DevLog #1 - Placement Year

Introduction

Today in this DevLog, I will give some insight into the type of work I developed for projects during my placement year. This consisted of discussing the project, how long it took to create, what tools and software were used, reasons for carrying out work and what changes were made for each project.

Freelance Project

I started my placement year by working freelance at the start of September as I found an opportunity to work on an Interactive project alongside a small team at Ulster University's Screen Academy using Dome Projection.

Mirror Dome Showcase

Cat Loop Scene In Action

Full Dome Showcase

Dog Loop Scene In Action

Guest Seating For Presentation

Vicky as Baba Yaga Loop Scene

What is the Project?

The project was focused on exploring new ways of storytelling using a mixture of mediums such as video, audio and sensory. The project is centred around a young audience that would engage and interact with the story. Using digital environments in the dome allows the storyteller to control where the audience focuses towards.

Project Client

Vicky McFarland is the project's client and owns a local independent company called Tale Time.

Vicky is a writer, teacher and storyteller who handcrafts stories that connect to children and adults.

She creates engaging storytelling experiences all across Northern Ireland.

Client Needs

• Engaging and Interactive Experience

• Ability to control scenes with the use of a Remote Clicker

• Be able to have scenes looped when needed

Client Wants

• Scene Transitions

• VFX Customisation

• Sound and Music Effects

Project Scope

The project's scope was kept to be minimum as possible so that any new changes wouldn't remove a lot of progress.

Goals

• Meet client needs

• Reach project milestones

• Keep track of deadlines

Deliverables

• Aim to deliver Scene Functionality

• Aim to iterate scenes from client feedback

• Aim to satisfy client's wants

Tasks

• Develop scenes from the story

• Integrate control functionality to scenes being implemented

• Test scenes for input from the client

Costs

The project was funded by Arts Council NI and Future Screens NI which has covered the costs of the project's development.

Deadlines

The initial project timeframe reached around twelve weeks from September 7th, 2022 to December 13th, 2022 but was later extended to have another four weeks of final development during January 2023.

Required Software and Tools

• Unreal Engine – Game Engine used to develop the project

• GitHub – Project's Source control to collaborate with the team

• Adobe XD – Creating storyboard scenes using scrum meeting concepts

• Adobe After Effects – Renders image sequences into a video format

• Amateras Player – Simulates video or image sequences inside a Dome

• Audacity – Edit sounds or music to make them loopable or shorter

• Photoshop - Created concept art before developing scenes in Unreal

Unreal Engine 5

Github Source Control

Adobe XD Storyboarding

Adobe AE Rendering Sequences

Amateras Player Initial Tests

Editing Audio in Audacity

Project Pipelines

• Miro - Manage research, ideas and concepts during pre-production

• Trello - Manage and guide the team to follow tasks and meet deadlines

• Excel - Keep track of hours and details on what work was done each week

Miro Resaerch of Scene Ideas

Trello Tasks

Excel Working Hours Sheet

Production Project Roles

I took on quite a few roles within the project's production, which enlightened me about what role I'd enjoy working on the most in the future. Here are the main roles I was a part of:

Programmer Role

As a Programmer in the project, I developed blueprints that would allow Vicky to control scenes using a clicker. This allowed her to change to the next/previous scene, or restart/loop the current scene. The blueprint also allowed Vicky to control values in VFX systems and materials in real time.

Working with Scene Blueprint

Scripting Scene Blueprint

Learning Landscaping Tools

Developing Landscape Materials

Applying Landscape Materials

Developing Cloud Material

Using Cloud Material in Scenes

Character Shader Material

I also was in charge of installing plugins which included:

• Camera 360 V2

• Character, Environment and Material Asset Packs

• VFX Systems

• Insect System

I had no prior knowledge of using these plugins so it was great to learn how to use them for this project and future projects. I also created my materials for landscaping and clouds to help with the look and feel of the scenes being made.

Lastly, I was working on implementing jpeg sequence constellations using Img Media Source to obtain the image sequences and Media Player to render and create a material to play in sequencer for the night sky scenes.

Img Image Source

Media Player Material

Constellation in Sequencer

Level Designer Role

As a Level Designer in the project, I collaborated with another team member, and it was a great experience sharing ideas and feedback. I progressed from developing interior blockouts to learning how to use landscaping tools for more natural exterior environments and then added lighting and assets to scenes.

Initial Blockout Stage

Learning Landscaping Tools

Interior Blockout Fireplace

Creating Sequences In Levels

Using Animations in Sequences

Creating Loop Sequences

Creating Cloud Sequences

In-Game Cloud Scene Screenshot

Using Parameters In Sequencer

Creating Dog Loop Scenes

I moved on to creating sequences within each assigned level around the block-out area that had me position the camera while making characters and assets move over and around the camera. The client liked the scenes that were being made but preferred more scenes to be loopable so I started focusing on making scenes loopable such as:

Spiders Crawling Over The Dome

Night Time Sky

Morning Cloudy Sky

Cat In The Clouds

The Cat's Gift

The Dog's Gift

I also started working on some transitional scenes to help with blending looped scenes. Although the majority of these scenes weren't added to the final product as they were either unnecessary or poorly received.

