SANCTUM BUNKER

INTRO

As a final year game design student, one of the most exciting (and challenging) tasks is selecting my theme for my final major project. As this is a great chance to showcase my creativity and skills, I have chosen to create an environment, a choice that aligns with my passion for designing game worlds. And to stay motivated and engaged throughout the process, I needed to choose a theme that really excited me.

In order to pick the right theme, I had to think about my personal interests and the types of games that I love playing, as well as some of the environments that have left a good impression on me as a gamer. Additionally, I had to consider the educational aspect of my project, as I wanted to choose a theme that allow me to further develop and demonstrate my skills in environment design.  This meant considering the complexity of the chosen environment and the opportunity it provided for technical and artistic growth.

In this blog post, I would like to share my initial environment ideas.

INITIAL IDEAS FOR MY FINAL MAJOR PROJECT

Post-apocalyptic Environment - A world in ruins, where civilization has crumbled, the nature fights to reclaim the land. 

The Idea: In the future, our world faced a devastating event with the accidental release of an experimental bioweapon from a secret government lab, a weapon that initially was developed to manipulate genetic structures. The virus mutated very fast, infecting humans, flora, and fauna, resulting in grotesque mutations. In this chaos, governments fell and societies collapsed, but a group of scientists and survivors managed to create a sanctuary as their last refuge. Located within a remote desert, the sanctuary was the place where they worked to reverse the virus's effects and find a cure.

Inspirations: Fallout (Bethesda), The Last of Us (Naughty Dog), Metro Exodus (4A Games).

Environment design: Wasteland, ruined buildings, overgrown vegetation, bunker.

Tropical Island - A lush, tropical island paradise with sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters, and a variety of wildlife.

The Idea: In the near future, you are a young marine biologist who has been sent to investigate a mysterious island in the Pacific Ocean. The island is said to be home to a lost fishing village and no one has ever returned from it. You are now a survivor of a shipwreck that has left you stranded on the island and you soon realize that it is not as deserted as you first thought. Along with the abandoned fishing village, there is also a dense rainforest, the home of dangerous wildlife. Your goal now is to find a way to escape, but along the way you encounter other survivors who may help or harm you. The choices you make will have a great impact on the ending of your story.

Inspirations: Far Cry 3 (Ubisoft Montreal and Massive Entertainment), Assassin's Creed: Black Flag (Ubisoft Montreal), The Witness (Thekla Inc.).

Environment design: Tropical island, abandoned fishing village, dense rainforest, pirates den.

Western Town - A small western style town with saloons and old-style buildings.

Inspirations: Read Dead Redemption (Rockstar), Call of Juarez (Techland).

Environment design: Dusty and abandoned streets, western old-style buildings, tumbleweeds.

Sci-Fi Space Station - A space station with futuristic architecture, AI-controlled robots, claustrophobic corridors.

Inspirations: Dead Space (Visceral Games), Alien: Isolation (Creative Assembly), Prey (Arkane Studios).

Environment design: Interiors and exterior of a space station.

FINAL IDEA - SANCTUM BUNKER

For my major project, I was mostly drawn to the idea of exploring a post-apocalyptic environment due to its potential for storytelling and world-building. The decision was also influenced by a game concept called MUTAGEN, which I began developing over the last summer. Building upon this foundation, I saw that my final project could be an opportunity to delve deeper into creating a specific environment within this world: the SANCTUM Bunker. 

MUTAGEN Game- A post-apocalyptic adventure

In MUTAGEN, players dive into a post-apocalyptic wasteland consumed by the deadly Chimera virus. A group of survivors, known as The Pioneers, has created a fortified bunker called SANCTUM. Their mission is to reverse the virus’s effect and restore the world. But the wasteland outside is a nightmare, filled with mutated creatures and deadly hazards. Players must navigate the hostile terrain, uncover the virus’s secrets, and confront the horrors that now roam the land.

More information about MUTAGEN concept can be found in the Game Design Document available here.

SANCTUM - The heart of MUTAGEN

SANCTUM Bunker is an environment part of MUTAGEN game. The bunker is the central hub and refuge for the player and The Pioneers. It is a massive underground bunker carved into a rock that provides shelter from the outside horrors.

The bunker features some key areas including:

• Entrance and Security - The security area features reinforced steel doors, security checkpoints, and decontamination chambers. This area introduces players to the bunker's safety measures.

• Central Atrium - The social heart of Sanctum, with communal spaces, gardens, and a sense of openness despite being underground.

• Laboratories - Cutting-edge research facilities where the battle against the virus unfolds.

• Medical Bay - The place of healing and recovery. Advanced medical equipment, surgical tables, and a well-stocked pharmacy are found here.

• Living Quarters - Connected to the central atrium, these areas house the survivors and The Pioneers. Each living space is uniquely decorated, reflecting the personalities of its occupants.

• Hydroponics - Food production is critical and this is the place for growing plants, usually crops or medicinal plants, without soil, by using water-based mineral nutrients. 

• Workshops - The place for crafting tools and weapons, repair equipment; workbenches, welding equipment, and stacks of scrap materials are prominent here.

• Command Centre - this is a high-security area featuring a large control room with advanced computer terminals and surveillance screens.

MOTIVATIONS

One of the primary motivations for choosing environment design as my final project is the opportunity to showcase my ability to create a detailed game-ready environment. It's not just about crafting a visually stunning scene; it's about make it functional and interactive, ready for players to explore and lose themselves in. I want to demonstrate that I can take a concept and transform it into a world that players can become part of.

I am motivated to apply my diverse skill set, skills that I have acquired and honed over the past years of study and practice, to this project. From 3D modelling and sculpting to texturing, lighting and optimization, I am excited to put every skill in my toolbox to good use. 

Lastly, my motivation for this project comes from my desire to prove that I am more than ready to tackle the challenges of the games industry, an industry that is known for its fast-paced evolution and high standards. I believe that an environment project makes a perfect portfolio piece for aspiring environment artists.