Joshua
Wilson
INTRODUCTION
Extinction is a top-down shooter all about survival. You, the player, must survive as long as possible, racking up the most points and blasting zombies.
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PROJECT GOALS
Making an isometric game and incorporating attributes using Gameplay Ability System.
Learn more about Unreals Niagara system
Learn about Shaders in Unreal and creating and implementing my own.
Creating a game that has satisfying gameplay for replayability.
GAMEPLAY
Role: Game Designer
Platform: Windows
Engine: Unreal Engine 5.4
Tools: Gameplay Ability System, UE5, Synty Packs
Duration: 2 weeks
GAME FEATURES
This project was designed to develop something enjoyable that I easily access and play for a quick burst of excitement. It incorporated several key features, including:​
Gameplay Mechanics | Interactive Elements | User Interface | World building |
|---|---|---|---|
Projectile shooting | Explosive Barrels | Health | Shader |
3D directional rolling | Armor drops | High Score | Sound |
Power ups | Current Score |
Player combat
Multi-directional rolling. The intent behind rolling is to assist the player in navigating through crowds while providing some invulnerability frames. However, there's a trade-off: after rolling, there is a brief recovery before the player can roll again, which leaves them vulnerable.
Loot drops & power ups
Loot drops appeared essential for an isometric game, along with temporary power-ups like a machine gun and an area-of-effect attack.
WHAT I LEARNED
Balancing games can be a challenge, and it’s impossible to make everyone happy. I learned through feedback that my perception of fairness wasn’t shared by others. Some felt that in certain replays, the loot seemed like it would never drop, while others believed it dropped too often, making the game too easy. I discovered that having a dynamic drop chance was a happy medium; if a player's health reached maximum, the chance of armor dropping became nearly nonexistent. Additionally, if a player has an active power-up, another of the same type should be temporarily disabled from dropping by chance.