FPS Exploration Project<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||1px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”6bf86192-85a4-4f7f-8c0b-4de3aaf980e8″ min_height=”381px” custom_padding=”||2px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”a02f871b-c316-4d7d-a16b-1660fe17b8f5″ text_font_size=”25px” text_line_height=”1.6em” custom_margin=”||-2px|||” text_font_size_tablet=”25px” text_font_size_phone=”18px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]
This first person shooter exploration project was made in Unreal Engine 4. The player finds themselves by a dream-like lake and must purify all the cursed pillars in order to progress. There are also collectable manuscripts that are tracked along the player’s run.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This project was a culmination of almost all of my skills in game development: level design, lighting design, blueprint programming, particle systems, material creation, and AI design. I learned an array of lessons regarding best practices for the game development process, especially within Ue4. I used a number of Unreal Marketplace asset packs as well as some custom textures and models in order to bring this level to life.<\/p>\n
<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/matthew.merinocreations.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/HighresScreenshot00001.jpg” title_text=”HighresScreenshot00001″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ border_radii=”on|14px|14px|14px|14px” border_width_all=”9px” border_color_all=”#0C71C3″ box_shadow_style=”preset1″ box_shadow_color=”#000000″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||2px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”6bf86192-85a4-4f7f-8c0b-4de3aaf980e8″ custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”a02f871b-c316-4d7d-a16b-1660fe17b8f5″ text_font_size=”74px” min_height=”96.4px” custom_margin=”||-11px|||” custom_padding=”||0px|||” text_font_size_tablet=”74px” text_font_size_phone=”35px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]
FPS Exploration Demo Video<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”20px” custom_padding=”2px||0px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider color=”#000000″ divider_position=”center” divider_weight=”2px” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”-6px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ prev_background_color=”#ffffff” next_background_color=”#ffffff” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_stops=”#ff7200 0%|#f9d234 100%” background_color_gradient_start=”#ff7200″ background_color_gradient_end=”#f9d234″ min_height=”598px” min_height_tablet=”598px” min_height_phone=”301px” min_height_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”3px||4px|||” top_divider_style=”ramp2″ bottom_divider_style=”slant2″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” module_alignment=”center” custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_video src=”https:\/\/youtu.be\/1s__wlLIgCQ” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_video][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”11px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”20px” custom_padding=”2px||0px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider color=”#000000″ divider_position=”center” divider_weight=”2px” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”-3px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_gallery gallery_ids=”1732,1733,1734,1736,1737,1735,1738,1731″ posts_number=”20″ show_title_and_caption=”off” show_pagination=”off” zoom_icon_color=”#FFFFFF” hover_overlay_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.19)” hover_icon=”T||divi||400″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”99.8%” max_width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|-25px||||” custom_padding=”0px|3px|0px|0px|false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ border_width_all=”5px” border_color_all=”#0C71C3″ box_shadow_style_image=”preset4″ box_shadow_blur_image=”16px” box_shadow_color_image=”rgba(0,0,0,0.5)” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_gallery][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”20px” custom_padding=”2px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider color=”#000000″ divider_position=”center” divider_weight=”2px” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ prev_background_color=”#ffffff” next_background_color=”#ffffff” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_direction=”90deg” background_color_gradient_stops=”#0f02ff 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0) 100%” background_color_gradient_start=”#0f02ff” background_color_gradient_end=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” custom_padding=”4px||4px|||” top_divider_style=”wave2″ top_divider_height=”82px” bottom_divider_style=”wave2″ bottom_divider_height=”37px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”a02f871b-c316-4d7d-a16b-1660fe17b8f5″ text_text_color=”#FFFFFF” text_font_size=”44px” min_height=”62px” global_colors_info=”{}”]
The Process…<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”537.7px” custom_margin=”|auto|-25px|auto||” custom_padding=”||5px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”a02f871b-c316-4d7d-a16b-1660fe17b8f5″ text_font_size=”25px” text_line_height=”1.6em” custom_margin=”||-2px|||” text_font_size_tablet=”25px” text_font_size_phone=”18px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]
