Professional Self-Assessment: Introduction and Background
Personal Introduction:
My journey into the realm of game development was serendipitous, sparked by a pragmatic shift from an initial pursuit of linguistics to exploring new career avenues that would be fulfilling without compromising my mental health. This exploration led me to the doors of Unreal Engine 5, where I was immediately captivated. The platform resonated with my innate ability for creative problem-solving—what I like to call "redneck engineering"—the art of crafting necessary tools from the seemingly random assortment around me. This skill, honed through years of crafting unique gameplay experiences as a Dungeons and Dragons Dungeon Master, found new expression in game development. My passion for creating immersive virtual environments was further fueled by a longstanding fascination with virtual reality, dating back to my first encounter with VR in the 90s and stoked by the vivid virtual worlds of Isekai anime and films like Ready Player One.
Capstone Reflection:
While my academic journey through the Game Programming and Development program presented challenges—particularly my early insistence on using Unreal Engine 5 when coursework was designed for earlier versions—it was significantly shaped by two influential mentors. One mentor enhanced our learning through weekly live streams, offering real-time, in-depth tutorials that catered to our specific queries. Another, sharing my enthusiasm for virtual reality, led a transformative course dedicated to VR design theories, which inspired my VR Gesture Menu Template project. This project, along with my role as lead programmer and project lead in a collaborative game development class, shifted my focus from game AI—a task as unpredictable as herding cats—to specializing in VR gameplay mechanics design. These experiences have not only honed my technical skills but have also crystallized my commitment to pushing the boundaries of VR immersion, steering away from conventional flat-screen elements to create truly enveloping virtual experiences.
Artifacts and Skills
Discussion of Artifacts:
Artifacts of Tir Na Nog represents the pinnacle of my academic and creative endeavors, encapsulating the essence of my dream VR spell casting game. This project harnesses the power of Unreal Engine’s blueprints to orchestrate complex gameplay mechanics. Players use a wizard's battle staff, combined with gesture-based controls, to cast spells—up to 264 different combinations from just eight gestures. This artifact not only demonstrates my blueprint programming skills but also my innovative approach to VR game design, such as integrating in-world systems to replace traditional HUDs for a more immersive experience. For example, the player’s stat ring changes color and intensity to indicate health, mana, and stamina levels, and the spellbook displays only the spells a player can cast, dynamically adjusting based on their current stats.
VR Gesture Menu Template and One Man’s Junk, the VR remaster of One Man’s Treasure, further showcase my ability to bridge flat-screen game mechanics to VR environments effectively. The former focuses on intuitive VR menu systems, solving the common problem of cumbersome traditional menus. The latter demonstrates my technical adaptability by transforming a simple metal detecting game into a complex VR experience, where interactions like digging with a shovel are meticulously programmed to affect the game world realistically.
Technical Skills:
My technical proficiency centers around Unreal Engine 5, with a particular focus on blueprint programming, which has been crucial across all my projects. My ability to manipulate and integrate various technologies and assets illustrates not only technical skill but also a deep understanding of user interaction within virtual environments. The challenges of adapting flat-screen mechanics to VR, as seen in One Man’s Junk, involved pioneering solutions like the dungeon elevator, which cleverly circumvents the immersion-breaking issue of loading screens by streaming levels seamlessly.
Each artifact within my portfolio is a testament to my journey in mastering game development tools and techniques, with a steadfast focus on enhancing user immersion and interaction in virtual realities.
Professional Growth
Challenges and Learning:
Throughout my journey in game development, each project presented unique challenges that pushed the boundaries of my creativity and technical skills. One of the most significant challenges was the design and implementation of the gesture-based casting system in Artifacts of Tir Na Nog. Designing eight distinct gestures that were easily distinguishable by the system to avoid false triggers required a deep understanding of gesture recognition technology and player ergonomics. Overcoming this challenge not only improved my technical skills in Unreal Engine's blueprint programming but also enhanced my ability to design intuitive user interfaces for VR, which are critical for maintaining immersion.
Another major challenge was encountered during the development of One Man’s Junk. The task of creating a shovel that interactively modifies the game landscape at precise interaction points tested my problem-solving skills and my understanding of physics in virtual environments. This challenge was pivotal in teaching me how to manipulate and dynamically update game environments in real-time, a skill that is invaluable in VR development.
