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ENVELOPE
《ENVELOPE》：
Philosophers have led the discussion of the world's origin into a binary opposition between thinking and existence, falling into a misconception.
From that moment on, humans chose to take shortcuts.
They no longer fervently pursue the tiniest particles,
They no longer seek to explain this world with a physical foundation.
Or rather,
They went completely wrong on their way to find God.
Someone tells you that God does not exist, the world is material, and God only exists in consciousness.
Really?
So, what is consciousness?
So, what is consciousness?
So, what is consciousness?
What made you decide to read this passage?
What makes you think about this passage?
You said it's a neuron? Is it an electrical signal? Or some tiny particle in the brain?
So,
Is there a distinct binary opposition between consciousness and matter?
Does the origin of the world really matter?
There is really no subtle thing within the scale that humans cannot touch,
Is the subtle thing silently manipulating everything?
Pheromone? Dopamine?
Perhaps even more minor than these?
On a smaller scale,
Human beings cannot reach it,
However,
God is there.
Oh? Are you saying it's ridiculous?
Before bacteria are discovered,
You don't know what makes food rot.
——from [Mustard Seed No. 2]. January 1, 3024, Position: [M78, H467, R236].
Envelope
This game explores the correlation between philosophy, science, and theology, as well as a hypothesis for the future of society.
In the game, the player takes on the role of an amnesiac "transitioner" who accidentally enters the quantum world.
Everything he experiences is in the quantum world, which is a replica of the real world, but he can use the
force fields and quantum power in the quantum world to find truths that he cannot discover in the real world.
#3D Scifi Game
#Walking Simulator with Original Story
#ARPG
#Work as a Game designer
#Made with Unreal Engine5.3, Metahuman,
C4D, PS, Stable Diffusion
Digital Game Design
individual Work
Winter 2023-So far
Platform: Windows
YouTube Link: Upcoming...
Game Link: UPCOMING
Game Overview:
Envelope refers to the electron shell of an atom.
In the future, the size of the transitioncraft and detector can be manipulated at the quantum scale under human control. Human beings utilize the energy of tiny excited particles as energy sources. The aviator who flies a transition device in the quantum world is called a "transitioner."
The protagonist, Li, is an amnesiac "transitioner" . He wakes up in a future city and tries to find the mystery of where he is through the unusual aspects of this city.
Control:
Narrative mode: WASD to move, shift to sprint, C to switch camera
Action mode: WASD to move, space tp jump, 1234 to use abilities
Concept:
Searching for God is actually searching for our origin and our destination. Philosophy seeks the world's origin, science seeks the smallest particle, theology seeks the creator…
HIGH LEVEL DESIGN
Cultures
Human beings in the real world have entered the stage of cultural integration. Oriental decorative punk is also retro-futurism, and the oriental world mainly applies aesthetics from the Song Dynasty to the 1990s to build magnificent cities. The architectural types are primarily based on Beijing, Xi'an, and Chongqing during this period.
(Figure.Oriental decorative punk conceptual art)
Society
From 2020 to 2050, people enjoyed the convenience of the AI revolution. However, there are still full of oppression and resistance.
The increase in the unemployment rate, the number of antisocial individuals, and the economic depression caused by the virus have left people disappointed with society.
In AD 3000, In literature, there is no capital I. Society leans towards collectivism and tends to pursue the development and progress of all humanity.
(Figure.The science tower conceptual art)
Science
Minotomic Particle
In the quantum world, an intelligent entity exists - "杪"(Chinese: the end of time)/Minotomic. It is the smallest particle with wave-particle duality, forming the foundation of all matter.
(Figure.Speculated model of Minotomic Particle )
Mustard Seed Plan
This is a plan to explore the quantum world to find a Minotomic Particle with the sacrifice of some transitioners.
(Figure.The transitioncraft)
Humans
Due to the highly developed exploratory disciplines, people distinguish hierarchies based on the correlation between various professions and exploratory science. The organizational form of society adopts a hierarchical orientation.
People born with assigned identities are only responsible to members of their own hierarchy, and strict boundaries exist between each group.
SEEK WORLD: Mainly engaged in professions such as scientists and engineers, working in scientific research.
OVERGROUND WORLD: Mainly responsible for managing personnel maintaining social order, as well as some social science researchers, educators, etc. After the prevalence of the theory that " humans are evil in nature," individuals at this level were granted great power.
ON GROUND WORLD: A large number of ordinary people engaged in social production.
CHARACTERS
PROTAGONIST:
Miao Li
"I" am a transitioner from the Science Tower.
My teammates and I entered the transition craft Mustard Seed NO.2 to conduct a ten-year exploration of the quantum world. But we lost connection in the exploration.
