Spell VFX

In this assignment we were tasked to create a short experience that invoked a specific emotion or reaction in the player. I decided quite quickly that I wanted to focus on awe as my emotion. This presented a slight problem, as the most typical way awe is achieved is through vast detailed landscapes and well-crafted models, things that I couldn't create in the seven days allotted, so I narrowed my scope to specifically spell/magic effects. I created multiple particle systems using Niagara to symbolize five main effects.

1. a ring of smoke that "initialized" the player's powers.

2. a fireball that exploded when colliding with other objects (the explosion effect being the only one I didn't create myself)

3. a lightning charge that could electrify lightning rods, and the bolt of lightning that comes down from the sky when it hits a target

4. sparks that shoot out from the players feet when they activate their super-jump

5.  a resonating pink and blue orb that replenishes the player's magic, and then subsequently quits the game.

My hope is that when people finish playing the game they say: "That was pretty cool.". This desired reaction was met by my friend Nick, who is the one playing in the video.

Feedback I received after peer playtesting:

• I need to fix a glitch where the lower door closes after a few seconds, potentially trapping the player.
• I need to fix a glitch were the superjump will occasionally stop functioning after the first usage.
• Remove the ability for player collision to turn on the lightning rod, which I thought I had already done.
• Add a function where the player snaps to the direction the camera is facing when they cast a projectile spell (fireball or lightning charge)
• move fourth textbox to a different location so players don't get trapped by the closing door.
• See if there's a way for the lightning spark particles to always spawn on the floor of the level, as opposed to the area of impact. 
• Add sound effects to enhance the intended feeling of each spell.