Skill Application:
The skills acquired through my coursework were not confined to theoretical exercises but were actively applied in real-world-like settings, simulating professional game development scenarios. For instance, the VR Gesture Menu Template project applied my learnings in user experience design to create a more natural and intuitive navigation system for VR, which has practical implications for any VR application aiming to improve user engagement and satisfaction.
Moreover, my role as the lead programmer and project lead in the GAM305 group project allowed me to apply leadership and collaborative skills in a setting that mimicked a professional game development team. This experience was instrumental in teaching me the nuances of project management, from scheduling to conflict resolution, and reinforced the importance of clear communication and team synergy in achieving project goals.
These experiences have been crucial in preparing me for a professional environment where the ability to adapt, lead, and continuously learn from each project's unique challenges is key to success.
Future Goals and Vision
Career Objectives:
As I approach the completion of my degree in Game Programming and Development, my immediate goal is to secure a position that allows me to either continue the development of Artifacts of Tir Na Nog through funding or join a team where I can contribute to VR game development. Long-term, I envision myself at the helm of an indie studio, publishing immersive VR games that push the boundaries of interactive gameplay. Alternatively, I aspire to be a lead gameplay designer in a VR-focused studio, where I can have significant creative input and drive the implementation of innovative game systems.
Continued Learning:
My commitment to staying at the forefront of VR and game development technology is unwavering. I dedicate a substantial portion of my free time to keeping abreast of the latest updates and features in Unreal Engine, often diving into hands-on experimentation with new systems. Currently, I am exploring the new experimental physics control component to enhance the realism and interactivity in Artifacts of Tir Na Nog. This includes integrating physics-based interactions for the battle staff and enemy weapons, enabling dynamic damage logic and allowing players to physically dodge attacks. Additionally, I am experimenting with Unreal's New Procedural Content Generation (PCG) system to design levels, aiming to streamline development and introduce novel gameplay experiences. My ongoing learning ensures that my skills remain sharp and my projects remain innovative, aligning with industry standards and expectations.
Ethical Considerations and Teamwork
Ethics in Development:
In the realm of VR and game development, I emphasize ethical decision-making to ensure inclusivity and respect for all players. A key example of this approach is in the development of Artifacts of Tir Na Nog, where I opted to use a crystal golem avatar instead of a human representation. This decision helps circumvent potential ethical issues associated with representing diverse races, body types, and genders. By employing a neutral, customizable avatar, I sidestepped these complexities, focusing instead on creating a game that is universally engaging and accessible, devoid of unnecessary politics or potentially divisive content.
Team Contributions:
While my direct experience in game development teams is limited to my role as the lead in the GAM305 project, my background as a veteran of the army and my varied professional experiences at the age of 43 have endowed me with substantial teamwork skills. In the army and numerous other job roles, teamwork was essential and honed my abilities in collaboration, leadership, and conflict resolution. During the GAM305 project, I applied these skills to manage and reorganize our team's workflow when faced with less engaged members. By leading a strategic meeting with the active members, we redistributed the workload effectively, ensuring project completion without external intervention. This proactive approach in a challenging academic setting underscored my capacity to adapt and lead, even in less familiar environments.
Conclusion
As I stand on the precipice of graduating with a degree in Game Programming and Development, I reflect on a journey that has been both challenging and immensely rewarding. My academic and project work has equipped me with a robust set of skills and a deep understanding of what it takes to innovate in the game development industry, especially within the realm of virtual reality.
My capstone project, Artifacts of Tir Na Nog, along with my other portfolio artifacts, are a testament to my ability to blend technical proficiency with creative vision. These projects not only showcase my expertise in Unreal Engine and VR development but also highlight my commitment to ethical game design and effective teamwork.
Looking forward, I am excited to bring my unique perspective and skills to the professional world, whether through advancing my own projects or contributing to a team in a leading VR studio. I am committed to continuous learning, staying abreast of technological advancements, and pushing the boundaries of what is possible in game development. With a solid foundation built through my education and hands-on experiences, I am ready to make a significant impact in the gaming industry.
