9th-Grade Team Triumphs in HW Hackathon with Innovative Game Design

A 9th grade team made up of  Miro Katan ‘28, Kai Nantamanasikarn ‘28, Joshua Bie ‘28, Michael Zhao ‘28, Maxton Flaherty ‘28, and Boyan Manolov ‘28 (who participated remotely) triumphed in this year’s annual upper school hackathon. The 48 hour event, organized by upper school students, took place from February 15-16  at the Mudd Library.

The HW Hackathon is an event where students come together to collaborate on game creation, regardless of their coding or game design experience. This free overnight event was open to all students in grades 8-12, offering a range of workshops, speakers, and social activities. Teams of up to five students worked side by side to develop a game based on a specific theme, with food and prizes available throughout the event. Participants worked, rested, and attended workshops led by speakers in various spaces set up within the Mudd Library.

“Our project was a 2D space invaders-like game where the main character shoots arrows at falling ice cubes,” Bie said. “The arrows have gravity, so they fall down at you if you miss. After the first level, a shadow appears, which is you from the previous level.” 

The development process presented various challenges but ultimately proved to be a rewarding experience. The team played an integral role in each phase of the project, contributing across multiple areas, from coding to design. With each step, the team saw their vision taking shape. This collaborative effort was key to the project’s progress, as it allowed ideas to come together and drove the project toward completion.

“The most exciting part about the hackathon for me was playing the completed game for the first time because we finally got to see the fruits of our labor,” Bie said. “In addition, we are planning to create a Chrome extension from the game, which is really exciting.” 

The team explored different game mechanics, visual effects, and sound design elements to refine the overall player experience. Through continuous teamwork and refinement, they shaped the gameplay into a cohesive product that aligned with the central theme. While the process was demanding, the outcome reflected the team’s dedication and effort.

“It was really challenging to turn a broad idea into a concrete game since we all had different variations of a game,” Bie said, “In the end, since our theme was ‘You are your enemy,’ we thought a shadow was the best direct translation of the theme.”