CHEAH SZE VERN
Game Programmer, Unity Developer
I CAN'T REACH THE STARS
2D Story-Driven Interactive Visual Novel
A story-driven experience that follows an unnamed writer who is trying to piece himself back together after
parting ways with a lover.
PROJECT DETAILS
Project Type: University Final Year Project (Individual)
Genres: Story-driven, Visual Novel, Casual, Single Player
Game Engine: Unity
Language: C# Programming
Software: Unity, Visual Studio Code, Adobe Photoshop, Atom, Adobe After Effects
Platforms: Windows PC (Published on Itch.oi)
Duration: ~ 4 Months (Jan 2022 - April 2022)
GAME FEATURES
Down-to-earth tale about connection, belonging, and letting go
Interactive and cinematic narrative experience delivered through different forms of storytelling
Three minigame gameplays that follow the concept of ludo-narrative resonance
MY CONTRIBUTIONS
Role(s): Writer, Programmer, Designer
Completed the narrative development of the game: the writing of the story screenplay, character dialogues, short stories, etc
Scripted the entire flow of the visual novel events using the external text editor "Atom", and using Unity to interpret the chapter text files
Edited art assets from credited external sources using Adobe Photoshop: character sprites, CGs, Backgrounds, visual effects, etc
Designed three minigame gameplays that contribute towards both the interactive aspect of the experience, and the delivery of the narrative through gameplay
Programmed the core visual novel functions (speaker name, dialogue box, dialogue typewriting effect, dialogue skipping, background art, character sprite movements, character expressions, visual effects, player choices, interactable icons, scripted events etc)
Programmed the three gameplay systems (maze minigame “WASD movement” gameplay, town exploration minigame “point-and-click” gameplay, reconnecting polaroid minigame “drag-and-drop” gameplay)
Programmed the user interface system functions (main menu, pause menu, end-credits actions)
Programmed the sound effects and background music system
Programmed the saving and loading system