MIDI Mayhem: How I Beat Latency, Learned JS, and Built a Game
Creating a rhythm-based MIDI game has been one of the most exciting and challenging projects I've tackled recently. With a very fundamental understanding of coding and JavaScript, this project marked my first major experience using AI-assisted coding and agentic coding techniques. It was an incredibly hands-on learning journey, teaching me not only about game development but also deepening my understanding of JavaScript and software development as a whole.
Rhythm games have a unique charm—they combine the pleasure of music with interactive gameplay, providing immediate gratification when done right. My goal was to build something intuitive, responsive, and above all, fun.
The Building Process
I chose Tone.js as my audio engine, primarily for its reliability and ease of synchronization. Initially, I encountered latency issues using Tone.Transport but, after several rounds of optimization, I successfully reverted back and resolved these problems effectively. This iterative debugging process significantly enhanced my JavaScript skills and taught me valuable lessons in performance optimization.
Generating MIDI notes visually while syncing them with audio required careful balancing. To enhance the audio experience, I built a full sample audio mode and a custom Tone scheduler, allowing for authentic sounds alongside nostalgic polyphonic MIDI playback. Each of these components provided new challenges and opportunities to deepen my coding capabilities through practical application.
Unique Features
What truly sets this game apart is the integration with services like archive.org, BitMidi, and FreeMidi, allowing users to find and play almost any MIDI song they desire. Each MIDI file is analyzed and scored using a custom algorithm that evaluates melodic qualities, pitch variation, note density, continuity, and tempo variations, guiding players toward songs that match their skill level.
The gameplay is enriched by a robust customization menu, allowing players to dynamically filter notes and adjust gameplay rules according to the selected difficulty. Features include standard hit notes, hold notes, and combo mechanics that reward accuracy and consistency, further enhanced by vivid visual feedback and interactive scoring.
To ensure accessibility, especially on aging devices, I included detailed optimization settings, advanced audio synchronization tools, and vibration support to offer smooth performance and a responsive feel across various hardware setups.
The game concludes each session with an endgame card, which scores players based on their accuracy, tracking hits, misses, combo performance, and providing immediate and satisfying gameplay feedback.
Advanced Technical Features
Beyond gameplay, I developed additional layers of complexity and technical depth:
- Audio Sync Tools: Custom tools to fine-tune synchronization between audio playback and visual indicators, crucial for maintaining accuracy on diverse devices.
- Full Sample Audio Mode: A sophisticated audio mode that employs individually loaded samples and precise pitch mapping, resulting in a richer, more authentic audio experience.
- Optimized Performance: Enhanced settings, including antialiasing toggles and resolution adjustments, to maintain smooth gameplay across a variety of devices.
Areas for Improvement
Despite significant advancements, there's always room for improvement. Further refining the responsiveness and optimization could enhance performance, particularly on lower-end devices. Expanding the audio sample library would also enrich the player's auditory experience.
Additionally, integrating more dynamic and immersive feedback mechanisms, such as detailed visual effects and tactile responses, could elevate player engagement even further.
Overall, developing this MIDI rhythm game was immensely rewarding. This project was not just about creating an interactive game—it was a transformative experience that greatly enhanced my understanding of JavaScript and software development. There is plenty left to refine, and I'm eager to continue iterating, ensuring it evolves into something truly special.
Creating a rhythm-based MIDI game has been one of the most exciting and challenging projects I've tackled recently. With a very fundamental understanding of coding and JavaScript, this project marked my first major experience using AI-assisted coding and agentic coding techniques. It was an incredibly hands-on learning journey, teaching me not only about game development but also deepening my understanding of JavaScript and software development as a whole.
Rhythm games have a unique charm—they combine the pleasure of music with interactive gameplay, providing immediate gratification when done right. My goal was to build something intuitive, responsive, and above all, fun.
The Building Process
I chose Tone.js as my audio engine, primarily for its reliability and ease of synchronization. Initially, I encountered latency issues using Tone.Transport but, after several rounds of optimization, I successfully reverted back and resolved these problems effectively. This iterative debugging process significantly enhanced my JavaScript skills and taught me valuable lessons in performance optimization.
Generating MIDI notes visually while syncing them with audio required careful balancing. To enhance the audio experience, I built a full sample audio mode and a custom Tone scheduler, allowing for authentic sounds alongside nostalgic polyphonic MIDI playback. Each of these components provided new challenges and opportunities to deepen my coding capabilities through practical application.
Unique Features
What truly sets this game apart is the integration with services like archive.org, BitMidi, and FreeMidi, allowing users to find and play almost any MIDI song they desire. Each MIDI file is analyzed and scored using a custom algorithm that evaluates melodic qualities, pitch variation, note density, continuity, and tempo variations, guiding players toward songs that match their skill level.
The gameplay is enriched by a robust customization menu, allowing players to dynamically filter notes and adjust gameplay rules according to the selected difficulty. Features include standard hit notes, hold notes, and combo mechanics that reward accuracy and consistency, further enhanced by vivid visual feedback and interactive scoring.
To ensure accessibility, especially on aging devices, I included detailed optimization settings, advanced audio synchronization tools, and vibration support to offer smooth performance and a responsive feel across various hardware setups.
The game concludes each session with an endgame card, which scores players based on their accuracy, tracking hits, misses, combo performance, and providing immediate and satisfying gameplay feedback.
Advanced Technical Features
Beyond gameplay, I developed additional layers of complexity and technical depth:
- Audio Sync Tools: Custom tools to fine-tune synchronization between audio playback and visual indicators, crucial for maintaining accuracy on diverse devices.
- Full Sample Audio Mode: A sophisticated audio mode that employs individually loaded samples and precise pitch mapping, resulting in a richer, more authentic audio experience.
- Optimized Performance: Enhanced settings, including antialiasing toggles and resolution adjustments, to maintain smooth gameplay across a variety of devices.
Areas for Improvement
Despite significant advancements, there's always room for improvement. Further refining the responsiveness and optimization could enhance performance, particularly on lower-end devices. Expanding the audio sample library would also enrich the player's auditory experience.
Additionally, integrating more dynamic and immersive feedback mechanisms, such as detailed visual effects and tactile responses, could elevate player engagement even further.
Overall, developing this MIDI rhythm game was immensely rewarding. This project was not just about creating an interactive game—it was a transformative experience that greatly enhanced my understanding of JavaScript and software development. There is plenty left to refine, and I'm eager to continue iterating, ensuring it evolves into something truly special.