Samsara (Freelance)
Iterate and implement level design from skills bootcamp into a new level to prepare for environment artist (November - December 2023)
Playthrough Via Remote Desktop (Parsec)
Apologies for any lag during gameplay
Samsara pAge on Steam
Project Brief
I_returned_to_working_on_Samsara completing some freelance work to create some extra content for the game. Some goals I set for myself were:
- Create a new underground area within the temple
- Reduce the overall size of the temple to create_a_more_Souls-like_experience
- Identify new features and tools created since the bootcamp and incorporate those into the new designs
Tools
Responsibilities
- Plan my own roadmap/sprints to completing the project.
- Regularly communicate with the team for feedback and announce plans towards the next goals.
- Recreate the temple design using the Blockout tools made within engine by the team.
- Perform daily tests of the level to find any issues with the designs, gameplay objects, and difficulty of enemy encounters.
- Ensure the designs communicate to the environment artist effectively.
My Role
As this was a freelance project, I had to plan my time meticulously. This was achieved for weekly sprints I set. I would start my day with a few small goals to achieve by the time I stopped. Also, having a couple bigger goals in place to complete by the end of each week. Weekly meetings with a lead/senior developer would take place about my progress and some smaller chats and questions about it as the week would go on. I kept to the agile approach by working on weekly feedback to ensure I was iterating on the designs as I contiuned to work on this project. The weekly feedback was vital in the completion of work.
Development
As I set some goals for my project brief, I wanted to create a more explorative experience for the player through the use of new areas underneath the temple. I created a crypt which the player can drop into and is forced to explore upon entering. From there I made use of the traversal system and created a jumping challenge to guide the player out of the crypt to the outside, to finish off the quest. The whole crypt was designed to be one way in and one way out so you have to go into the temple and fight a couple of the enemies before you can find the entrance. Another goal I had planned was compressing the size of the temple to create a more confined interior ensuring the players enter and traverse it with caution. This made the temple come across as small but when discovering the crypt, it expands and draws the player further in.
Opinions and Future Plans
Beyond grateful for this opportunity to come back to this project and get to iterate and finalize my design for the game. Being freelance during this time, everything was down to what I had to plan for myself, this was a new challenge which taught me a lot about time management and finding ways to be consistent in producing the content that was asked of me. This time around I was able to work with lights to create an atmosphere that could lure a player inside suggesting of loot or people within the temple
The overall experience was insightful and extremely beneficial. I could see myself doing more in the future over a longer time, challenging myself further, to learn what I can do.