Keypad Update

 

I Updated the Look of the keypad to seem more sci-fi and fit in more with the theme and style of the rest of the game.

We fixed an issue with the player exiting the keypad by adding a widget to the viewport with a button that switches the control and camera back to the player character with a Blend.

We also went over the code of the keypad again and fixed what had broken due to a merge of GitHub repositories messing around with its code

In the future we most likely should have just added the back button to the viewport initially to avoid alot of faffing about with the code to save time for more essential parts of the game

Client Visit #2

Finished the Introduction Cutscene in time for the Client to be able to see it and give comments.

ShipAnimation.mp4

Above is a link to the video of the first draft of the Intro Cutscene for the Escape room game.

The Client came in and we presented what we had done up to the point of him last seeing our progress.

Feedback:

• Enjoyed Intro Cutscene
• Multi-Layered Map
• Different setting Flashlight for hidden details/clues
• All Endings lead to the parasite winning/player losing
• Ship layout shown on signs for directional assistance/Ship logo plastered around ship

For the next meeting we will develop our levels more, implement a task board to inform the player of what to do and where, set up the dialogue and audio interaction, and make more improved drafts of the introduction cutscene.

Escape Room Game Script Work

 I have worked on and finalized the script used for the sci-fi escape room game as shown below

We have assigned roles to people participating in the voice acting and have done first drafts of recordings. 

we will continue to do recordings the following day and hopefully finish all lines at once, ready to be digitally altered and prepared to be imported into the game contents.

below is a flowchart of the different endings shown to be a better visual representation of the players tasks/dialogue options separate from the script.

Footstep SFX have also been added to be played when the player walks throughout the game

Escape Room Progress

 created a basic blueprint and model for the keypad puzzle

The code below just allows the player to, once entering the collision box for the Puzzle, to enter the interact key to begin the puzzle

Allows the player to leave the puzzle pre-emptively before completing the puzzle and switches the cameras to the Player camera 

This code allows the player to, after interacting with the Keypad puzzle, Allows the mouse curser to be displayed and allows click events to occur and allows the numbered buttons to be entered with an array. This also sets up the Puzzle camera and seamlessly switches from Player cam to the Puzzle camera.

This also displays .... when no buttons have yet been selected to portray to the player the length of the set digit code

When one of the digit buttons are clicked on, the corresponding digit is displayed on the black input box and added to the entered code

The < button is used as a backspace, deleting the most recent digit button entered into the black input box

the > key is to confirm the code input for whatever the keypad is connected to, to activate.

The red bar at the bottom is to display that the keypad has not yet been finished. upon entering the correct code, the colour will change green.

There is a camera connected to the Keypad BP in order to seamlessly switch between player camera and puzzle camera 

Players can use this keypad when the Player Collision Box enters the Keypad's Collision Box and pushed the interact key

When the mouse overlaps with the button on the puzzle, it changes from its original material to a golden, brighter material to show a highlight of the button in use to make it easier for the player to see which button they are hovering over.

Escape Room Presentation

Breakdown Of my Power-point presentation tasks

The game would be a 3D Horror Sci-Fi

Two Npcs talk to you throughout the game, one being your co-worker and one being a parasite fronting as another worker trying to convince you that the other worker is incorrect in what they say

You will play through the game with two different options of which NPC to listen to, one giving you the ending where you discover where the parasite is and fixing the ship, the other you being the destruction of the ship

You play as a worker on a ship flying through space to deliver cargo to the planet Kepler-69c. On this trip something escaped containment and your ship is on lockdown. You break lockdown procedure to try fix the ship and search for the missing cargo.

Two Workers contact you through the communications systems and assist you on your Journey.

Will you save the ship or be its demise?

