{"id":160,"date":"2019-03-01T09:55:15","date_gmt":"2019-03-01T17:55:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ericchocholacek.com\/?page_id=160"},"modified":"2022-01-14T17:39:34","modified_gmt":"2022-01-15T01:39:34","slug":"fortune","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ericchocholacek.com\/index.php\/projects\/fortune\/","title":{"rendered":"Fortune"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
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\u2501\u2501\u2501\u2501 Game Details<\/strong> \u2501\u2501\u2501\u2501\u2501 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Genre: 3rd Person Western\/Horror Co-opetition Shooter<\/em>
– Engine Used: Unreal Engine 4<\/em>
– Target Platform(s): PC, PS4<\/em>
– Duration: 6 Months<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2501\u2501\u2501\u2501 Description<\/strong> \u2501\u2501\u2501\u2501<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortune is a game that takes place in a Western setting that takes some inspiration from elements of H.P. Lovecraft. Set in a small crossroads town called Fortune, Players will take the role of an unlawful renegade that must serve their sentence by delving into a cursed mine to collect rare artifacts in order to be released from their sentence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The overarching goal for Fortune is to scavenge as much loot as possible from the depths of the mine and then safely return to the town of Fortune. However, each level within the game will support multiple goals, both small and large, that will ultimately lead a Player towards the main goal of collecting awesome loot to make themselves stronger as well as work towards becoming free. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this level, Players must infiltrate Undercity (a forgotten city discovered in the depths of the mine)<\/em> by traversing through a series of expansive caverns full of horrific monsters and traps in order to reach a rare artifact. Their infiltration starts in the Undercity Chasms, a burial ground of sorts that lies far from the gates of Undercity.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\u2501\u2501\u2501\u2501\u2501Role(s)<\/strong>\u2501\u2501\u2501\u2501\u2501 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Level Designer
– Combat Designer
– Scripter (Blueprints)

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\u2501\u2501\u2501 Responsibilities <\/strong>\u2501\u2501\u2501<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Created and maintained the level design document(s)<\/strong> that all disciplines of the team worked from.

– Worked closely with the programming team to prototype and implement core features and enemy AI behaviors<\/strong>.

– Placed navigation nodes and spawn points<\/strong> to create fun and engaging AI combat encounters.

– Blocked out the first level of the game that served as a glorified tutorial<\/strong> to introduce the Player to core mechanics, story and gameplay loops.

– Implemented level streaming<\/strong> to ensure level remained performant throughout a gameplay session.

– Constantly iterated<\/strong> based on playtest feedback from the team.

– Provided qualitative and constructive feedback<\/strong> to the programmers, artists and writers throughout pre-production and first deliverable phases of development. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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\u2501\u2501\u2501\u2501 Development Breakdown\/Level Walkthrough<\/strong> \u2501\u2501\u2501\u2501 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Development of Fortune was done with the same team I worked on Left Behind with. The Fortune project started shortly after the team abandoned the core idea of Left Behind and stripped the battle royale ideas from the game, leaving us with a co-op survival experience similar to the Left 4 Dead or Warhammer: Vermintide games. However, we wanted to put our own spin on the genre by giving Players the option to work together, this resulted in a level with multiple paths and secret areas that could either be overcome as a group (to get more loot) or as a solo Player (to get higher value loot). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creation of the level started with documentation, collecting reference images, and drawing some 2D maps. I wanted the level to be paced similar to the Warhammer: Vermintide levels, so I included 4 different areas a group of Players would traverse before reaching the boss\/large enemy encounter at the end of the level. This allowed Players to have a lengthy play time in a single instance as well as learn the ins-and-outs of a level so they can perform better then next time they play.<\/p>\n\n\n