BUM LIFE - Full Game Description

BUM LIFE is an open-world survival game that puts you in the shoes of a homeless person trying to survive on the streets. Built with Three.js and JavaScript, this web-based game offers a unique blend of survival mechanics, urban exploration, and street-level combat.

Game Premise

You start as a bum with just $2.50 in your pocket, navigating a procedurally generated city while managing basic survival needs. The game's tagline "Every penny counts" reflects the core challenge of scraping by through panhandling, finding resources, and avoiding trouble with the law.

Core Gameplay Mechanics

Survival Systems

• Health: Monitor your physical well-being - take damage from fights or environmental hazards
• Hunger: Decreases over time (every 5 seconds game time). If it reaches zero, you lose health and can starve to death
• Money: Start with $2.50 and earn through panhandling, begging, or other means
• Wanted Level: Accumulate stars for illegal activities. Police presence increases over time

Movement & Controls

• WASD: Movement through the 3D city
• Mouse: First-person camera control with crosshair aiming
• Left Click: Shoot weapons
• R: Reload weapon
• E: Interact with objects and enter stores
• T: Talk to NPCs for money (panhandling)
• Shift: Sprint for faster movement
• Space: Jump
• Escape: Pause game

Combat System

• Weapons: Start with a pistol, manage ammunition (8 round magazine, 32 total reserve)
• Shooting Mechanics: First-person aiming with realistic reload times
• Enemy AI: Police officers that pursue and engage when you have wanted levels

World Features

• Procedurally Generated City: Buildings, streets, props, and interactables
• Dynamic Day/Night Cycle: Lighting affects visibility and atmosphere
• Interactive Elements: Stores to buy supplies, panhandling spots, pickups
• NPC System: Civilians to interact with for money, police that enforce the law
• Physics System: Collision detection, gravity, movement mechanics

Progression & Difficulty

• Escalating Police Presence: Starts with 2 cops, increases by 2 every 2 minutes (max 10)
• Resource Management: Balance hunger, health, and money
• Risk vs Reward: Panhandling vs. criminal activities for survival

Visual Features

• 3D Graphics: Powered by Three.js with customizable quality settings
• Dynamic Shadows: Real-time shadow rendering with quality options
• Particle Effects: Gun muzzle flash, impacts, and environmental effects
• Minimap: Real-time overview of your position and nearby NPCs
• HUD Elements: Health/hunger bars, cash display, wanted stars, weapon/ammo status

Audio System

• Immersive Sound: Footsteps, gunshots, ambient city sounds
• Dynamic Audio: Volume controls for master, SFX, and music
• Contextual Sounds: Different audio for various actions and environments

Game States

• Main Menu: New game, continue, settings, and exit options
• Playing: Active gameplay with full controls
• Paused: Access settings and resume options
• Game Over: Death screen with respawn or main menu options
• Shop Interface: Buy supplies with earned money

Technical Features

• Web-based: Runs in any modern browser using WebGL
• Performance Optimized: Adjustable graphics quality for different hardware
• Responsive Design: Adapts to different screen sizes and capabilities
• Save System: Continue previous games (where supported)

Game Loop

The core gameplay loop involves: Survive → Gather Resources → Manage Needs → Avoid/Handle Police → Repeat. Players must balance immediate needs (hunger, health) with long-term goals (earning money, avoiding arrest) while navigating an increasingly hostile urban environment.

BUM LIFE delivers a gritty, realistic take on urban survival with engaging mechanics, atmospheric presentation, and challenging gameplay that captures the harsh reality of street life.