Outbreak | Portfolio

ROLE

Level, World and Narrative Designer

DESIGN CONTEXT

Independent project

GENRE

Realistic Survival Horror

STUDIO

Nightmare Media

ENGINE

Unreal Engine 5

PLATFORM

OUTBREAK
The Burg

OUTBREAK

Project Start - September 2023

Unreal Engine 5

Team : Programmer, Level Designer, Sound Designer

Game Development Context

Participating members: Alexis Brien, Alexandre Fecteau, Dany Newby, Simon Lamoureux, Antoine Richer

Marketplace assets used : free and bought modular mesh kits, particle effects and animations

Contributions:

Conceptualization
Documentation
Asset scouting
First zoo's and proof of concepts
Version control and repository

Level 1 - Game Tutorial

Design Intentions and objectives

Establish overall tone of game
Teach movement mechanics as seamlessly as possible
Introduce world to player using environmental storytelling

Forest_Village5

Forest_Village6

Forest_Village4

Forest_Village5

1/3

Outbreak, Level 1, The Forest, October 2023

The Burg

Design Concept

Tutorial level
Full level divided in sections
Emphasis on narrative, movement mechanics and gameplay elements

Narrative

The Doctor is called to investigate a mysterious illness at the Castle.

Tone

Realistic survival horror:

Eerie, ominous, menacing
Slow descent into madness, gore, chaos
Have the player travel from open farmlands into smaller urban areas

Gameplay

Tutorial to game mechanics
Light combat
Stealth, Evasion
Exploration

Emotions

fear, intrigue, mystery, claustrophobia, paranoia, uneasyness

Design Process :

Conceptualization phase

Create top-down map
Make a mood board
Have project planning : Scrum method, Jira
Play many games for references
Brainstorm with team

In Engine

Start with small, contained level
Create level section by section
Have frequent peer reviews, regular team meetings
Have playtest sessions, involve friends outside of development team for feedback

Philosophy of collaboration

Do not take feedback personally
Do not get too attached to your ideas
Bring your teammates ideas to life, value their concepts
Never fully stick to just "your vision"
Always communicate, in a respectful manner
Give constructive criticism
Give positive reinforcement yet be honest
Create fun work culture and atmosphere
Value team bonding, see teammates outside of work context if possible
In a passion project, don't pressure colleagues for productivity or performance

Level Sections

1. Burg Outskirts

Section 1 : Burg Outskirts

Castle as main landmark
Farmlands
Basic tutorialization : look, movement, torch, search/interaction

Design Intentions

Have the Castle as main landmark and objective
Introduce the player to the controls and the world
Give the player both "things to do and things to look at"
Have a simple and linear section with no immediate danger

1/12

2.The Burg

Section 2 : The Burg

Player enters the Burg
Town Center with exterior and interior environments
Tutorialization of combat mechanics

Design Intentions

Valve the player in smaller urban environment
Introduce the player to danger, while keeping difficulty low
Make the player feel like more than an observer
Involve and connect the player with world events

Gameplay Intentions

Transition to a non-linear section to encourage exploration
Player acquires weapon for first enemy encounter
Have the player interact with environment : open/close torches, search chests, find pick-ups, find key for locked door

1/11

3. The Slums

Section 3 : Slums

The Doctor exits the town center and makes his way towards the Castle, but he must go through the slums first
District next to Burg cemetery perceived as cursed
Forest passage leading into hovel village

Design Intentions

Give the player a brief pause moment after Burg section
Keep the player on alert with scattered enemies out of critical path, while keeping difficulty low
Valve the player after the Burg section
Have a vista for player to overlook the Burg
Frame Castle in background as much as possible
Make the player get closer to the castle while chaos and violence intensifies
Force the Doctor to go through a bloody gory pond