SEEK WORLD HUMAN EXAMPLES:
Duan Yue
A female engineer who is working in the field of Quantum Dynamics.
Edgar
The transitioner who drives Mustard Seed NO.1 disappeared during the mission.
Doctor Chen
A female scientist is the scattering mechanism of the quantum human body.
OVERGROUND WORLD HUMAN EXAMPLES:
Isabel
A female manager who is responsible for maintaining social order
Lin
A male manager who is responsible for managing some social science researchers, educators, etc
Zhang
Chief Engineer, male, one of the Chinese leaders of the Mustard Seed Plan, while he is very secretive about it.
ON GROUND WORLD HUMAN EXAMPLES:
Fang
The sister of twins was edited at the genetic level. She knows something about the secret of Science Tower.
Hong
The male, a fugitive from the ancestral temple, seems to be engaged in secretive activities.
Patriarch Li
The elderly believes that the world's origin can be found in Taoist philosophy.
HUMAN-LIKE INTELLGENCE:
Manny&Quinn
AI assistants are generated by holographic projection; they are Adam and Eve in the simulator engine.
Server
Humanoid robots with Eastern classical aesthetics.
Wu
Wu, means martial arts in Chinese. Onground World utilizes Infrared technology to project holographic warriors as patrols to defend themselves from invaders.
ACTS
Preclude: Mustard Seed Plan
AD 3024
Transition start…
Countdown... 10, 9, 8…
Act I: Science Tower
I found an ID card of myself, which proves my identity as a transitioner who is conducting a very secretive experiment.
My teammate is missing. I found a navigation log.
Act II: Science Tower
The city is hosting a dragon tour ceremony during the Zhongyuan Festival, with the sky lit up by holographic flames.
I disguise myself, infiltrate the temple, and obtain Minotomic Particles.
Act III: Science Tower
(Warning! Warning! ……We are about to enter the unknown marked atom! Didi! Didi!)
"Thousand years ago, one of you once came here and called us... Dao..."
"Later on, some lunatics called us... strings..."
ACTI
People's Apartment
Main Hall
Communi-
cation Room
Control
Room
Control
Room
Committee Room
Equip-
ment Room
Medical
Room
Hall Way
Research
Center
Youth
Base
Aircraft Park
Corridor
Where am I?
Which galaxy is this?
(Didi... Didi... Didi... Warning! Warning! We have detached from the M78 atom! We are about to enter the unknown marked atom! Didi! Didi!)
STAFF UNIT
I found an ID card on myself, which proves my identity as a transitioner who is conducting a very secretive experiment.
The screen is on, with an alarm indicating the location of the Committee Room.
I want to stay longer, but the screen has been urging me to go out.
SCIENCE TOWER
It is wired, but it seems I return to Science Tower, where I live and work, inspired by the spirit of collectivism.
I have spent my whole life here, but I feel that the current Science Tower differs from what I remember.
Yue finds a Log named [Mustard Seed No. 2]. When Opening the navigation log, the first page states that on January 1, 3024, it sailed to [M78, H467, R236]. Severe vibration occurs, causing the contact device to fail.
A boy runs past me. He says the creation of "transitioners" has been controversial in ethics. I try to chase him to know more.
I cannot get into the tower, however. But I admit that the "transitioners" are all edited at the genetic level before birth, so we serve as receptors for variable particles.
Doctor Chen: "The launch of Mustard Seed No. 2 was unsuccessful, and you have indeed lost some memories."
Now that the Minotomic Particle has been stolen, we need to retrieve the particle to continue our research.
I activate an aircraft at Aircraft Park. As a transitioner, I can feel the location of the Minotomic Particle.
The aircraft flies towards the down area.
ACTII
Perhaps I should have a hometown, but it definitely won't be here.
Because I have no impression of this place.
SKY SKIRT
The aircraft lands at its destination, but I have to search for the following path on my own.
After inquiring how to get to China House, I board an obsolete train branch line.
After arriving at the station, I need to walk along the old route for a while. Other lines are all run by the Maglev, so the old route is easy to distinguish.
CHINA HOUSE
I find an elevator that could lead to the down area. The down area is the lower part of the city.
I arrive in the China House.
I quickly locate the position of the particles, but it is obvious that there are many holographic warriors here.
After hacking into a holographic warrior, I go upstairs from the elevator at the logistics entrance.
After searching a few rooms, I find a key behind the door, which is closed.
In order to utilize my abilities, I temporarily leave the holographic warrior's mind and use my body to open the electric brake, attempting to open the door.
Minotomic Particles are hidden in the back hall.
After connecting the power, the back door can be opened, and I have obtained the key.
