Due to being unable to currently access the required Unity installation/project files, a gameplay demo video cannot be generated at this time. This section will be updated with a video showcase once access is restored.
This project was created over a week for 'Global Game Jam 2023', working within a large, multidisciplinary team of around 10 students. Built in Unity with C#, the game was a 3D platformer interpreting the jam's theme, "Roots", through a narrative concept titled "Roots to Humanity," loosely inspired by the Garden of Eden and being set on Mars.
My primary role during the jam was Programmer, focusing specifically on implementing the basic enemy AI (a snake character with simple detection and follow logic) and contributing to the User Interface (UI), including the health display. This involved collaborating with another programmer who handled player movement and the core health system logic. While ambitious features planned by other team members didn't make it into the final build due to the strict time constraints, the jam provided valuable experience in rapid prototyping, team communication, and focusing on core deliverables under pressure.
My Contributions:
User Interface (UI): Implemented the UI element to display the player's current health, integrating with the existing health system script
Enemy AI: Developed a basic enemy Snake AI with simple (distance-based) detection and follow logic towards the player
Implemented by Other Team Members:
3D Player Movement System: A foundational system to track player health, primarily interacting with the AI snake enemies
Engine: Unity
Language: C#
Core Concepts: Basic AI Behaviour (Detection, Following), UI (Unity UI/Canvas), Script Communication (GetComponent), Collision/Trigger Detection,
IDEs: Visual Studio
Tools: GitHub
This Game Jam provided significant learning experiences, particularly in team dynamics and rapid development under pressure:
First Collaborative Project: As my first experience working in a large, multidisciplinary team on a tight deadline, establishing effective communication and workflow was an initial hurdle. We quickly adapted by clearly defining roles and assigning distinct features (like AI, UI and, Player Movement) to individual programmers to minimize overlap and maximize efficiency.
Adapting to Team Dynamics: Working within a large student team presented challenges related to varying levels of contribution and engagement. This experience underscored the importance of focusing on completing assigned tasks effectively and integrating work smoothly, even when facing unexpected team limitations, while still maintaining a positive and focused approach essential for a game jam environment.