This Unity prototype, made in Unity 6, acts to showcase the basic movement and UI mechanics of the game's overworld traversal. This is a very early stage prototype that is focused more on testing player controls and UI functions than design and appearance. This prototype includes working camera controls, player movement (including walking, jumping, and flying), UI minimap rotation, and UI flight bar functionality. This prototype is simplified from the original plan in the concept brief due to time contraints in the course as advised by the course's instructor.
Fractured Empyrean - Game Concept
This project was completed as the major assignment in VCOM 362 Beginning Game Design in Spring 2025. This project began as an original game concept that was then detailed in a written concept brief. The next part of the project was to create a playable prototype in Unity, as well as some assets to be used in the prototype. Fractured Empyrean follows the story of Iris, a newborn Star, as she traverses the broken kingdom of Nepharos, a land in the sky filled with celestial beings and ruled by its dual monarchs, the Sun and Moon. More information on the story and concept of the game, as well as further planning and research for the concept's development can be accessed in the full concept brief. (Note: Unity prototype is only playble on desktop with keyboard controls)
Unity Prototype
Iris 3D Model
This 3D model of the main character, Iris, was created in Blender by utilizing a sample character model downloaded from Mixamo and making major adjustments to it by adding original 3D elements, changing textures, altering the mesh of the original model, and re-rigging the model's skeleton for later animations. The only meshes that were maintained from the Mixamo model are the head, limbs, and torso. The hair, sleeves, and pants were modelled from scratch, while the corset top was created using a combination of an altered torso mesh from the Mixamo model and original 3D detailing that I did by hand. The face texture is the only one maintained from the Mixamo model, except for the eyes texture, which I created in Adobe Illustrator. I was unable to complete any animations for this model, nor was I able to import the model in full color to the Unity project, which is why there is a much less developed version of the model used in the prototype.
Concept Art - Characters
In the concept planning stage of this project, I completed some basic concept art to help flesh out the visual style of the characters, world, and overall design of the game. This concept art was created using Procreate. These three character designs include a basic front facing view of the characters, as well as some notes about their design and character traits. The 3D model I made for Iris was based on the designs from this concept art.
Concept Art - UI
I also created two concept sketches for the game's UI. I based the UI in the prototype from this overworld UI concept art.
Concept Art - Environment
This basic sketch depicts the opening area of the game, the Celestial Meadows. This area consists of simple cloud platforms to teach players basic movement mechanics. While the Unity prototype does not accurately reflect any final game areas, the white rectangular platforms were loosely based on this environment.
Concept Art - Enemy
In my original prototype plan from my concept brief, I aimed to include some level of combat functionality, though this was quickly decided against due to time constraints. However, this starting enemy design was crafted for this purpose. The Vorricks are the main enemy force Iris faces off against throughout the game, and this is a design for the lowest level of this enemy.