My process with this project began with creating a “mood board” in Photoshop, using reference images from Google. Through doing this I gave my mind a more clear understanding of what aesthetic I was trying to achieve. Key aspects I wanted to include consisted of a forest, light shafts, exponential height fog, and a large variety of rocks\/foliage.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I made use of a variety of Unreal Marketplace assets in order to create this environment, some of which include “temperate Vegetation: Spruce Forest” by Project Nature and “Soul: Cave” by Epic Games.<\/span><\/p>\n After gathering assets and having a clear outline of what my environment should look like, I was ready to begin designing the game’s level and mechanics.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/matthew.merinocreations.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/FPSExploration_MoodBoard01-scaled.jpg” title_text=”FPSExploration_MoodBoard01″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” max_width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” min_height=”319.5px” custom_margin=”||-3px|26px||” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”a02f871b-c316-4d7d-a16b-1660fe17b8f5″ min_height=”87px” global_colors_info=”{}”] Mood board I created in Photoshop to get the vision of how I wanted my environment to look.<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”20px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider color=”#000000″ divider_position=”center” divider_weight=”2px” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_5,1_5,3_5″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”a02f871b-c316-4d7d-a16b-1660fe17b8f5″ text_font_size=”20px” width=”100%” min_height=”42px” custom_margin=”||32px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”] Before Iteration:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_gallery gallery_ids=”1743″ posts_number=”1″ show_title_and_caption=”off” show_pagination=”off” zoom_icon_color=”#FFFFFF” hover_overlay_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.59)” hover_icon=”T||divi||400″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_gallery][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”a02f871b-c316-4d7d-a16b-1660fe17b8f5″ text_font_size=”20px” min_height=”42px” custom_margin=”||32px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”] After Iteration:<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_gallery gallery_ids=”1744″ posts_number=”1″ show_title_and_caption=”off” show_pagination=”off” zoom_icon_color=”#FFFFFF” hover_overlay_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.59)” hover_icon=”T||divi||400″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_gallery][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”a02f871b-c316-4d7d-a16b-1660fe17b8f5″ text_font_size=”25px” text_line_height=”1.6em” custom_margin=”||-2px|||” text_font_size_tablet=”25px” text_font_size_phone=”18px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”] I started environment creation by using Ue4’s landscape tool and sculpting the general shape of the terrain. I had to keep in mind the scale of the player relative to the mountains to make sure they were able to navigate easily.\u00a0<\/p>\n While simply sculpting the mountains was sufficient, I wanted a more realistic look to the mountains’ form. I ended up integrating a height map from Tangram Heightmapper – an open source height map website – into the existing height map that I sculpted. I blended sections of the new height map data on top of my original sculpted height map in Photoshop, resulting in much more realistic mountains.\u00a0<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”20px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider color=”#000000″ divider_position=”center” divider_weight=”2px” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||3px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”a02f871b-c316-4d7d-a16b-1660fe17b8f5″ text_font_size=”25px” text_line_height=”1.6em” custom_margin=”||-2px|||” text_font_size_tablet=”25px” text_font_size_phone=”18px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”] Regarding the mechanics, I used the blueprint system in Ue4 to make fun and engaging player inputs\/interactions. I added mechanics, such as dash, grab, sprint, pick up, and projectiles. I made use of custom events and interfaces to allow for variable usage between multiple blueprints.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_gallery gallery_ids=”602,603″ posts_number=”2″ show_title_and_caption=”off” show_pagination=”off” zoom_icon_color=”#FFFFFF” hover_overlay_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.59)” hover_icon=”T||divi||400″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_gallery][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”20px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider color=”#000000″ divider_position=”center” divider_weight=”2px” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/matthew.merinocreations.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/FPSExploration-Intro-Cinematic-GIF.gif” title_text=”FPSExploration Intro Cinematic GIF” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”a02f871b-c316-4d7d-a16b-1660fe17b8f5″ text_font_size=”25px” text_line_height=”1.6em” custom_margin=”||-2px|||” text_font_size_tablet=”25px” text_font_size_phone=”18px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”] I was also able to practice my composition and cinematography skills using Ue4’s level sequencer tool. With this tool I was able to make an intro cinematic showcasing where the player will be journeying throughout the level.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" FPS Exploration ProjectThis first person shooter exploration project was made in Unreal Engine 4. The player finds themselves by a dream-like lake and must purify all the cursed pillars in order to progress. 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