Masquerada: Songs and Shadows
Release Date: 30th September 2016
Studio: Witching Hour Studios
Engine: Unity
Masquerada: Songs and Shadows is a single-player tactical RPG set in a Renaissance-inspired city of magic, where real-time combat can be paused to set up elemental combos powered by Venetian-styled masks.
Job Title: Level Design Intern
Responsibilities included:
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Collaborating with quest and game designers, artists, and programmers
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Integrating quest NPCs
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Level Design​
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Populating levels with NPCs to create a living, breathing world​
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Planning and implementing patrol routes
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World building via props
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Invisible wall boxing to mimic a 3D space with 2D art
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Integrating environmental VFX​
R
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Image Credit: Dominic Chan
Base Map
Base Map
Image Credit: Dominic Chan
Hall of Songs (Exterior and Interior)
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Environmental storytelling with background NPCs
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VFX
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Falling leaves​
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Gentle breeze across map
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Localized under trees​
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Glowing plantlife
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Gentle flowing water​
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Base Map
Image Credit: Xin Wen Tong
The Bleeding Beetle
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Environmental storytelling with background NPCs
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Crowd watching performance​ at tavern area
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Rowdy town
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VFX
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Mid-strength water currents​
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Initial Art Style Test
Image Credit: Xin Wen Tong
The Astiguary
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VFX
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Dust particles sparkling under sunlight​ through windows
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Faint glow of light sources (lamps, fireplaces, plantlife)
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Base Sketch
Image Credit: Peter Tanuwidjaja
The Golden Canvas, Bazaar
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Environmental storytelling with background NPCs
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Populated market crowd and shops​
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Integrated props to fill market space from scratch with a variety of goods in shops
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Horse carts parked at front of Bazaar
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Overview
Working on Masquerada allowed me to become more familiar with how a 2.5D game is made to replicate the feel of a 3D space.
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​Making a static 2D map feel like a real, living 3D space required me to pay close attention to details in the environment, both virtual and real. By observing in the real world the way dust sparkles under the light, the faint glow of back-lit windows at night - even a flat image can be turned into a breathing world.
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Base Map
Image Credit: Dominic Chan
The Registry (Courtyard + Pale Isle)
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Environmental storytelling with background NPCs
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Training grounds​
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VFX
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Strong water currents​
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Mist from waterfall
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Flames
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Glowing cinders in the air
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Glow of lanterns and lit windows
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Invisible wall boxing to create 3D space
