HAMSTER HYPERDRIVE
PROJECT INTRODUCTION
You are one of the Antivari, digital hamster warriors who server Webi, Hamster God of the Internet. The Antivari defend against the Malwars – bug-like-creatures that emerge from the dark corners of the web, seeking to destroy it. No more memes. No more cute animals pics. No more fun indie games. Hamster Hyperdrive offers a retro tron-like experience with a cute, hungry, and world saving Antivari Hamster who is protecting the Internet!
RESPONSIBILITES
- I was in charge of designing the only level featured in the game, Internet Arena01!
- I was tasked with Fixing Navigation problems with the enemy AI in Unreal, using Unreal Navigation Tools.
- I did the Lighting and set up the lighting for a awesome Neon Effect on the CPU Chips located across the board
- I was tasked to do the Obstacle Design for game as well! I placed the CPU Chips, Clips, and Power Capacitors placed around the map!
- Quality Assurance & Testing for each Review Build that was published to the private itch.io page
PROJECT DETAILS
- Unreal Engine 5 Editor
- Team of 21 Devs!
- Role: Level Designer
- Unreal Engine 5
The First Board:
- When we talked about our art-style and Narrative in protecting the internet, it gave me a solid idea to create a “Board” level for Hamster Hyperdrive. I wanted to design a Motherboard-like arena with pieces of Digitial and Nexus hardware like Motherboard Chips, Capacitors, and CPU’s. This allowed me to place Obstacles relative to the art style and Narrative for the game.
The Board's Obstacle Design:
- For some of the obstacles around the Arena, I wanted to make obstacles not just things players needed to avoid and get blocked by, but having obstacles that offered guidance in Laser Loop Pathing, and giving ideas for unique shapes to destroy the bugs!
- One of the things I wanted to do with the Obstacles is use them as Guidance for the player. I placed Chips and CPU’s in specific areas to help create a Loop / Circle shape for the player to see and use to create a loop to destroy the bug-like creatures that are chasing the player throughout the game.
Level Designing & Communicating To Our Environment Artist:
- Working with one of the best Environment Artist I’ve worked with on the team, we got right away into making some really cool textures and Communicating Ideas & concepts for our neon, tech, and synthwave feel for the environment of the game.
- I was tasked to help optimize any art assets in terms of their Navigation & Collision settings so that the player or enemies would not get stuck and soft-locked for our game. It was important as well to constantly test any new art assets made for Hamster Hyperdrive so that they weren’t causing any performance or optimization issues within the game for our players.
