Building a Sustainable Game Using Flutter and Back4app

15min
Introduction
In this tutorial, we’ll walk through how to build a sustainable game using Flutter and Back4app. This game will educate users on eco-friendly behaviors and reward them for taking positive actions for the environment. We'll leverage Back4app for backend services, such as tracking users' progress and rewarding them with digital items.
Game Concept: EcoWarrior
The game will be called EcoWarrior, where users take on small environmental tasks like recycling, saving water, and reducing energy consumption. Users will earn points and digital rewards as they complete tasks. We'll focus on:
Task logging and progress tracking: Users log the eco-friendly actions they take.
Reward system: Players earn points and badges for their contributions.
Backend integration: All user data and progress will be stored in Back4app.
Prerequisites
Flutter Development Setup: Follow the Flutter installation guide.
Back4app Account: Sign up for a free account at Back4app.
Basic knowledge of Flutter widgets and how to work with a backend.
Step 1: Set Up Back4app
1.1 Create a Back4app Project
Log in to Back4app and create a new backend project called EcoWarriorGame.
Create a Parse Class called EcoActions with the following fields:
username (String): The username of the player.
actionType (String): The type of action (e.g., "Recycling", "Water Conservation").
points (Number): The points awarded for the action.
timestamp (DateTime): The time when the action was logged.
1.2 Set Up Your Back4app Credentials
Go to your Back4app project’s settings and get your Application ID and Client Key. These will be used to initialize Back4app in Flutter.
Step 2: Setting Up Your Flutter Project
2.1 Create a New Flutter Project
Bash
flutter create eco_warrior
cd eco_warrior
flutter create eco_warrior
cd eco_warrior
﻿
2.2 Add Dependencies
Open pubspec.yaml and add the following dependencies for Parse SDK and Flutter:
YAML
dependencies:
  flutter:
    sdk: flutter
  parse_server_sdk_flutter: latest_version
  provider: ^5.0.0  # State management
dependencies:
  flutter:
    sdk: flutter
  parse_server_sdk_flutter: latest_version
  provider: ^5.0.0  # State management
﻿
Run flutter pub get to install the dependencies.
2.3 Initialize Parse SDK in Flutter
In lib/main.dart, initialize Parse by adding your Back4app credentials:
Dart
import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
import 'package:parse_server_sdk_flutter/parse_server_sdk_flutter.dart';

void main() async {
  WidgetsFlutterBinding.ensureInitialized();

  const keyApplicationId = 'YOUR_BACK4APP_APP_ID';
  const keyClientKey = 'YOUR_BACK4APP_CLIENT_KEY';
  const keyParseServerUrl = 'https://parseapi.back4app.com';

  await Parse().initialize(
    keyApplicationId,
    keyParseServerUrl,
    clientKey: keyClientKey,
    autoSendSessionId: true,
  );

  runApp(MyApp());
}

class MyApp extends StatelessWidget {
  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return MaterialApp(
      title: 'EcoWarrior Game',
      theme: ThemeData(primarySwatch: Colors.green),
      home: GameScreen(),
    );
  }
}
import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
import 'package:parse_server_sdk_flutter/parse_server_sdk_flutter.dart';

void main() async {
  WidgetsFlutterBinding.ensureInitialized();

  const keyApplicationId = 'YOUR_BACK4APP_APP_ID';
  const keyClientKey = 'YOUR_BACK4APP_CLIENT_KEY';
  const keyParseServerUrl = 'https://parseapi.back4app.com';

  await Parse().initialize(
    keyApplicationId,
    keyParseServerUrl,
    clientKey: keyClientKey,
    autoSendSessionId: true,
  );

