You can play at https://ambv.pyscriptapps.com/streamline/latest/

Every time I set out to do something "simple" it turns out it only looked simple from a distance. This single-tap rhythm game had plenty of unique challenges, with the most tuning required by the realtime tapping mechanic synchronized to sound. You want to allow for taps that come a little (but not too much) late. But you also want to show effects when a tap is missed. Timing this correctly was hard. I'm still not entirely sure it works as it should.

I wanted the game to work across devices, just as well on a powerful Mac as on a phone. I partially succeeded: my iPhone 16 Pro only gets 25 - 35 FPS here. It's playable but not really smooth. The desktop is much more forgiving.

As probably most here, I didn't finish everything I wanted. There's no HUD displaying combos and health, there's no pointer at the current place in line. But the game is playable and the single level in it is complete. There's a way to lose the game, there's a way to win the game. I'm happy with where I ended up with this.

The theme of this PyWeek was a bit of a challenge to me since it suggested too much the kind of a tunnel racer I made in September 2023 for PyWeek 36. My game was even called "Down The Drain" back then. And since this time I've already seen people going for actual river-based games, I decided to interpret the theme in a sort of retro-scifi way. "Downstream" like a technological term. With (not so) subtle aesthetic nods to Tron, The Lawnmower Man, Hackers, or Liquid Sky. You be the judge if the result is worth anything!