results in some interesting things, 90 degree turns create a square, larger Y make a larger square, smaller faster turns generate circles, etc. If the particles get faster over time the square gets wider and wider creating a spiral pattern.

By default 8 modifiers are randomly picked from 31, with the numbers of those modifiers also additionally randomized. This results in a huge variety of different looking and different feeling patterns and behaviors, which I found generally enjoyable to look at and interact with.

Designed Randomness

While randomness is essential, the modifiers and their parameters have been carefully designed to reduce meaningless sameness or unpatterned noise. The behaviors and patterns are supposed to feel actually unique. In reality of course nothing is truly interesting or novel forever and some results, skipping patterns is likely to increase as familiarity of the player does. Modifier parameters are limited so that as many of them as possible noticably influences the final movement and visual appearance of the particles movement patterns. The modifiers are also specific and simple enough to create more complex results. Specific modifier chances and other chances can also be customized by the player.

Have fun!

I hope you find some joy in this little side project of mine!