  runApp(MyApp());
}

class MyApp extends StatelessWidget {
  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return MaterialApp(
      title: 'EcoWarrior Game',
      theme: ThemeData(primarySwatch: Colors.green),
      home: GameScreen(),
    );
  }
}
﻿
Replace YOUR_BACK4APP_APP_ID and YOUR_BACK4APP_CLIENT_KEY with your actual Back4app credentials.
Step 3: Game UI and Functionality
Now we will build the UI of the EcoWarrior game and integrate with Back4app.
3.1 Create the GameScreen
In lib/game_screen.dart, create a basic game interface where players can log environmental tasks and view their score.
Dart
import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
import 'package:parse_server_sdk_flutter/parse_server_sdk_flutter.dart';

class GameScreen extends StatefulWidget {
  @override
  _GameScreenState createState() => _GameScreenState();
}

class _GameScreenState extends State<GameScreen> {
  String? _selectedAction;
  int _score = 0;
  final List<String> _actions = ['Recycling', 'Water Conservation', 'Energy Saving'];

  Future<void> _logAction() async {
    if (_selectedAction == null) {
      ScaffoldMessenger.of(context).showSnackBar(SnackBar(
        content: Text('Please select an action.'),
      ));
      return;
    }

    // Assign points for the action
    int points = 0;
    switch (_selectedAction) {
      case 'Recycling':
        points = 10;
        break;
      case 'Water Conservation':
        points = 15;
        break;
      case 'Energy Saving':
        points = 20;
        break;
    }

    // Save action to Back4app
    final ecoAction = ParseObject('EcoActions')
      ..set('username', 'Player1') // Example username
      ..set('actionType', _selectedAction)
      ..set('points', points)
      ..set('timestamp', DateTime.now());

    final response = await ecoAction.save();

    if (response.success) {
      setState(() {
        _score += points;
      });
      ScaffoldMessenger.of(context).showSnackBar(SnackBar(
        content: Text('Action logged! You earned $points points.'),
      ));
    } else {
      ScaffoldMessenger.of(context).showSnackBar(SnackBar(
        content: Text('Failed to log action.'),
      ));
    }
  }

  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return Scaffold(
      appBar: AppBar(
        title: Text('EcoWarrior'),
      ),
      body: Padding(
        padding: const EdgeInsets.all(16.0),
        child: Column(
          crossAxisAlignment: CrossAxisAlignment.stretch,
          children: [
            Text(
              'Select an eco-friendly action:',
              style: TextStyle(fontSize: 18),
            ),
            DropdownButton<String>(
              value: _selectedAction,
              hint: Text('Choose action'),
              items: _actions.map((String action) {
                return DropdownMenuItem<String>(
                  value: action,
                  child: Text(action),
                );
              }).toList(),
              onChanged: (String? newValue) {
                setState(() {
                  _selectedAction = newValue;
                });
              },
            ),
            SizedBox(height: 20),
            ElevatedButton(
              onPressed: _logAction,
              child: Text('Log Action'),
            ),
            SizedBox(height: 20),
            Text(
              'Current Score: $_score',
              style: TextStyle(fontSize: 20, fontWeight: FontWeight.bold),
            ),
          ],
        ),
      ),
    );
  }
}
import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
import 'package:parse_server_sdk_flutter/parse_server_sdk_flutter.dart';

class GameScreen extends StatefulWidget {
  @override
  _GameScreenState createState() => _GameScreenState();
}

class _GameScreenState extends State<GameScreen> {
  String? _selectedAction;
  int _score = 0;
  final List<String> _actions = ['Recycling', 'Water Conservation', 'Energy Saving'];

  Future<void> _logAction() async {
    if (_selectedAction == null) {
      ScaffoldMessenger.of(context).showSnackBar(SnackBar(
        content: Text('Please select an action.'),
      ));
      return;
    }

    // Assign points for the action
    int points = 0;
    switch (_selectedAction) {
      case 'Recycling':
        points = 10;
        break;
      case 'Water Conservation':
        points = 15;
        break;
      case 'Energy Saving':
        points = 20;
        break;
    }

