Don't Touch That Thermostat!

Ethan
/
Don't Touch That Thermostat!
on 13 Nov 2026
2
22
4
0
9918
game.m
function g=game()
%game "Don't Touch That Thermostat"
%
%   You wake at 3 a.m. in a freezing house. Nudge the thermostat from
%   5 C up to 20 C, 0.5 C per tap. Dad sleeps next door:
%       green light under his door -> safe, keep tapping
%       amber glow                 -> he is stirring, stop tapping
%       red light                  -> he is watching, one tap and you are caught
%   The warning window shrinks as the room warms up.
%
%   One input: SPACE or a mouse click (edge-triggered tap).
%
%   Play:      minihackContest.play
%   Validate:  minihackContest.validate

g.init  =@ini;
g.update=@upd;
g.render=@ren;
end

% -------------------------------------------------------------------------
function s=ini(ax)
% Called once: build the bedroom and every graphics object the game needs.

d=char(176);

s=struct('dg',d,'s0',5,'hi',20,'tp',5,'ph',1,...
    'ld',2.2,'lt',0,'et',0,'el',0,'tk',0,...
    'ft',0,'sh',0,'pl',0,'of',0,'md',1,'dw',2);

ax.XLim=[0 800];
ax.YLim=[0 600];
ax.YDir='normal';
ax.Color=[.13 .15 .23];

% Pools of light: cold moonlight from the window, warm glow at the wall unit
mk(ax,[216 312 228 232],[.5 .65 .9],.05,.06);
mk(ax,[548 218 206 268],[1 .86 .56],.12,.07);
mk(ax,[568 224 178 240],[.06 .07 .11],.12,.45);

% Static furniture: {position, colour, roundness}
Z={ ...
    [0 0 800 96],     [.21 .16 .13],  0
    [240 330 180 196],[.15 .27 .45],  0
    [226 320 208 12], [.62 .57 .52],  .3
    [372 462 30 30],  [.96 .94 .84],  1
    [330 82 300 42],  [.34 .22 .20],  .6
    [562 232 178 240],[.90 .92 .95],  .12
    [572 242 158 220],[.80 .83 .88],  .10};
for k=1:size(Z,1)
    mk(ax,Z{k,:});
end

% Thin line work: window frame, stars, floorboards
plot(ax,[240 420 420 240 240 NaN 330 330 NaN 240 420],...
    [330 330 526 526 330 NaN 330 526 NaN 428 428],...
    'Color',[.64 .68 .76],'LineWidth',6);
plot(ax,[268 292 306 252 404],[500 486 508 360 354],'.',...
    'Color',[.85 .92 1],'MarkerSize',9);
plot(ax,[0 800 NaN 140 140 NaN 320 320 NaN 560 560 NaN 700 700],...
    [96 96 NaN 96 10 NaN 96 10 NaN 96 10 NaN 96 10],...
    'Color',[.16 .12 .1],'LineWidth',2);

% Curtains hang in front of the frame
mk(ax,[228 320 26 210],[.38 .27 .3],.18);
mk(ax,[406 320 26 210],[.38 .27 .3],.18);

% Dad's door: frame, hall light, panels, handle
mk(ax,[38 90 178 348],[.42 .34 .30],.12);
g.hl=mk(ax,[48 98 158 338],[.56 .35 .15]);
g.hl.FaceAlpha=.4;
g.db=mk(ax,[96 96 66 236],[.08 .085 .12],.35);
g.dh=mk(ax,[113 316 32 32],[.08 .085 .12],1);
g.e1=mk(ax,[121 330 6 5],[1 .85 .3],1);
g.e2=mk(ax,[131 330 6 5],[1 .85 .3],1);
g.dr=rectangle(ax,'Position',[48 98 158 338],...
    'FaceColor',[.22 .18 .16],'EdgeColor',[.32 .27 .23],...
    'LineWidth',1.2,'Curvature',[.1 .1]);
g.d1=mk(ax,[66 300 122 108],[.17 .14 .13],.1);
g.d2=mk(ax,[66 130 122 140],[.17 .14 .13],.1);
g.hd=mk(ax,[186 250 10 24],[.84 .69 .34],.45);
g.gl=mk(ax,[48 92 158 12],[.22 .85 .48],.5);
g.gl.FaceAlpha=.1;

% Thermostat
g.sc=mk(ax,[578 316 146 132],[.04 .09 .08],.12);
g.sc.EdgeColor=[.1 .5 .35];
g.sc.LineWidth=2;
mk(ax,[584 428 44 14],[.7 .95 .85],.5,.12);
mk(ax,[578 456 7 7],[.3 .9 .5],1);
g.bd=tx(ax,651,460,'HALLWAY',8,[.45 .5 .58]);
g.t=tx(ax,651,404,['5.0/20.0' d 'C'],22,[.5 1 .7]);
g.t.FontName='Consolas';
g.bf=mk(ax,[582 292 .5 12],[.28 .56 .96],.5);
g.btn=mk(ax,[600 244 105 38],[.21 .23 .31],.45);
g.btn.EdgeColor=[.42 .45 .6];
g.btn.LineWidth=1;
g.bx=tx(ax,652,263,'+0.5',16,[.9 .92 .98]);

