Bygones is a 2D puzzle platformer with 3D graphics where you play as Mok, a spirit sealed away long ago who uses light to materially change objects around her. As she reemerges in the modern world that has abandoned her kind, she must escape the tomb she has been imprisoned in.
My Role:
Director
Tools
Unity, C++, Maya, Mixamo
Timeline
5 weeks
Full gameplay video
What I did
Bygones is a final class project I made with 3 friends for my first year at USC Games. My main contributions are:
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Created and pitched this original idea
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Communicated and drove creative vision within limited scope
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Created and maintained all documentation, including Game Design Document (GDD)
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Collaborated with group mates to design levels and mechanics together
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Took charge of majority of art and animations (creation and implementation)
My Process
1. Ideation & Pitching
Within a week, I created a quick concept and pitch document to present to my class. This idea was inspired by Inside, Baba Is You and Little Nightmares, as well as an original narrative idea that I've had for a long time. I was interested in exploring mechanics that challenge players to manipulate the very rules they are taught. My pitch was chosen to be developed in the end.
2. Game Design Document
& Team Management
One of my main responsibilities included creating and updating the GDD regularly. For our class requirements, the GDD served as something like a journal of our experience, aside from being a blueprint. I used that to help split up tasks amongst my team members, which we managed in a separate task sheet that I created.
3. Art & Animation
For the scope of this short project, I planned for all 3D art and animations to be obtained from asset packs and Mixamo as much as possible. I retextured a rig obtained from Mixamo, set dressed majority of the game, and created and implemented all animations for the cinematics of the game.