3D

Sci-fi Space Themed escape room

Parasite on board/ship on lockdown

Horror-esc game

Free roam around the unlocked parts of the ship

2 other actors in game (Only voice)

1 Person is crewmate trying to bring you to your senses and give you tasks 

Person 2 is a parasite infecting your mind (in your head you are fixing ship) revealed at end you are the downfall (you destroyed ship)

If parasite ending the game reveals what you really did though cutscenes at the end

2 Win Conditions (You Save the Ship, You Destroyed the Ship)

This would mostly consist of sci-fi futuristic space styled objects and props to fit the theme of the escape game

(E.g. there may be a puzzle dealing with door controls, the Engines or an O2 Machine)

As there is a good voice and a bad voice in the game there could be props providing a story and things that are in the world and what the bad voice says may not correlate as well as the other voice

Whichever Voice you follow changes the flow of the game and the ending

The place would mostly be dimly lit, maybe equipping the player with a low energy flashlight or having different light sources throughout the level to subtly guide the player

You are locked in your rest area on lockdown (Everything is locked(Sirens had gone off signifying lockdown))

Player must first find flashlight and screwdriver

Player can use screwdriver on vent to climb out 

Once out in hallway you are introduced to the 2 Voices that speak to you throughout the game (Shipmate and Fake Voice made by Parasite in your mind)

Shipmate confused as to why you left containment but regardless asks you to check on some systems to confirm their theory

Other voice talks after Shipmate finishes introducing themselves as another worker, disagreeing with what the other person says and trying to get you to do another task as they think it is more important (Players POV sees them fixing systems, In game they are the one destroying the ship)

Game only has 2 NPCS that speak over comms 

Shipmate – Real worker attempting to convince you to help them and get you to see something is wrong before it is too late

The more of the other Voice tasks you do the more faded and incomprehensible the voice will become until you cannot understand what they say

Parasite – Will try to convince you that the other voice is wrong. This voice will actively try to get you to do other tasks and not listen to the other Shipmate as they are untrustworthy

There will be plot pieces around the ship not obvious to the player that they can look for that contradicts statements made by the Other Voice

After Escape Room Visit

What Happened

Me and 3 others went through the horror room themed around the conjuring/occult, having to work together to complete tasks while communicating with ghosts, expelling demons and escaping the room.

After we went through the room we got a look at where all of the room controls and cameras were with all puzzle answers noted down and example hints for the ghost to give the players when stuck

We were told we can have free reign in terms of what to make for our game as he is interested by what we come up with.

Owner said that because of how different escape rooms are in person compared to digital that it can never be replaced by digital because you need the in person cooperative aspect and it is just too different from actually being there.

What I Liked

Enjoyed how linked all of the tasks were in correlation to the story

I also enjoyed the mechanics of the moving parts of the room 

What I Would Change/Add

I would add more hidden links to the story which could also link to puzzles by using things such as UV lighting and hidden ink etc.

Section that splits the party and they need to help each other to escape their individual puzzles

Ideas for Escape Room Game

Hidden Doors, Extra props that are for the story and no puzzle, Audio relating to the atmosphere

Unit 1 - Assignment 1 Next Steps

 Analyze 

To research and discover at least 3 different career paths within the games industry to find out where they want to be in the future and consider what paths are being offered to them. To realize the skills and work experience required, in order to get to this dream career. Research actual positions and people within the industry.

Deconstruct 

To break down the career that they want to follow and work out the path of least resistance towards getting into that career, to then consider where they want to be in the future and how to get there also. 

Students are to reflect at this stage on skills they’ve taken from previous experience. 

Develop 

Students will develop a SWOT analysis table for themselves and their skill set. Students will create a new asset for their portfolio (3d model, code, design etc.) and then evaluate their progress from the start of their game’s development journey to now.

Strengths

What do you see as your Unique Selling Points, your most important personality traits?

I believe myself to be very self led and with a strong ability to adapt to the task at hand. The self led-ness does occasionally become a detriment as if there is something that is not being done I will automatically assume I am the one to have to get it done and it leads me to take command of a lot of my projects but this also has a lot of benefits like making sure core parts of the game are finished before the due cut off time.

What are you better at than most people/your competitor?

I would say I am more willing to do the work that may less wanted to be done or more difficult that nobody wants to do than my peers, with a dedication to get things done.

What do your customers/friends consider to be your strengths? You might want to ask around for this one, or launch a customer survey. Sometimes, a different perspective can make a big difference.

My enthusiasm in my work tends to be the biggest response to this question. I think this may be due to the fact I can usually find something entertaining about my work regardless of what it may be, causing me to subconsciously put more into my work than I realize.

What resources can you draw on that you already have at your disposal?

