https://www.fortnite.com/@unfit_parent/6608-3926-9391

Those pesky elves are on strike! Hunt them down and get the workshop running again!

Created over 3 weeks for Fortnites Winterfest. It is a hide & seek map with custom mechanics coded in verse such as: Visual Sonar, Dynamic Prop Spawning and Custom UIs. The map had 20,000 unique players over December

Sparkball is a high-action ‘mobrawler’, affectionately described as League of Legends meets Rocket League. I was contracted by Worldspark Studios as a Technical Artist to prepare the project for early access, Work done:

Created pickup system (Health/Energy Orbs) - Created art assets (Meshes, Textures, Materials & Particles) and built blueprints.

Custom Damage vignette and screen flash system, Player direction indicator, Player health bar & status effect system, Camera Lag & Hitstop systems.

Using a custom GAS Implementation to create abilities and cues for the heroes in the game. Implementing associated game logic, creating/connecting animations, particles and other gameplay systems.  

Environment Art: Water system (Materials & VFX), Grass,

Sparkball on Steam

Sparkball (PC), is a 4v4 competitive action ‘Mobrawler’ where teams must balance both ballin’ and brawlin’ to score in the enemy team’s goal!

STEAM

Flythrough: Showcases Water/Waterfall system

In the game, You play as Santa piloting a helicopter shaped like an angry reindeer. Your mission is to blow up the barracks to reclaim your presents which were confiscated by the army, And deliver them to the village to save christmas.

Inspired by games such as Desert Strike and Mario - We created funny and cute top-down shooter in 2 weeks for christmas.

You can play the game here: https://unfitparent.itch.io/santa-siege

Below are some breakdowns on the work I did for the Jam, The majority of the game was developed by myself, as the other team members were inexperienced, However, Credits for the trooper character model go to https://www.artstation.com/andykerrart

Note. Some asset packs and game rips were used, As this is a free game, It does not violate any copyright.

(VFX) Effects Showcase - Created the 'Star Explosion' effect in Niagara referencing Mario Oddesey. You can also see the weapons system where the player can fire a missile at Toad.

(VFX) Helicopter FX - Edited an asset pack (Splashbursts) so that the impact angle could be controlled, As well as some visual adjustments (Color/Sprite shape etc) so it looks like a Christmas Tree impact explosion. This is connected to the Helicopter weapons system, so the impact is aligned to the direction of the missile.

(Tool) Twinkle Mesh - Lets designers select a mesh and will apply a twinkling effect to it by distributing particles over its surface

(Tool) Snow Generator - Using Geometry scripting, Designers can select a mesh and simulate snow accumulation on its surface.

(Environment) Ice World landscape - Built the landscape materials (Snow, IceWall and Ice Lake), as well as a custom blending function. Also created custom materials for Rocks/Ice Cubes/Crystals, Roads.

(Animation) The character artist provided a skinned mesh with a custom skeleton. To get it running in the game, I did the following:

• Retargeted the AccuRIG skeleton to the Unreal Skeleton
• Created Anim Montages and Blendspaces from the animations provided in the Animation Start Pack
• Created the Character class which was driven by the AI controller
• Created AnimBP, Behaviour Tree and added gameplay events into the Troop Blueprint such as setting faction color, weapons etc.

Overall, I learnt a lot about Character Animation in Unreal, And configured the character, animation blueprints and added AI/gameplay systems to the project.

This tool is used to generate fences in unreal with any 'Fence Mesh' - It will place instances of the fence, and generate curved sections to save memory.

It references the Fence tool which is included in Project Titan (Houdini Unreal Showcase) however it has been improved with the additional functions:

• You can specify which mesh to instance and generate corners from directly in Unreal (The Titan example had the 'corner mesh' baked into the HDA and couldn't be changed)
• Samples correct roll values from spline Z value. Meaning fences can curve upwards

Below is an example in unreal. Blue segments are instances of the mesh, Purple ones are custom corners generated by Houdini Engine. Project files linked below.

In 2021, A private investor asked me to leave Tencent to open a VR studio. I founded Rayscape Games, And started work on the first project - Arcane Ascent, A Puzzle-Platformer similar to Portal, Set in fantasy universe.

After 4 months, We showcased our Vertical Slice at GDC2022 - Where we recieved positive reception and were Playstation partner approved for PSVR2. However, a few months later our investor had serious financial difficulties - he froze the project as well as his other external investments, and we were unable to finish the game.