% You: pyjamas, bed hair, slippers
g.pb=mk(ax,[448 96 46 64],[.42 .55 .78],.45);
g.ph=mk(ax,[454 160 34 34],[.87 .72 .58],1);
g.hr=mk(ax,[452 174 38 22],[.28 .2 .16],.6);
mk(ax,[450 86 16 9],[.55 .3 .3],1);
mk(ax,[474 86 16 9],[.55 .3 .3],1);

% Rules / loading card
g.dm=mk(ax,[0 0 800 600],[.02 .025 .04],0,.9);
g.rp=rectangle(ax,'Position',[70 165 660 397],...
    'FaceColor',[.11 .125 .175],'EdgeColor',[.3 .34 .46],...
    'LineWidth',1.2,'Curvature',[.05 .05]);
g.rt=tx(ax,400,520,'DON''T TOUCH THAT THERMOSTAT',25,[1 .8 .36]);

g.rb=tx(ax,250,474,'OBJECTIVE',19,[1 .86 .5],'left','top');
g.r2=tx(ax,250,444,...
    {['Raise the thermostat from 5' d 'C to 20' d 'C.'],...
    ['Each tap adds 0.5' d 'C.']},15,[.88 .9 .95],'left','top');
g.r3=tx(ax,250,398,'RULES',19,[1 .86 .5],'left','top');
g.r4=tx(ax,250,368,...
    {'Watch the light under Dad''s door:',...
    'GREEN = safe. Keep tapping.',...
    'AMBER = stirring. Stop now.',...
    'RED = watching. One tap = caught.',...
    'Heat leaks out. Warnings shrink.'},15,[.88 .9 .95],'left','top');
g.rf=mk(ax,[250 240 300 10],[.35 .8 .5],.5);
g.rx=tx(ax,400,214,'LOADING  0%',12,[.62 .68 .8]);
g.rG={g.dm,g.rp,g.rt,g.rb,g.r2,g.r3,g.r4,g.rf,g.rx};

% Win / caught overlay (shared objects)
g.dn=mk(ax,[0 0 800 600],[.02 .06 .04],0,.87);
g.ot=tx(ax,400,404,'',27,[.55 .95 .6]);
g.od=tx(ax,400,340,'',13,[.96 .82 .48]);
g.oh=tx(ax,400,258,'TAP TO PLAY AGAIN',12,[.6 .66 .76]);
g.oG={g.dn,g.ot,g.od,g.oh};

for h=[g.t g.bx g.rt g.rb g.r3 g.ot]
    h.FontWeight='bold';
end

sv(g.rG,false);
sv(g.oG,false);

s.g=g;
end

% -------------------------------------------------------------------------
function s=upd(s,dt,pr)

s.pl=s.pl+dt;

% Rules / loading
if s.ph==1
    s.lt=s.lt+dt;
    if s.lt>=s.ld&&pr
        s=sr(s);
    end
    return
end

% Win / caught screens
if s.ph>2
    s.et=s.et+dt;
    if pr&&s.et>.45
        s.ph=1;
        s.lt=max(0,s.ld-.6);
        s.et=0;
        s.of=0;
        s.md=1;
    end
    return
end

% Playing
s.el=s.el+dt;
s.ft=max(0,s.ft-dt);

if pr
    if s.md==3
        s.ph=4;s.et=0;s.of=1;s.ft=0;
        return
    end
    s.tp=min(s.hi,s.tp+.5);
    s.tk=s.tk+1;
    s.ft=.14;
    if s.tp>=s.hi-1e-9
        s.ph=3;s.et=0;
        return
    end
end

p=min(1,max(0,(s.tp-s.s0)/(s.hi-s.s0)));
s.sh=s.sh+dt*(8+18*(1-p));
s.tp=max(s.s0,s.tp-(.08+.12*p)*dt);

% Dad's red-light / green-light cycle.
% Tuning: .62/.34 warning length, .85+.3*rand jitter, .95+ watch time,
% 1+.8*rand time in bed, .08+.12*p heat leak (C per second).
s.dw=s.dw-dt;
if s.dw<=0
    if s.md==1
        s.md=2;
        s.dw=min(.8,max(.2,(.62-.34*p)*(.85+.3*rand)));
    elseif s.md==2
        s.md=3;
        s.dw=.95+.9*rand+.5*p;
    else
        s.md=1;
        s.dw=(1+.8*rand)*(1-.18*p);
    end
end

% Door eases open when he is up
s.of=s.of+((s.md==3)+.1*(s.md==2)-s.of)*min(1,dt*12);
end

