Elf Run
Meta Quest 2
Co-producer
Gameplay Programmer
VFX Technical Artist
OCT, 2023
About this project
Elf Run was originally an augmented reality (AR) game project developed during Round 2 of Carnegie Mellon University’s renowned course, Building Virtual Worlds (BVW) at the Entertainment Technology Center (ETC).
The goal of this project was to craft a cohesive, highly interactive, and engaging experience that gives naïve guests (guests who have no prior knowledge and experience with VR devices and games) the illusion of meaningful choice and freedom. At the same time, the design had to carefully guide players to ensure they had a fun and memorable experience within a short timeframe.
After the final presentation for BVW Round 2, the game was adapted into a full VR experience to accommodate the ETC Festival.
Elf Run Gameplay Demo
My Roles
As the co-producer on the team, I am responsible for managing key technical aspects of the project, including hardware compatibility, gameplay features, visual effects, and animations, to ensure they align with our quality standards and production schedule.
In my gameplay programming role, I focus on implementing the navigation system by integrating Unity’s NavMesh and NavMesh Agents, ensuring the Elf AI moves smoothly through the environment with minimal collision or pathfinding issues. Additionally, I developed a running strip visual effect for the elves to enhance their magical and swift appearance, further enriching the overall player experience.
My Development Recap
Navmesh & NavMesh Agent Prototype
Once the NavMesh Agents were running smoothly on the ground without critical bugs, we extended the system by implementing NavMesh on wall and NavMesh Links. This allowed the elves to transition seamlessly from the ground onto walls, enhancing their magical movement and behavior.
To further enhance the gameplay experience, we also added a green running strip visual effect that complements their dynamic traversal.
Festival Preparation
Since Elf Run was selected to be showcased and played by guests at the ETC Festival, we designed and decorated a custom cardboard photo frame, giving guests who enjoyed our game a fun and memorable way to capture the moment.
Team 21
Although we never chose a team name, we proudly identified ourselves by the team number assigned in class. It has been a true pleasure and privilege to collaborate with such dedicated teammates throughout this project.
