MrTimmyJ

Project Overview

        Race around a custom track against an AI opponent, pass through all checkpoints, and cross the finish line first! Customize your track background and define your AI's racing path via a simple text file.

        This is a top-down 2D racing game built with Python and Pygame. Players control a custom car sprite and race against an AI. The AI's path is loaded dynamically through a text file (AI.txt), allowing for map modding and custom challenges. The objective is to pass through all rings (checkpoints) and beat the AI to the finish.

Player Initialization

• Loads directional car sprites and places the player on the track
• Handles input to update position and sprite direction

AI Movement

• AI.txt contains a list of X,Y coordinates
• AI moves through these points in order, simulating a racing path

Power-Ups / Rings

• Represent checkpoints around the track
• Player must pass through all to finish the race
• Once completed, the timer ends, and the high score is recorded

Timer and Scoring

• Timer starts on game load
• Stops once all rings are passed
• High score saved to highscore_list.txt in hh:mm:ss.ss format

Project Features

• 🚗 Custom top-down sprites for player and AI
• 🧠 AI pathing from external AI.txt file (easy to mod!)
• 🌄 Changeable background images for track customization
• ⭕ Power-up / checkpoint ring system to guide gameplay
• 🕹️ Keyboard-driven player controls with directional sprite changes
• ⏱️ Finish-time tracking and high score system (written to a file)

Gameplay

You control a car from a top-down view using arrow keys or WASD. Pass through each power-up ring to progress. Once all rings are passed, the timer stops and your time is saved.

Controls:

• ↑ / W..............Move Up
• ↓ / S..........Move Down
• ← / A...........Move Left
• → / D.........Move Right