Forest Hut Transitonal Scene

Salt Spider Transitonal Scene

Cat Talking Transitional Scene

Mice Eating Transitonal Scene

Dog Gift Transitonal Scene

Dog Key Transitional Scene

Sound Manager

As a Sound Manager in the project, I managed and edited sounds or music in the project. I used free online sources or sounds made by the sound designer. These sounds and music tracks would be used when necessary to fill gaps between scenes.

Editing Sounds In Audacity

Adding Sounds to Sequencer

Adding Crow Sound to Sequencer

Adding Wind Sound to Sequencer

Task Manager

As a Task Manager in the project, my role was to add and manage tasks from discussions at group meetings and from client feedback onto Trello, it allowed the team to focus on one task at a time and to aim for milestones of the project.

Initial Trello Tasks

Final Trello Tasks

Miscellaneous Roles

There were a few other roles that I was a part of which was setting up the project by using Github as its source control. I set up a repository to manage the project by making sure everyone installed the correct plugins and software to run the project. I also helped set up the dome during testing sessions where we would use VLC to run the recorded scenes and then with the mirror projector, it would reflect against a semi-sphere mirror to project outwards across the entire dome. However, the quality of the mirror projection wasn't amazing but it was working. During the testing of scenes, it would allow me to detect any visual bugs or missing assets in the scene and fix them during working hours. These roles were important to help stabilise the project pushed the team to reach goals.

Personal Project

At the start of February, I decided to work on a game prototype as my project since It's been a long time from making a game prototype on my own. I found that it would be more beneficial to work on a personal project that I'm interested in to grow my game development skills than to spend time trying to look for more freelancing opportunities.

What is the Game Prototype?

The Game Prototype is a Mobile turn-based survival game that is set in a post-apocalyptic zombie infestation world where you as the player have to face off against the dead and the damned which can be challenging but also rewarding. To survive each level, the player has to strategise each move and use combat to take down nearby enemies without a trace or blast your way out of the surrounding enemies. Either way, you'll need to scavenge for ammo, items and keys to stay alive.

Target Audience

The game prototype is set to have a mature audience that enjoys zombie gore survival games with some puzzle and strategy elements.

Project Scope

The project scope had to be very small since it was only myself working on the project and in that case, I did have to compromise with downscaling the project with certain mechanics or levels not being made due to time constraints. I also had to buy asset packs to avoid adding development time to creating my assets.

Goals

• To make the game challenging and engaging for the player

• To make the player feel that they have earned rewards

• To make the game enjoyable and replayable

Deliverables

• Aim to create exciting mechanics

• Aim to develop and test levels

• Aim to iterate on UI when presented with feedback

Tasks

• Develop remaining Game Mechanics

• Block out levels designed in pre-production

• Implement interactable mobile UI into the project

Costs

At the moment, there have been only asset costs to the project which I did wait before the project started for a sale discount. I thankfully bought them all to total around £43.80. Here are links to the asset packs:

• Toony Tiny Soldiers

• Toony Tiny Zombies

• Toony Tiny Citizens

• Toony Tiny City

• Toony Apocalyptic City

Deadlines

The initial deadline for finishing the project was roughly the first week of June 2023 just in time for making this dev log. However, after listening to positive feedback towards the game from the placement presentation at the end of April. I decided to push the project deadline date to the second week of July due to wanting to fix inefficient scripting as well as develop levels and implement interactive UI features.

Required Software and Tools

• Unreal Engine 5 - Game Engine used to develop the project

• GitHub – Project's source control for securing the project online

• Adobe XD – Creating designs and prototypes from concepts

Project Pipelines

• Miro - I used Miro to manage GDD such as ideas and concepts created during the pre-production stage

• Trello - It was used to manage tasks with deadline dates to keep me on track as well keeping references of design concepts for Game, Level and UI

Project Roles

There's been a few roles within the project that has allowed me to improve upon my knowledge of Unreal Engine 5, Here are the roles I contributed so far:

Game Designer Role

As a Game Designer in the project, I was to generate ideas and develop game concepts. I first had to look online and research the type of game I was trying to make and I came across Hitman GO and Zombie GO which were two games that inspired me to make a top-down puzzle game but I wanted to focus more on zombie survival so there might be some puzzle areas that require the player to strategise. I moved all of the ideas and concepts to Miro as I found them more accessible.

Player Turn-Based Movement

AI Turn-Based Movement

Player Combat

Enemy Combat

Player Loop

Level Designer Role

As a Level Designer in the project, I was to concept and design levels. During the weeks in pre-production, I created:

Concepts

Scraped Concept of all Levels

First Draft of Tutorial Level

Second Draft of Tutorial Level

Design Progress

I first created simple key icons for building levels and then progressed with making paths and adding colour to the level plane.