Our team did exceptionally well, As in the 6 months we worked on the project, We managed to get a stable multiplayer build running on the Quest 2 at 72FPS. As for myself, I had to source and hire the staff, plan and set production milestones and also assist with implementation efforts. We did receive an investment offer to finish the project, however it was unacceptable for myself and the team in terms of equity, So we disbanded. Below is a trailer & level playthrough for the project running on Quest 2.

Penrose is the big-data visualization platform for Tencent. Working at the HQ in Shenzhen, Our team were responsible for creating solutions for a wide range of clients. Including Government, AEC and Medical institutions, As well as for Tencent's internal operations.

We worked directly with Epic China to develop the engine to load massive datasets for the Digital China national policy, and Presented our works at Epic summits in Shanghai and London.

Working as the Lead Technical Artist, This project required extensive use of all engine systems for realtime rendering of big-data sets as well as data streaming from remote servers. I worked with management teams to determine project requirements. Built tools / function libraries for developers and implemented a variety of features. Work included:

• Procedurally generating meshes and materials to generate large scale maps. Using C++, Substance Designer, Houdini Engine and Unreal Systems such as Blueprint, Material Editor etc
• Creating classes/blueprints for UI/Navigation, Loading data streams and initializing the simulations with required parameters. JSON Parser for custom syntax/configuration files.
• Training neural networks to integrate with digital twin data streams to optimize operations: Traffic Flow/Energy management, Predictive Maintenance, Air Quality Control. Using Python Libraries: SciKit Learn, NumPy, OpenCV, GeoPandas, TensorFlow to train ONNX models which were ran in Unreal
• Big-Data processing and visualization, Cleaning and Organizing large GIS datasets, such as Satellite Scans, Population Distribution, Map Info etc.
• Unreal Editor Tooling (Python/Editor Utility Widgets) to automate the process of loading and transforming large datasets and creating uassets.
• Application R&D: C-Level applications which interface with proprietary backend APIs over websocket protocol to load and process data to forward to Unreal. Development of stand-alone visualization application using OpenGL/RayLib, Web-based solution in Three.js/PlayCanvas
• Creation of various assets, lighting and scene setup with data from a variety of sources. Including BIM data from Revit/Navisworks, Shapefile Data and USD/FBX Data.

Below is our presentation at RIBA, London on the Penrose Platform.

Case Studies

Cloud Security Operations Centre

3D Security Dashboard.  This displays infographics such as DDoS detection, IoT Device status and server traffic (Packet Type, Bandwidth etc)

VR cloud SOC

Web Cloud SOC

Digital China

A Collection of interactive infographics used to promote the Digital China national policy, and services provided by Tencent.

Scene description:

- Tencent PC Manager metrics, and information on virus attacks

- Overview of a TangZhou marathon event, tracking runners using GPS and Biometric data and visualized in the engine

- Shanghai: This scene generates the building geometry by loading shapefile data into the engine and creating procedural meshes, It will also load Tencent Map POI data depending on camera position

- Changsha: CDC medical resources visualization, Used to display available resources across the city, and optimal routing

Hospital Control Cabin

In this video, you can see how a hospital can connect building and patient data to visualize hospital capacity and use it in the hospital as a control center for triage and resource management

Shenzhen Expo Centre

Connecting live building data (BAS) to a Revit model provided by the client (BIM), we can visualize building activity, as well as model possible exhibit layouts and track users with bluetooth triangulation

Note: Sample data was provided for the BAS feed, and the exhibit uses a mock-up example, As the site was still under construction at this time

Live Satellite Visualization

This project helps monitor satellite activity on a global-scale in real-time. It loads TLE datasets to calculate satellite positions, and frequently pulls TLE data to maintain accurate trajectories.

You can view data such as position, velocity, Country of origin, and instrument types.

The video shows two sides to the application: One is the render running in UE. Which is displayed on a large screen in the control centre, Or can be viewed in VR. The other is a web-based console which can be used to make a remote procedure call into unreal to control the viewer.

This project was a partnership between Tencent and WebMD, Where we created an interactive medical viewer which is designed to be used for medical consultations for the Tencent Doctor company in Unreal. The application provides anatomical reference for the patient, As well as interactive animations which display different treatments and procedures.

As a R&D Project in the Tencent Medical department, We worked with Epic China to utilize the latest features in Unreal Engine such as pixel streaming and procedural mesh generation.

