Dj first game in Power Apps

Power Apps aren’t typically associated with gaming, but the beauty of the Microsoft Power Platform lies in its ability to unleash your imagination. Embracing this concept, DJ combined two of his passions – gaming and anime – to create an engaging Naruto-themed game within a Power App. This project not only excited him but also provided the perfect opportunity to showcase his creative prowess.

Welcome to Pocket Ninja! DJ's Pocket Ninja Cover DJ’s initial breakthrough in Power Apps came with the discovery of the Gallery control, which boasts remarkable simplicity. This feature was integrated throughout the app, as exemplified by the ‘Ninja Shop’ image.

All that the Gallery control requires is a data source and text/image controls to display the data – it’s that straightforward! However, this doesn’t mean you can’t enhance the experience with filters. DJ did just that by incorporating filters for Genin, Jounin, Kage, and All (representing different Ninja ranks). These filters can be combined in various ways, with detailed documentation available onMicrosoft Learn.

A screen from Pocket Ninja showing how you can select characters The battle/campaign serves as the game’s focal point because, as any anime fan knows, that’s what keeps us captivated!

To create an automated battle sequence (video below), DJ employed timers, enabling players to watch their Ninja take on various opponents. This aspect of the game offers limitless creative possibilities – do you want players to press a button to attack, or would you prefer an auto-battle feature? While both options are viable, DJ chose the auto-battle approach, allowing players to continue fighting by scoring higher than their adversaries. He utilised multiple timers to achieve this automation.

Another challenge DJ faced was determining the damage each Ninja could inflict. To avoid monotony, he assigned a base damage to each rank (Genin, Jounin, and Kage) and multiplied it according to the Ninja’s level – because who doesn’t love levelling up? Additionally, DJ wanted to incorporate an RNG (Random Number Generated) element, which gamers have a love-hate relationship with. By multiplying the Ninja’s damage by a random number (using the ‘Rand()’ expression), he calculated the actual damage dealt by the Ninja.

This example is merely a glimpse of what Power Apps’ Canvas App is capable of, and Power Apps represents just one aspect of the Power Platform’s offerings. Plus, it’s free – so sign up and create your own app! The entire Nimbitech team eagerly awaits seeing your creations!