I have the strengths listed above, with the addition of a barebones knowledge of the Unreal Engine.

Weaknesses

Which of your traits are you least proud of?

I am least proud of my communication skill as it does create self made barriers in my progress when it comes to group work.

What about yourself/your business would you most like to improve?

I would improve my communication skills when doing team based work as I work better on self led work and I understand the ability to be able to work in a team to be an essential skill when it comes to games development and the industry as a whole.

I would like to also improve my programming ability as I am not currently at the level that I would like to be at and I believe it to be the most important part of game production, also it being the part I am most interested in.

What are you not as good at as most people/your competitor?

Because of where I am in the terms of education and Experience as I only have a foot into the industry with my college course most people/my competitors will have both experience and Knowledge on their side if they have been working for longer

What do your customers/friends consider to be your weaknesses? As is the case with your strengths, you may find that asking around reveals some interesting results. If you’re doing this on a personal level, be sure that you can handle constructive criticism!

I am not the greatest when it comes to being Punctual, but regardless I do make sure I catch up with any missed work.

Opportunities

What could you do to improve your situation on a personal or business level?

Personal

More experience in the Unreal engine as well as attempting to give myself a base knowledge of a programming language (C++ or C# for example)

Business

I could be doing more to get volunteer work that would help with work experience and getting a feel of the industry.

I could also be doing more to make a name for myself or add more positive experiences to my Portfolio.

Are there any opportunities that you can take advantage of, such as learning a new skill?

Doing more Independent learning in a programming language or in the Unreal engine world be beneficial.

Forcing myself into more uncomfortable Social conventions would also be advantageous to communication in general not just to Games Dev.

Could you connect with someone/do networking to take advantage of their connections?

If wanted I could attempt to get back into contact with my Father as he works at Frontier Developments, based in Cambridge.

Do you recognize anything that’s happening elsewhere that others might not have noticed yet?

When games companies go open world it tends to be because they've run out of ideas and they believe if they just funnel enough money into their game it will rekindle old fanbases for a final money grab.

This is not always the case but it can be seen from games such as Fallout 76, Mass Effect, and Far Cry.

Games that are not finished should not be released and should be pushed back regardless as the game will seem less of a money grab and will look like they are dedicating more time to it.

Are there any events that are taking place and that you could make the most of?

Escape room College Trip/Task

Threats

What things are standing in your way and making things difficult?

Current things standing in my way are needing a Uni qualification without massively having the points to go so I need to really put effort into my personal portfolio to hope to get into the courses i will be applying to.

What things might stand in your way, even if they’re not already doing so?

My financial situation unless altered may be an issue with affording equipment for game production or if I need to purchase a commercial license or IP or even advertisement.

The requirements of the customers is also forever altering and growing so us as creators are restricted by what the market wants unless we choose to go independent.

What are other people doing that might have an impact on you? What are your competitors doing or developing that might affect your business?

Competitor companies are always coming out with or in development of a new games so to a perspective we are competing to make a game popular enough to make or grow our names in the industry while putting money on the table.

We are also again bound by what the customers want if we want our game to be played by masses.

Are there any laws, rules or regulations that affect you?

PEGI and ESRB are most likely some of the bigger things that will effect me, as well as any already established Copywrites and Properties.

Are there time limits that are going to negatively affect you?

there is no time limit to getting your game as close as what the creators would consider to be perfect, people of any age can try and get a foot into the industry.

If you join a well known games company there will obviously be time restraints.

There is more freedom with Indie companies but a finance restriction usually

Evaluate Progress 

Start

I always wanted to get into the industry but my progress began around the end of year 10 or 11 as I attempted to learn the basics of games creation and C++ in my own time

My progress really took off after the first year of college as we touched up on creating maps and creating 3D assets.

During second year we began level design and produced 1 2D and 1 3D level by the end of the year 

as well as presenting ideas for our own games and addons to games that we know.

Now

Because of all of this I am relatively knowledgeable in the Unreal engine and have had multiple different experiences making games and levels and doing challenges such as Game-Jams and soon I will have experience being enquired to make a game for a local Company

Career Paths

What do you want to do, and how are you going to get there?

