"Life is full of choices. We all make them, and they make us in return."
The Concept: “A Journey of self discovery”
The Journey is an interactive multi-platform experience created using Circles XR, developed by Anthony Scavarelli and A-Frame, a web-based platform that allows for users on VR, Desktop and Mobile to connect and play together. The experience itself is an allegory for self-discovery and our paths throughout life. As users navigate the path, they face questions that when answered award them with coloured shapes representing personal growth. By the end, users become unique pieces of abstract art and can enter a gallery of past users’ statues that they can add themselves to.
The experience's art direction was inspired by art styles such as cubism and abstract geometric art, and the environment was inspired by the Pixar movie Soul among other things.
Early art of the question arches and pillars. Created by Alex Di Nobile
Concept art for the player's first introduction to Gea, the player is just a small orb full of potential.
Art of the geometric rocks and vegetation. Created by Alex Di Nobile
Concept art for the gallery. Originally we imagined it would be a portrait gallery, it eventually evolved into a park with statues instead.
Concept art for the Path of Life, that the players would travel down.
My Role & The Team
I was a part of a team of 6 people made up of artists, coders, 3D modelers and sound designers, and I was the programming lead. However, as it was a small team we all worked on multiple aspects of the project. As the programming lead, it was my job to create interactions, design player generation, setup networking and more while ensuring everyone's beautiful assets fit together nicely within the digital environment.
I also took on an organization and production role, ensuring everyone stayed on task and aligned with the grander vision of the experience. Together we were able to make a really impressive product that I was proud to have worked on.
I also took on an organization and production role, ensuring everyone stayed on task and aligned with the grander vision of the experience. Together we were able to make a really impressive product that I was proud to have worked on.
All assets and images without attribution were created by me in full or in part.
The Player, An abstract impression of your decisions
Player character concepts on the left and some final game examples of player models on the right.
As the player walks through the Journey they will pass through 10 colourful gates scattered along the path, each one is the site of meaningful question that the player must answer to move forward. The questions start simple such as "what's your favourite colour?" and develop into ones with more nuance and depth like "Does true love exist?". Each answered question rewards the player with a shape that represents the decision they made and will become a part of their avatar.
The shapes that the player receives are based on the answers the player gives, however the colour, shape and scaling are not always entirely determined by a choice, instead they are often influenced by random number generation for at least one factor, ensuring that every player avatar is unique.
The goal was that at the end of their journey every player would be an abstract representation of all their experiences, and while other players could look and guess at what decisions they had made to look the way they do, only the player themselves would ever know for certain.
Characters
Gea, the guide of the Journey
Poly, the gallery attendant
There are two main characters that appear within The Journey. The first is Gea, the god of this world who welcomes and guides you as you walk the path. The second is Poly, the gallery attendant who tells you all about the experience and the gallery itself.
All the voice acting in the game, including that of both Gea and Poly was done by close friends of ours, which added an element of authenticity and depth as each question was voiced by a different regular person, and they all help bring life to the world of the Journey.
Game Walkthrough
As previously mentioned, The Journey was created using Circles XR and A-Frame an online VR platform, which sadly means the experience isn't always available to play. If you'd like to play it for yourself please visit the circles XR page and follow the installation instructions as the Journey has now been made a built in project. Otherwise please watch the edited video walkthrough below.
In-Game Screenshots
Gea wishing you well as you approach the first question of your journey.
An answered question presenting you with a shape.
Another player walking the path of life alongside you.
The statue gallery at the end of the path.
Poly floats next to a player's question answer summary.
A question with all possible answers on pillars.
Attributions
Coding:
Cole McMullin
Concept Art:
Alex Di Nobile
Cole McMullin
Animation:
Alex Di Nobile
3D Models:
Daniel Gagné
Conall Nelligan
World Design:
Cohen Ly
Alex Di Nobile
Music and Sound:
Daniel Gagné
Conall Nelligan
Voice Acting:
Thadine Sutherland as Gea
Diana Shaath as Poly
