Neon Diver
3D • 2D • UI
Targets:
iOS / Android / PC (upcoming)
Description:
Neon Diver is a game which celebrates my love of deep waters, last person on earth narratives, cross-section art and puzzle games.
Programs used:
Blender (modeling, rigging, animation), Unity, Photoshop, Illustrator
3D
Environments - Blender / Unity
The game features 60 different levels across 6 unique areas. Each level presents the player with a unique puzzle - a sort of obstacle course - they must use logic, observation and reflexes to complete.
Levels were developed using a combination of models made in Blender, 3D grounds/colliders created in Unity, and background illustrations/additional environment visuals/particle effects created in Photoshop & Illustrator.
Organic Area (level editor screencap): the first area of the game, many core mechanics and entity types are first encountered here to gradually introduce players to the gameplay concepts.
Organic Area (gameplay screencap): an in-game moment showing game entities in action as well as shaders and particle effects active at runtime.
Magma Area (level editor screencap): this level features a side quest where the player can help reunite the giant mother octopus with her missing baby.
Magma Area (gameplay screencap): the player is piloting the ship but they need to figure out a way to raise the submerged goal tower below.
Ice Area (level editor screencap): levels are completed when the player pilots their ship to the goal tower, triggering a blast wave which destroys all enemy elements on the level, returning it to an untouched, natural state.
Ice Area (gameplay screencap): descending through the mini-pools towards the puzzle.
Desert Area (level editor screencap): I was a huge fan of Star Wars growing up and I loved the way George Lucas made each world unique and instantly recognizable. I wanted to channel this approach to my world building across the game's six different areas.
Desert Area (gameplay screencap): after discovering a sunken ship, the player must now travel through a warp tunnel.
Jungle Area (level editor screencap): I am fascinated with cross-section illustrations and how they offer the viewer a clear view of its inner workings. This level features a water lock system as a component of the design.
Jungle Area (gameplay screencap): the player enters a sensor-zone triggering the bio-mechanically altered fish to aggressively pursue the player.
Render-X Area (level editor screencap): the final area of the game, Render-X Corporate Headquarters is a cold, inorganic place where the secrets of the fall of civilization are revealed.
Render-X Area (gameplay screencap): there is a significant concentration of dangerous elements in this area which makes reaching the end a tricky proposition.
Game Entities - Blender
All characters, vehicles and enemies were modeled, rigged and animated in Blender then imported into Unity for integration.
While the main character - the Neon Diver - appears quite small in-game, it was still important that each of the 43 total diver animated states transition seamlessly into each other to ensure a smooth visual experience.
We also created blend trees between the default “healthy” animation set and an “injured” variant set so we could represent the diver in an injured state if they sustained damage.
2D
Concept Art - Illustrator / Photoshop
The concept of Neon Diver grew out of my fascination of deep waters and what could be hiding in the darkness below. Initially, the vision for Neon Diver was more horror-based but as I explored turning the concept into a game, it became clear that shifting the focus towards exploration and puzzle-based gameplay was ideal.
The first illustration attempts to capture the mood and basic game elements. In this early stage, we were approaching this project as a 2D game with a vector-art style.
The second illustration features more detailed character designs and evolving mechanics. This sketch also includes the 45-degree wall design strategy used in the final game.
UI
Store Icon - Illustrator
We wanted a mobile store icon that was true to the feel of the game. While we experimented with designs featuring the Neon Diver character, we opted instead to capture the game’s mood rather than being too literal.
Adding the mother octopus to the icon also worked well as she is easily recognizable even when viewed as a very small icon on a mobile device.
Menus & In-game UI - Unity
The approach with Neon Diver was to try to minimize in-game UI as much as possible so the player could get lost in the puzzle and the visuals of the world. To accomplish this, we would relay key information without UI such as showing player damage with a modified injured character animation set accompanied by a blood trail particle effect.
The three exceptions to this light-UI approach were in storytelling moments, level complete score summary overlays and game menus.
Level Select Screen: here players can choose to play an unlocked level or try to beat the current level to unlock new ones. Players can also track their game progress here as well as upgrade their divers and boats.
Message In A Bottle: eagle-eyed players can discover bottles scattered across the game containing survivor notes.
Black Box: when the play discovers a sunken ship, they can activate black box inside which plays back the final thoughts of the deceased Neon Diver pilot.
Level Complete Screen: a summary of the player's performance will be shown after completing the level.