I enjoy very Logic based work and I believe these three encompass that feeling. Most of these jobs focus rather heavily on code and programming which is what I would like to learn to be able to do and to the industry standard. To get here I will usually require a University Qualification to teach me further and refine my skillset and direct it towards this goal. With this Uni qualification I will hopefully learn one of the core game code languages (Usually C++ or C#, and occasionally Java) and then apply to either an already established games company or an Indie one.

Explain each of the roles in detail, what are the needs of the roles?

Game Programmer

This role is usually one of the most Technical of all, Combining all of the other work in the computer and turning it into a game and telling it what to do with what and using multitudes of software to do so. In this job you have to work very closely with the artists and developers in the design process to make something of quality on schedule. You will also have to do code reviews over everything you do to ensure everything works and reworking what doesn't.

People in this qualification usually require University degrees either in Games Programming or Computer Science.

Starting salary can usually start between £26,000 and £34,000 and further lead to around £50,000

Games Producer

Games producers deal with all of the business side of games production and ensure all parts of the dev team are following within the timeline and everyone is getting work done. Producers are also the people who raise money for the game and get people on board to be on the dev team. As a Producer you will also be the one handling the budget of the entire project.

A qualification is favored but experience is one of the most important parts of this job, the best way to get a foot in being a producer is to try to get on to be an Assistant producer and work up from there.

Average pay can span from £40,000 to £65,000 at entry and after 5 years can rise to around £100,000, then again rising around the decade mark to £150,000.

Penetration Tester

Pen testers perform fake attacks on companies systems, networks and looks for backdoors and weak points. these help improve the companies security and remove vulnerabilities in preparation for hackers. 

most of these jobs require at least a bachelors in a tech field. (I.e. Cyber security or Comp science)

in the UK, the average pay for this job is around £60,000 but this depends on your qualifications and levels of experience.

End of task piece of work

Research real people in those roles (e.g., look at game credits) and find them on social media, blogs etc. Can you document their path into the industry?

Todd Howard

Game Producer

majored in business while taking computer classes for credit

rejected from Bethesda first 2 times applying and told that he needed to finish school as a prerequisite and lack of jobs open.

started working for a smaller game company

continued approaching Bethesda to request being hired

recruited Howard in 1994 as a producer

first game development was Terminator: Future shock, then was involved with Skynet and Elder Scrolls 2, and both released in 1996

Shigeru Miyamoto

Executive Producer/Creative Director

graduated with a degree in industrial design

hoped to become a professional manga artist before considering a career in video games.

inspired to make games because of Space Invaders

Miyamoto's father arranged an interview with Nintendo president

Did art for his first game "Sheriff" which was an arcade game

Did work that nobody was free to do or wanted to do, overseen by their head engineer

First large hit game he was heavily involved with being Donkey Kong

Then went on to work on Donkey Kong Jr and Donkey Kong 3 before starting the Mario games

Gabe Newell

Co-Founder/President of Valve

Convinced to drop out of Uni and work for Microsoft by Bill Gates

Assisted in the first Windows OS systems

Spent 13 Years working for Microsoft on 3 Windows systems 

Led a Port of Doom on Windows 95

Co-Created and funded the first developed Valve game Half-Life

Developed Steam

Nolan Bushnell

Became familiar with arcade games whilst working at an amusement park in the games department

Started own advertisement company

began work as an electrical engineer

Moved to Utah in hopes of being picked up by Disney

instead worked at Ampex 

Shared ideas with co workers of making pizza parlors and making games

Made a game clone of a game called Spacewar, called Computer Space

Game was a failure

Created Atari company 

inspired to create Pong after attending a convention showing off consoles

spoke to creator of first at come commercial console

Had neighbor secretly establish a game company that would make clones of Atari games

This company created a popular game called Tank

Began retailing at home pong consoles and other at home type consoles

· Explain what are you doing to try get there and what can you now start to do? Break down the steps you will need to take to take on these roles.

What I would need

Willingness to Learn

Enthusiasm to create

Inspired by games

Qualification in a Tech or Electrical based Course

Attend multiple types of different conventions in the games industry to communicate and build bridges with other likeminded people in the industry and see things currently in the rotation of creation

Build portfolio 

Get as much experience in the industry (Doesn't hugely matter if AAA or Indie as long as the experience is there)