KAVA - Tales of a Morphling

Briefing

Imprisoned in a mysterious facility, KAVA must use the power of transformation to escape. Switch between the forms of an alien, a cat, a bird, and an ant, each with unique abilities, to solve puzzles and overcome challenging obstacles.

My Contributions

• Gameplay Programming Implemented the core gameplay systems, including the transformation mechanic and individual gameplay abilities for each playable form.
  
• Puzzle Systems Development Designed and programmed modular puzzle logic and interactive gameplay systems to support a variety of transformation-based challenges.
  
• Cinematics & Cutscene Implementation Programmed in-game cinematics and integrated narrative cutscenes into the gameplay flow.
  
• Performance Optimization Improved overall game performance by optimizing lighting and reducing the runtime cost of dynamic light sources.
  
• Creative & Game Direction Directed the creative vision of the project by defining core gameplay concepts, puzzle design, character abilities, and the overall game structure.
• Shader Development Created custom post-process shaders to define the game's visual identity: a dedicated night vision shader for the Cat transformation as well as the default post-process shader visible during gameplay in the other transformations.
• Character Mechanics Developed unique gameplay mechanics for each transformation, creating distinct movement and interaction possibilities for the Alien, Cat, Bird, and Ant.
• Collision & Gameplay Systems Developed dynamic collision systems and gameplay constraints to ensure seamless interactions between character transformations and the environment.
• UI Programming Designed and implemented all in-game user interface menus, ensuring a consistent and intuitive player experience.

What I Learned

This project significantly deepened my understanding of Unreal Engine and taught me how to structure and manage a larger game project effectively. Collaborating with a new team and taking on the role of Creative Director strengthened my ability to guide the creative vision while ensuring consistency across different aspects of the game. Working extensively with lighting and performance optimization taught me how rendering settings and lighting setups directly impact performance and how to maintain a smooth gameplay experience. Additionally, developing complex puzzle systems and unique mechanics for each character challenged me to approach problems from different angles and find creative technical solutions.

Team

• Colin Coveli — Environment Design, Level Design, Game Programming
• Daniel Soares Felisberto — Sound Design
• Hüseyin Oruncak — Narrative Design
• Jonathan Siegel — 3D Art & Animation, Creative Direction, Game Design, Game Programming
• Uzay Luzardo Utkubas — Game Programming, Creative Direction, Game Design, Shader Development