With the Minotomic Particles, I am able to use the ability to change the size of objects to escape from this place.
LEVEL DESIGN EXAMPLE
CONCEPT
(Figure. Diagram of the layered gates in Beijing’s Imperial and Forbidden Cities)
(Figure. Early draft of level design)
In the book An Architectural Approach to Level Design, there is a prototype for Chinese temple(Figure.Diagram of the layered gates in Beijing’s Imperial and Forbidden Cities).This diagram of the layered gates in Beijing’s Imperial and Forbidden Cities (built in the fifteenth century ce) typifies Confucianist urban planning ideas with layers that deny visitors access to the emperor’s Hall of Supreme Harmony in the center of the city.
The overbridge offers challenging content that requires puzzle-solving skills.
The front hall is designed to provide an entertaining atmosphere of a bustling city at night.
Figure.The back room
Figure.The overbridge
Figure.The front hall
ELEMENT-DRIVEN-THEME DESIGN
In order to enhance the exploration experience, I have created three distinct spaces that offer different sensations. The back hall provides a stealth experience, where the protagonist can use his skills to avoid detection and complete tasks.
This level exemplifies the retro-futuristic style of design. My methodology in this game involved using element-driven themes and cultural symbols, with many visual signals.
By using his advanced hacking skills, the protagonist can deceive his enemies by disguising himself as one of the holographic warriors.
FACIAL ANIMATION CAPTURE
ANIMATION AND LIVE LINK FACE
In order to capture the facial expressions and animation with affordable and portable devices, I tested a plugin in Unreal Engine called Link Link Face and deleted facial control rig to avoid data override.
Take NPC Yue as an example. I conducted a test to evaluate the real-time facial expression capture technology.
(Figure.Model retarget with 3 parts: groom, face, body)
(Figure.Recording in sequencer)
This is a relatively low-cost solution. There are various options for close-up facial expressions, which solves the issue of tedious animation binding and matching.
(Figure.My face in Iphone camera)
(Figure.Faces rendering of NPC Yue)
MATERIALS
SUB-SURFACE SCATTERING
This is a material that achieves a semi transparent effect through multiple scattering of light inside an object.
(Figure.Lantern light effect in front hall)
LANTERN
Lantern light visual effect provides a feeling of a small point of light source slightly glowing out in the middle.
The intensity of the light center is relatively high, gradually weakening towards the outer layer.
Then I Improved the contrast of the mask and simulated the texture of dirt inside the lantern (partially transparent, partially opaque).
(Figure.Lantern light blueprint
HOLOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
Holographic lines are the layers of lines that move up and down in a holographic projection. To create them, one solution is to sample a map and let it flow along the X-axis/Y-axis direction of the world coordinates. The method involves masking the RB axis of the world position, controlling the X-axis/Y-axis tiling, adding a Timeline to the X-axis/Y-axis for offset, and then outputting it to the texture.
Fresnel highlight: After achieving initial results, I continue to add Fresnel to create a circle of highlights around the material ball.
Color change: To enhance the sci-fi feel, Hue shifting is used here to change the color tone at a certain frequency.
(Figure.X-tile and Y-tile flows)
(Figure.Add Fresnel node)
(Figure.Add Hue shifting)
(Figure. Visual effect of holographic window in the front hall)
GAME MECHANICS and TECHNICAL
(Completed with the support from senior programmer Song Huang)
RESIZING OBJECTS
The game has two modes: narrative mode to tell the player a third-person story, and action mode for using abilities to aim at the target and activate the quantum force field.
One of the abilities is to resize the items influenced by Minotomic Particles.
Blueprint of items:
For each resizable item added to the "changeable items" array, the static mesh of it could be reset after being targeted.
Blueprint of ability:
1. Generate a cubic force field around the position of the mouse click.
2. Among all objects within the interactable distance, find the closest interactable object to the mouse and change its size.
Effect:
INTERACTING WITH MECHANISM
Blueprint of mechanisms:
When each light is open, the number of current lights will increase by one.
Blueprint of overhead door:
The door will open when the number of current lights equals the required number.
Effect:
ASSETS FROM:
Spectrum Galaxy by 3DBrushwork.com
Ability Pack - Telekinesis by pugscapedev
Men's and Women's Skydiving Uniforms - Modular - Rigged by Nice Pictures
Man Warrior - Modular - Rigged by Nice Pictures
Third Person Story Adventure Template by palinoia interactive
Asia Restaurant by SilverTm
Retro Sci-Fi Futuristic City Pack by OCTAGON GAME ASSETS
Mountain Temple Modular Kit - Temple Kit by Banitas
Amaya by Dan764
Jua Lee - Girl in Cheongsam Qipao Dress by IdaFaber
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