🧠 Axon Signals

Theme: Signal

Think fast. Send the signal. Save your brain.

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🎮 What is Axon Signals?

Axon Signals is a puzzle/strategy game inspired by how real neurons transmit signals.

Your goal is simple:

👉 Design the optimal neural pathway so a signal can reach the brain in time.

But there's a catch:

• Signals fade over distance
• Nodes of Ranvier regenerate the signal (but cost ATP ⚡)
• Myelin protects and preserves the signal
• Too many nodes → energy failure
• Too few nodes → signal dies

Find the balance. Save the reaction.

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🧩 Gameplay

Each level is a real-life situation where your brain must react quickly:

• 🍦 Hear the ice cream truck before it drives away
• 🔥 Pull your hand away from a hot pan
• 🦶 Avoid stepping on a nail
• ⚾ React to a fast baseball
• 🤢 Smell spoiled food before it’s too late

You choose and configure neural paths:

• Optimize myelin coverage
• Balance node spacing
• Manage signal strength and ATP

Then press:

👉 Send Signal

…and watch the wave travel across your neuron.

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🧠 Inspired by Real Neuroscience

This game is based on saltatory conduction:

• Signals travel quickly through myelinated axons
• They are regenerated at nodes of Ranvier
• Energy (ATP) is required to restore ion balance

💡 The game simplifies the science to make it fun — but stays conceptually accurate.

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✨ Features

• ⚡ Signal propagation simulation
• 🧠 Strategy-based path optimization
• 🎯 Multiple paths per level
• 📊 Strength & ATP resource management
• 🎨 Sci-fi bio-electric visual style
• 🎓 Optional learning mode ("Did you know?" facts)
• 🎬 Final cinematic ending with a fully activated brain

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🧪 Tech & Tools

🧩 Built with Clayground Web Dojo

This game runs entirely in the browser using:

👉 Clayground Web Dojo (Qt/QML in the browser)

• Real-time iteration
• Declarative UI
• Smooth animations
• Rapid prototyping during the jam

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🧬 3D Assets with QtMesh Cloud

3D elements (like neurons, ions, and brain visualization) were:

• Processed using QtMeshEditor
• Validated using QtMesh Cloud

👉 This allowed fast iteration and reliable asset integration during the jam.

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🎧 Audio

• Procedural and lightweight sci-fi sound effects
• Ambient background to match the neural theme

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🎯 Controls

• Click segments to toggle myelin
• Select a path
• Press Send Signal
• Optimize until the brain activates

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🏁 Goal

Reach the brain with enough signal strength before it's too late.

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💡 Why this game?

The Ludum Dare theme "Signal" inspired us to explore:

👉 What if the signal is inside you?

Instead of radios or antennas, we focused on:

• biological signals
• decision-making under pressure
• invisible systems that keep us alive

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🚀 Final Thoughts

This project was built during Ludum Dare with a focus on:

• clarity
• originality
• and making science feel fun

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🧠 Your brain is counting on you.

🧬 QtMesh Cloud Analysis

3D assets used in this project were validated with QtMesh Cloud.

👉 View full report: