OVERGROWN
ROLE
Lead Combat Designer
Lead Game Designer
TEAM SIZE
8
DURATION
4 Weeks
January 2023
SOFTWARE
Unity, GitHub, Autodesk Maya, Photoshop
TYPE
Game Jam
PLATFORM
PC
ABOUT
Overgrown is a game a team and I created for the Global Game Jam 2023 based on the theme Roots. This top-down horror RPG explores an abandoned laboratory to figure out what went wrong and why. Try your best to uncover the mysteries of this lab while surviving the overgrown creatures that roam the facility.
LEAD COMBAT DESIGNER
Responsibilities
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As lead combat designer, I created the player controller, health system, and balancing between enemies and player.
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Scheduled team meetings, established project milestones, and documentation procedures.
​​​Player Mechanics​
- Created a player controller featuring walk, cooldown dash, and a flamethrower as the primary weapon to emphasize focus on slow-paced gameplay.
- Oriented the camera to provide a top-down perspective.
User Interface​
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Designed UI dialogue system that gradually types out the text, to enhance the narrative experience through in-game notes.
Health System​​
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Implemented health bars for the player and enemies, along with an overheated cooldown mechanic for the flamethrower.
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Added health pickups that randomly drop after killing enemies, so the player can replenish health.
LEAD GAME DESIGNER
Responsibilities
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As lead game designer, I was in charge of creating the level, visual effects, and balancing between enemies and player.
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Scheduled team meetings, established project milestones, and documentation procedures.
Level Design​
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Collaborated with the level designer to create and integrate the level into the game.
Visual effects​
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Designed VFX for the flamethrower.
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Adjusted lighting sources at key points of interest.​
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Designed VFX to indicate when the player is taking damage.
Balancing​​
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Based on player feedback, I increased dash distance and reduced the cooldown to enhance gameplay.​​​
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Implemented more engaging visual effects to convey crucial information, including radius of plant damage and projectiles.
Presentation
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Showcased Overgrown at Marist College Global Game Jam, and the Celebration of Undergraduate Research Scholarship, and Creative Activity (CURSCA) to gather player feedback. ​