Creating simple Icons

Creating Interact Icons

Developing Draft 3 of Tutorial

Finished Designs

So far I have designed around 5 levels but I do have another 5 levels in mind if I plan on making them.

Level Key Guide

Level 1 - Jammed Hghway

Level 2 - Abandoned Street

Level 3 - Jammed Overpass

Level 4 - Streets of New Town

Level 5 - Grocessory Store

UI Designer Role

As a UI Designer in the project, my role was to create concepts and develop testing prototypes before implementing them into the project. During the weeks in pre-production, I created:

Concepts

I created a flowchart to determine how the UI would work, providing each colour to represent buttons, information, game effects, booleans and levels. This factored into how I developed my designs.

Main Menu

Character Creation

In-Game UI

Audio Settings

Win Lose Screen

Entire Flow Chart

Designs

Here are some of the UI designs that I came up with using inspiration from TFT Mobile and Hitman GO. I wanted to make the designs of the UI to be simple and big enough to press. I used a combination of circles and rounded rectangle shapes for buttons. The UI is currently in black and white but the colour will be added once UI is implemented.

Main Menu

Character Creation

Level Select

In-Game UI

Objective Screen

Win Screen

Settings Options

Audio Settings

Prototype

I wanted to present a working prototype that you can try out and let me know what you think of the experience and what can be improved upon. You can also see a few gifs of the prototype working.

Adobe XD Prototype link:

https://xd.adobe.com/view/a2291fe2-ddda-4edb-96d9-59d5034455b9-f77a/

Programmer Role

As a Programmer in the project, I developed concepts made in pre-production. During five weeks of production, I created:

Player Character

I created a blueprint for the Player Character for setting up components, events, and functions to use across the project. Here are some examples:

Player Components

Pickup Event

Multi-Purpose Function

Blueprint Interfaces

I used this type of blueprint for the player character to access interactable blueprints without casting such as:

Cover

Weapon Pickup

Projectile

Gifs

Here are a few gifs on testing melee weapons, swapping weapons and throwing projectiles.

Pickup and Swap Weapons

Melee Weapon Linetrace Tests

Throw Explosive Projectiles

Turn-Based Grid Movement

I created a grid blueprint to control the movement of the player to how I wanted it to be. I used a tutorial to help create the blueprint as it was a big learning curve to make it on my own but it allowed me to understand the process of making the blueprint and iterate it to fix any underlying issues.

Functions to calculate grid

Grid Line Function

Creating Grid Material

Working Grid Blueprint

Testing Grid in Game

Animation Blueprint

I created an animation blueprint to control animations for the player character which includes:

Connecting Animation States

Using Layered by Bone

Weapon Blend Spaces

Testing Animation Blueprint

Montage Notifies

Notifies with Functions

AI Blueprints

I created a few blueprints for the AI to function properly such as:

Creating AI Blueprints

Working with AI Senses

Behaviour Tree Tasks

Patrol BT Task

AI Patrol Testing

Player Noise Report to AI

Gifs

Here are a few gifs demonstrating AI movement and senses working as well as dealing damage to the AI.

AI Dealing Damage

AI Patroling

AI Senses

Debugging Code

Throughout the 5 weeks of production, I came across bugs in the code of the project that needed to be fixed such as:

IKRigs

Restricting Player Touch

Weapon Socket Location

Character Grid Movement

Patrol BT Task

Project Overhaul

After receiving feedback from the presentation and looking over the direction of the project. I found it difficult to program through the hard code I had made, so I spent another 4 weeks improving the project's programming.

Programming Practices

I decided to first research best practices using Unreal Engine 5 and found a lot of informational and example videos of how these practices can be useful.

List of best practices

Data and Variable Methods

I started working on ways of using Data and Variables efficiently since it was one of the reasons why the programming so so difficult to change.

Data Tables

Data Structures

Data Enumeration

Maps and Values

Actor Components

I learnt how actor components work and how they can be very useful when wanting to use the same code for multiple actors. Here are examples of actor components composed of functions and variables I developed:

Customise Actor Stats

Customise Character

Sets Current Weapon Structure

Swapping Current Item

Targets actor for linetracing

Gifs

Here are a few gifs testing the different actor components and how they can be used for the game.

Weapon and Item Component

Character Component

Animation Blueprint

I found that using blueprint interface functions and enumeration was key to playing specific montages without overuse of the event tick and branch checks. Here are some screenshots to help process what I'm discussing.

Blueprint Interface Function

Calling Message Function

Enum Movement Style Switch

Swap Weapon Boolean Check

Animation Blueprint Setup

Debugging

The extra 4 weeks of programming didn't stop the project from having bugs in the code so here are a few solved by debugging.

Virtual Bones fix IKRig issues

Update on Cover Blueprint