% -------------------------------------------------------------------------
function s=sr(s)
s.ph=2;
s.tp=s.s0;
s.el=0;
s.tk=0;
s.ft=0;
s.sh=0;
s.of=0;
s.md=1;
s.dw=2;
s.et=0;
end

% -------------------------------------------------------------------------
function ren(~,s)
d=s.dg;
g=s.g;

p=min(1,max(0,(s.tp-s.s0)/(s.hi-s.s0)));

% Thermostat readout
g.t.String=[num2str(s.tp,'%.1f') '/' num2str(s.hi,'%.1f') d 'C'];
g.t.Color=[.35+.5*p,.95-.25*p,.55-.3*p];
g.bf.Position=[582 292 max(.5,138*p) 12];
g.bf.FaceColor=[.28+.65*p,.56-.2*p,.96-.86*p];

% Button lights up on a tap
f=(s.ft>0);
g.btn.Position=[600-f 244-f 105+2*f 38+2*f];
g.btn.FaceColor=[.21 .23 .31]*(1-f)+[.98 .78 .28]*f;
g.bx.Color=[.9 .92 .98]*(1-f)+[.12 .1 .06]*f;

% Shivering you
x=sin(s.sh)*(1.2+7*(1-p))*(s.ph==2);
g.pb.Position=[448+x 96 46 64];
g.ph.Position=[454+x 160 34 34];
g.hr.Position=[452+x 174 38 22];

% Door, Dad and the light
w=max(3,158*(1-.92*s.of));
q=w/158;
g.dr.Position=[48 98 w 338];
g.d1.Position=[48+18*q 300 122*q 108];
g.d2.Position=[48+18*q 130 122*q 140];
g.hd.Position=[48+w-20 250 10 24];
g.hd.Visible=s.of<.55;
g.hl.Visible=s.of>.06;
g.hl.FaceAlpha=.15+.3*s.of;

on=s.of>.5;
g.db.Visible=on;
g.dh.Visible=on;
ey=on&&(s.md==3);
g.e1.Visible=ey;
g.e2.Visible=ey;

C=[.22 .85 .48;1 .7 .14;1 .24 .2];
c=C(s.md,:);
a=.1*(s.md==1)+(.24+.1*sin(s.pl*11))*(s.md==2) ...
   +(.42+.12*sin(s.pl*9))*(s.md==3);
if s.ph==3
    c=[.35 .95 .55];a=.16;
elseif s.ph==4
    c=[1 .25 .2];a=.45+.12*sin(s.pl*9);
end
g.gl.FaceColor=c;
g.gl.FaceAlpha=min(1,max(.04,a));
g.sc.EdgeColor=c;

% Overlays
sv(g.rG,s.ph==1);
sv(g.oG,s.ph>2);

if s.ph==1
    q=min(1,s.lt/s.ld);
    g.rf.Position=[250 240 max(.5,300*q) 10];
    if s.lt>=s.ld
        g.rx.String='PRESS SPACE OR CLICK TO BEGIN';
        g.rx.Color=[.55 .95 .65];
        g.rx.Visible=mod(floor(s.lt*2.2),2)==0;
    else
        g.rx.String=sprintf('LOADING  %d%%',round(100*q));
        g.rx.Color=[.62 .68 .8];
        g.rx.Visible='on';
    end
end

if s.ph==3
    g.dn.FaceColor=[.02 .06 .04];g.dn.FaceAlpha=.87;
    g.ot.String=['20.0' d 'C. WARM AT LAST.'];g.ot.Color=[.55 .95 .6];
    g.od.String=sprintf('Time %.1f s    Taps %d',s.el,s.tk);
elseif s.ph==4
    g.dn.FaceColor=[.2 .02 .02];g.dn.FaceAlpha=.8;
    g.ot.String='CAUGHT.';g.ot.Color=[1 .32 .28];
    g.od.String=sprintf('You reached %.1f%sC with %d taps.',s.tp,d,s.tk);
end
end

% -------------------------------------------------------------------------
function sv(h,tf)
v='off';
if tf
    v='on';
end
for k=1:numel(h)
    h{k}.Visible=v;
end
end

% -------------------------------------------------------------------------
function h=mk(ax,p,c,k,a)
if nargin<4
    k=0;
end
h=rectangle(ax,'Position',p,'FaceColor',c,'EdgeColor','none',...
    'Curvature',[k k]);
if nargin>4
    h.FaceAlpha=a;
end
end

% -------------------------------------------------------------------------
function h=tx(ax,x,y,str,sz,col,ha,va)
if nargin<7
    ha='center';
end
if nargin<8
    va='middle';
end
h=text(ax,x,y,str,'Color',col,'FontSize',sz,...
    'HorizontalAlignment',ha,'VerticalAlignment',va);
end
Play Game
Preview

Play Game opens this in MATLAB Drive. Click Run this app there to play.