Creative Work

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3D Game Kit Cutscene

Project Overview
Project Details

The first sequence transports viewers to a military base nestled amidst exotic alien vegetation on a remote planet. From an aerial perspective, a fleet of spaceships emerges, and the scene then focuses on a commander and her loyal companion receiving a classified briefing from their general. The sequence concludes with the dramatic launch of their ship as it embarks on a journey towards the enigmatic Planet X.

The second sequence follows the ship as it ventures into a secluded region of Planet X, where a mysterious temple lies hidden amidst sprawling ruins that encircle a vast lake. At the far end, a colossal doorway shimmers with an enigmatic blue light. The ship gracefully descends, skimming the lake's surface before ascending the temple's crumbling causeway. As it settles near the luminous doorway, the camera slowly zooms in, intensifying the enigmatic glow and leaving players on the brink of an unknown adventure.

Development
Team and Collaboration

I benefited from the guidance of Unity instructors and engaged in collaborative peer reviews with fellow students. This iterative feedback process ensured alignment with project requirements and fostered a supportive learning environment.

Key Responsibilities
  • Storyboarding: Designed a storyboard with independent shots that were handled by separate cameras.
  • Asset Management: Imported and troubleshooted assets to ensure they were correctly integrated into the project.
  • Prefab Configuration: Built and managed prefabs to streamline the development process.
  • Level of Detail (LOD): Grouped LODs under the highest detailed object, then applied and configured LOD groups to optimise performance.
  • Visual Effects (VXF): Created visual effects such as the flames escaping from the ship's engine using the particle effect system.
  • Lighting Setup: Configured a skybox and directional light to match the lighting shown in art concepts.
  • Animation: Created seamless 2D and 3D keyframed animations using the Unity Timeline.
  • Cutscene Creation: Orchestrated camera movement using Timeline and Cinemachine to produce a dynamic and engaging cutscene.
Challenges

I overcame several technical challenges to meet the project's requirements and ensure optimal quality and performance. These included optimising imported assets to maintain visual appeal and smooth performance, effectively managing Level of Detail (LOD) groups to balance detail and efficiency, crafting realistic particle effects that aligned with the project's artistic vision, achieving consistent and realistic lighting across various scenes, and creating seamless animations and camera movements to enhance the overall narrative experience.

Outcomes

This project allowed me to gain hands-on experience in nearly every major art workflow from the beginning to the end of a project. I developed a deeper understanding of Unity's tools and features, improved my ability to create compelling narratives through cutscenes, and enhanced my skills in asset management, animation, and visual effects.