A Beautiful Maths Game • Hacker News Board

Re: A Beautiful Maths Game

#31

Post by waonderer » Tue, Sep 23, 2025, 11:43 AM UTC

SigmaEpsilonChi wrote: post #26

Oh hey, that's my game! I am so pleased you are enjoying it. This is a remake of a game I first published way back in 2014. This version was built by team of 22 high-schoolers from around the world, recruited through Hack Club ( https://hackclub.com ), where I have worked since 2018. For anyone who just wants a sense of what the game is like without the fuss of playing it, here is the launch trailer: https://www.yout…

Thanks for creating it. I love maths, and this was very pleasing to play. Have you published any other projects similar to this one? I mean, the ones that would be relevant for non-schoolers as well?

Re: A Beautiful Maths Game

#32

Post by John2022 » Tue, Sep 23, 2025, 3:05 PM UTC

mlyle wrote: post #15

John2022 wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah sorry I wasn't clear. What I meant was that they are setting x=t but not saying that.

The function sets the shape of the curve that the skier skis down. It is not the path of the skier vs time. (Gravity works, you can jump, etc). In later levels, you use t to make a floor that actually moves. The relationship between y and x is the coordinate plane behind the level (you can hold down right click to see it, IIRC).

I understand the confusion now. What they mean is that you're determining the shape of the mountain top using an equation, and then the skier is skiing along that mountain top according to gravity. But they don't say that.

Instead they say the task is to set path of skier - i.e. how the skier goes down the mountain. But that's not correct - the skier obviously doesn't need to just follow the mountain top. Common sense/reality is the opposite - you rarely just follow a mountain top.

If they'd just said the above, and I think not shown the value of t, it would have been a lot clearer, at least to me.

If in later levels they show formula(s) using gravity, and perhaps show the skier on different planets, with different values of G, then I can see the value in showing the value of t. But as it is, I think it's confusing.

Re: A Beautiful Maths Game

#33

Post by John2022 » Tue, Sep 23, 2025, 3:05 PM UTC

dylan604 wrote: post #23

Nevermark wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The path is flat by default, and mostly flat by initial expression. So it might not strike someone that the shape of the path is a mountain shape. Perhaps "the shape of a path down a mountain" would make everyone happy.

the first example shows multiple curves in the path. Did not press past that as it was obvious to me what the game was going to be and I didn't have time to play games. If there is something after that starting with a flat plane, how did one get there and not see the curved example?

I understand the confusion now. What they mean is that you're determining the shape of the mountain top using an equation, and then the skier is skiing along that mountain top according to gravity. But they don't say that. Instead they say the task is to set path of skier - i.e. how the skier goes down the mountain. But that's not correct - the skier obviously doesn't need to just follow the mountain top. Common sense/reality is the opposite - you rarely just follow a mountain top.

If they'd just said the above, and I think not shown the value of t, it would have been a lot clearer, at least to me.

If in later levels they show formula(s) using gravity, and perhaps show the skier on different planets, with different values of G, then I can see the value in showing the value of t. But as it is, I think it's confusing.

Re: A Beautiful Maths Game

#34

Post by frandibar » Tue, Sep 23, 2025, 5:53 PM UTC

SigmaEpsilonChi wrote: post #26

Oh hey, that's my game! I am so pleased you are enjoying it. This is a remake of a game I first published way back in 2014. This version was built by team of 22 high-schoolers from around the world, recruited through Hack Club ( https://hackclub.com ), where I have worked since 2018. For anyone who just wants a sense of what the game is like without the fuss of playing it, here is the launch trailer: https://www.yout…

Hey congratulations!, such a great concept, so much fun!