Carambola (Capstone)

Carambola is my capstone project, a VR puzzle game (VR escape room!) about introducing the constellation system to second-generation American immigrants. By utilizing this VR game, we provide our players with an immersive experience. With this experience, players will be able to have more impressions about our knowledge content in the game during an entertainment period.

One of the puzzle we used in our level!

The Original Scope

About the Scope, we considered having a total of 5 levels, including 1 tutorial level, 2 Greek constellation levels, 1 Chinese constellation level, and 1 mix level as our final level.

Since the scope issue, we have shrunk our scope into 1 tutorial level, 2 Greek levels, and 1 Chinese level (which is Level 0 - Level 3).

Concept of the Level 1

Concept of the Level 2

Concept of the Level 3

Levels Layout - Level 0 & Level 1

These two levels focus on the Greek constellation. The puzzles and riddles used at this level are designed based on the constellation's background, cultural meaning, names of the stars in the constellation, and order of those stars in their constellation.

The puzzle that used in these 2 levels.

This is the top-down map for level 1. The primary task for players at this level is to read the riddles to ensure the essential information they need to find, collect information from the readable content, and apply the content to solve the puzzle.

Levels Layout - Level 2 (original)

In this part, we separate this level into 3 areas. The puzzle type that used in this level are 'lock and key', 'enter solution here'. When players solve one area, part of the wall will go down; then the players are able to go to the next area.

1st area - Orion & Scorpius

By utilizing the knowledge content in this area, players have to solve the 'enter solution here' puzzle on the statue and finish the jigsaw puzzle inside. After players finish the jigsaw puzzle, they must put the right germ in its center and hang it on the wall. To trigger the wall to go down, players should rotate the statue to a certain angle and shoot right at the germ to reveal the next area.

2nd area - Gemini

Players will get gears inside the statue by solving the puzzle on it. Those gears have symbols on their surface, which represent the order of those stars. Players have to put those gears into the gearbox based on the order of the stars in Gemini. Players will get the relics of the statue from the gearbox; after putting those relics back into the statue, players are able to go to the next area.

3rd area - Xing Guan & Animal

This area will transition from the Greek to the Chinese system. It starts at night, and players will find that they cannot reach the door because they get blocked by an invisible obstacle. They need light to reveal it. When players read the knowledge content, they will know the cultural meaning of the animal system in the Chinese constellation. Players have to choose the right animal and use Tangram to build the shape of that animal. After making the correct shape, the statue of that animal will be summoned, and by interacting with the statue, players can turn the night into the day and reveal the obstacle.

Levels Layout - Level 2

(scope down version)

For some scope issues, we have shrunk level 2's scope. The original 3 areas have decreased into 1 area, which is the Orion and Scopius part.

The jigsaw puzzle in the statue

The 'Enter solution here' puzzle

Levels Layout - Level 3

This level has 4 puzzles. It focuses on conveying the Chinese constellation system to the players. The major types of puzzles at this level are 'Lock and key' and 'Scenario recreation.'

Puzzle in the level 3

The puzzle at this level is based on the Chinese story and the primary setting of the Chinese constellation (Xing Guan & Xing Xiu, etc). The first puzzle in level 3 is to rebuild the shape of the certain Xing Xiu. The other puzzles are designed based on the stories used in the level, and the method to solve those puzzles is to play as the character in the story. We believe that when players act as the characters in the story, it will give them a deep impression of that story.

The concept of the level 3 1st puzzle

Draft, Paper prototype, and Design Document

We assigned different buttons to specific functions and tried to make the players' control experience more comfortable. Based on the characteristics of the VR game, which provides an immersive experience, we designed many functions and features. We tried to explore all the possibilities of a VR game under a serious game purpose.

Carambola - Macro Design Document

Trailer

Please put it on your wishlist if you are interested!
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