HACKATHONS & GAMEJAMS
I have a genuine passion for participating in Hackathons and GameJams and there are several reasons why they hold a special place in my heart. Primarily, they provide an excellent platform to rapidly expand my knowledge across various domains. I really enjoy the opportunity to work with new technologies, creatively adapting them to shape video game concepts. All of our Hackathon projects have been centred around gaming, fostering my ability to generate diverse game ideas and align them with cutting-edge technologies like Leap Motion, VR, or AR. I’m very grateful for the chance to collaborate with very talented individuals and learn from them.
I particularly enjoy collaborating with programmers because I quickly grasp new concepts. Despite not being a coding expert in any specific language, I possess a deep understanding of the processes involved in programming. This allows me to conceptualize practical systems and enhancements for gameplay. My collaborative efforts have significantly contributed to the success of our team, resulting in numerous top placements in recent Hackathons.
For a glimpse of some of my projects, you can explore my DevPost profile – https://devpost.com/opiaa or my latest itch.io contribution: https://opiaa.itch.io/roots
STORYBOARDER
“StoryboARder” was my dissertation project, which aimed to explore the potential use of Augmented Reality technology in game design as a tool for storyboarding and visualization. This was accomplished by creating a book that incorporates AR technology to assist in the development of storyboards, visually-focused game design documents (GDDs), and other visual aids for game design. The project was developed in Unity, in collaboration with Vuforia.
MY 3D WORK
This project involved creating a 3D visualization of Jukebox Cafe, located at 18-20 Hartley Rd, Nottingham NG7 3AD. The entire project, from the 3D work to lighting and post-processing design, was executed solely by me.
Jukebox Cafe primarily serves breakfast. The cafe is stylized to the aesthetics of the ’70s and ’80s.
I used industry-standard 3D software, including 3ds Max, Maya, Mudbox, Substance Painter, and Photoshop CS6/CC. The environment was rendered using Unreal Engine 4.21. Throughout the production, a range of innovative techniques was utilized, such as photogrammetry.
WORK IN DREAMS
Before joining Media Molecule, I was an active member of the Dreams Community, where I developed numerous games. Many of these projects received recognition from Media Molecule and were featured on their streams.
You can explore some of my work on my profile at https://indreams.me/opiaa15.
One project I’m particularly proud of is “Lonesome Town”, a noir-style detective adventure.
I also worked on “Amongst The Stars”, a whacky comedy adventure game. Both titles are playable in Dreams and have walkthroughs on YouTube provided by others.
GRADS4NOTTM
Grads4Nottm is an exclusive initiative by NTU, designed to foster collaboration between students and graduates and businesses in the Nottingham area.
I had the opportunity to partner with a Graphic Design student and a Furniture Design student to create an arcade machine capable of running MAME Games. Over a span of two weeks, I took charge of designing the intricate cable system, working closely with the furniture design student who focused on the cabinet’s aesthetics, including vents and openings.
In addition to the design work, I was responsible for the installation of all the necessary software and played a pivotal role in the construction phase. I assisted the team in sanding, cutting, painting, and assembling the cabinet.
This project provided me with invaluable experience in research, adapting to new technologies, and stepping out of my comfort zone. I also assumed a leadership role within the team, managing task assignments, coordinating with workshops, overseeing project expenses, and maintaining communication with our partnered business.
The successful outcome of our project culminated in its showcase at the NTU Showcase for Grads4Nottm.
More on this project could be read on Studio Seventeen Blog.
WHAT DIVIDES US
“What Divides Us” is a story-focused adventure game that combines simple choices, engaging dialogues, and puzzles. The game’s story revolves around the year 2050 when humanity has developed advanced AI and is now testing its abilities by integrating it with humans to evaluate their behaviour. The game was developed in Unreal Engine 4.19 during my time at university. I was responsible for prototyping the project, managing a small team, writing the story, and creating all 3D assets, including characters.
HOPEWOOD - SIBLING STORY
“Hopewood: A Sibling Story” is an educational game created for the NHS. The primary goal of the game was to provide education to siblings and friends of individuals affected by mental illnesses through an interactive gaming experience. The main objective of the game was to collect stamps in a stamp book, unlocking links to essential websites and information related to mental health. I was contracted to work on this project during my second year at university, collaborating with fellow students. We worked together to complete various aspects of this project. Over the course of the year, I participated in multiple meetings related to production, explored possibilities, and made design decisions based on the client’s preferences. This game was developed using Unreal Engine 4.