Working as a Technical Artist/Designer, I was involved in most aspects of the development of the project, Such as breaking down project requirements from management and delegating tasks to the respective departments and also implementing many of the systems and creating assets myself. Work included:

• Building C++ classes which load compressed data from a remote server and present it in Unreal, Including constructing Widget Interfaces, Generating Meshes/Materials and loading 'MoA Timeline' from parametric information.
• Creating assets inside UE such as Master Materials, Widget Blueprints, Structs, Particle Systems and Blueprints which draw mesh data.
• Loading molecular/protein plaintext data and converting them to 3D models with dynamic materials and actor metadata.
• Loading MRI DICOM data and converting it to volume textures to be segmented and rendered in engine.
• Creating tools which assisted with scene construction and sequences/timelines to demonstrate mechanism of action of different procedures/therapies.

Below is a video of the demo version of the Medical Dictionary application. Some of the dynamic functionality was implemented, However this is a sample scene which had a lot of pre-baked assets.

Stills:

A variety of stylized models created from concepts to improve my knowledge of the Stylized Art pipeline commonly seen fantasy games.

I created this bridge to learn the process of creating stylized assets similar to Blizzard's Heroes of the Storm. Making sure to optimize texture and triangle use.

After some trail and error, I found a solid sculpt pipeline and texture setup which can produce assets in a similar style

key reference: https://cdna.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/002/380/016/large/michael-vicente-02.jpg?1461037023

One week challenge, based off a concept by Sephiroth Art.

Created in 2 months to improve my Environment Art abilities. This is based off a concept by Sam Brown, which can be seen here: https://www.artstation.com/artwork/d8zKJ

Applications Used:

3DS Max, Substance Painter/Designer, ZBrush, Unreal Engine, Marvellous Designer.

These are weekend events where you form a team and make a game based on given theme in 48 Hours. Each year I try to participate in a game jam, As they are a good way to expand my skills and knowledge of game dev into new areas.

GGJ2024 - Glasgow

Not a laughing matter - Theme of the jam was 'Make me laugh'. Sneak into a joke factory protected by the henchmen of the monopoly. Distract patrols with rubber chickens, chattering teeth and other items to infiltrate your way to the vault to secure the funniest joke in the world

GGJ2023 - Edinburgh

Roots of Eve - Theme of the jam was 'Roots'. Excavate the grave of The First Human. Discover what your predecessors have left behind. Leave an offering, as we all must. Roots of Eve is an exploration and scavenging game, in which the player digs through voxel terrain with their metal detector, in search of ancient mystical artifacts. Each object has a story and a significance to the tomb’s occupant, as well as to the powerful archaeological wizard the player inhabits.


https://v3.globalgamejam.org/2023/games/roots-eve-8

GGJ2021 - Montreal

Egg Haunt - Theme of the jam was 'Lost and Found'. You play as a frog, who needs to find her eggs which have been stolen by evil cat spirits in a haunted village. You can use your grappling hook and shuriken to maneuver and retrive your lost children.

GGJ 2020 -  Manilla

Minecart Madness - Theme of the jam was 'Repair'. You play as a miner lost in a cave, who finds a wisp to help him see the way. Use the unique abilities of each character to solve the puzzles and repair your mine cart

CIGA 2019 - Shenzhen

CyberRobo - Theme of this jam was 'missing piece'. You play as a lost robot in the factory, You have to find different parts and use them in the correct combinations to clear 3 levels and escape.

GGJ 2018 - Shenzhen

Grandpa Saviour - Theme of this jam was 'what does home mean to you?'. You clock is ticking and you need to find your family and buy gifts in the city before new years day. However, The smog means you run out of air each day, and thieves will steal your money if they touch you. Get all the gifts for a high score!

GGJ 2014 - Stafford

The Companion - Theme of the jam was 'We don't see things how they are, we see them as we are'. One player takes the role of the human companion using a controller and a standard monitor to move around an underground maze trying to find the way out while avoiding the unseen dangers, the 2nd player takes the role of the spiritual companion which is fixed in position to the human companion, the player uses the Oculus rift to look around the environment viewing the spiritual and dangerous elements within the world. With player one unable to see the dangers and player two unable to move themselves they have to work together to find the way out and survive the horrors of the maze

A new-media art studio based in Shenzhen, China.

The company creates interactive art in Unreal, Manufactures physical installations, And produces advertisements for it's clients.

I worked closely with the design teams to concept and create art pieces for a variety of clients. The main two projects during my time there were to build 3D Scenes for a projection-mapping installation for a Chinese Baiju company (五粮液) and physical installations/animations for a bio-engineering gallery based in Chengdu, China.

Additional work included R&D into creating interactive installations with depth-sensors and AR devices in unreal, Including extensive use of Blueprint, Cascase/Niagara particle systems and integrating 3rd party APIs into Unreal and exposing them to Blueprint.