    // Save action to Back4app
    final ecoAction = ParseObject('EcoActions')
      ..set('username', 'Player1') // Example username
      ..set('actionType', _selectedAction)
      ..set('points', points)
      ..set('timestamp', DateTime.now());

    final response = await ecoAction.save();

    if (response.success) {
      setState(() {
        _score += points;
      });
      ScaffoldMessenger.of(context).showSnackBar(SnackBar(
        content: Text('Action logged! You earned $points points.'),
      ));
    } else {
      ScaffoldMessenger.of(context).showSnackBar(SnackBar(
        content: Text('Failed to log action.'),
      ));
    }
  }

  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return Scaffold(
      appBar: AppBar(
        title: Text('EcoWarrior'),
      ),
      body: Padding(
        padding: const EdgeInsets.all(16.0),
        child: Column(
          crossAxisAlignment: CrossAxisAlignment.stretch,
          children: [
            Text(
              'Select an eco-friendly action:',
              style: TextStyle(fontSize: 18),
            ),
            DropdownButton<String>(
              value: _selectedAction,
              hint: Text('Choose action'),
              items: _actions.map((String action) {
                return DropdownMenuItem<String>(
                  value: action,
                  child: Text(action),
                );
              }).toList(),
              onChanged: (String? newValue) {
                setState(() {
                  _selectedAction = newValue;
                });
              },
            ),
            SizedBox(height: 20),
            ElevatedButton(
              onPressed: _logAction,
              child: Text('Log Action'),
            ),
            SizedBox(height: 20),
            Text(
              'Current Score: $_score',
              style: TextStyle(fontSize: 20, fontWeight: FontWeight.bold),
            ),
          ],
        ),
      ),
    );
  }
}
﻿
Step 4: Retrieving User Data from Back4app
We will retrieve and display the total score and actions the user has logged.
4.1 Fetch Player’s Score from Backend
To get the player’s score, we need to fetch all their actions from Back4app and calculate the total score.
In lib/game_screen.dart, update _GameScreenState to include the fetching logic:
Dart
Future<void> _fetchScore() async {
  final query = QueryBuilder<ParseObject>(ParseObject('EcoActions'))
    ..whereEqualTo('username', 'Player1'); // Example username

  final response = await query.query();

  if (response.success && response.results != null) {
    int totalScore = 0;
    for (var result in response.results!) {
      totalScore += result.get<int>('points')!;
    }

    setState(() {
      _score = totalScore;
    });
  }
}
Future<void> _fetchScore() async {
  final query = QueryBuilder<ParseObject>(ParseObject('EcoActions'))
    ..whereEqualTo('username', 'Player1'); // Example username

  final response = await query.query();

  if (response.success && response.results != null) {
    int totalScore = 0;
    for (var result in response.results!) {
      totalScore += result.get<int>('points')!;
    }

    setState(() {
      _score = totalScore;
    });
  }
}
﻿
Call _fetchScore() when the screen is initialized:
Dart
@override
void initState() {
  super.initState();
  _fetchScore();
}
@override
void initState() {
  super.initState();
  _fetchScore();
}
﻿
Step 5: Running the Game
Run the app on your device or emulator:
The player will select an action from the dropdown, log it, and their points will be saved to Back4app.
The total score will be fetched from Back4app and displayed on the screen.
Step 6: Expanding the Game
You can expand the EcoWarrior game by:
Adding more environmental tasks and actions.
Implementing a leaderboard to show the top eco-friendly players.
Adding achievements for completing a certain number of tasks.
Conclusion
In this tutorial, we built a sustainable game using Flutter and Back4app. The game allows players to log eco-friendly actions, tracks their progress using a backend, and rewards them with points. With Flutter’s rich UI framework and Back4app’s scalable backend, you can easily extend this concept to build more complex and interactive sustainable games.
For more information:
﻿Flutter Documentation﻿
﻿Back4app Documentation﻿
﻿
Updated 05 Sep 2024
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