{"id":300,"date":"2026-04-04T18:08:17","date_gmt":"2026-04-04T18:08:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/?p=300"},"modified":"2026-05-12T17:44:13","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T17:44:13","slug":"daydream-personal-diary-6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/2026\/04\/04\/daydream-personal-diary-6\/","title":{"rendered":"DAYDREAM PERSONAL DIARY #6 FINAL LEVEL DESIGN"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This week was a little slow as I got back into the project following last week&#8217;s kerfuffle. After a long conversation with the rest of my team, I believe we&#8217;re mostly over the communication boundary and can move forward with the project. With this in mind, I&#8217;m optimistic that we&#8217;re not majorly behind our schedule for producing a minimum viable product in time for the playtest. While we wouldn&#8217;t have any 3D assets prepared, I anticipated this all the way back when drafting the timeline in the presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I started creating the main menu UI in Unreal Engine. The logo was something I made in Affinity that I decided to use as the title image. Affinity is an Illustrator\/Photoshop competitor and has a similar suite of tools. I achieved the effect painlessly by applying special effects to some text (just like in Photoshop) and created the butterfly using a vector layer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"667\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/04\/image-16-1024x667.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-303\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/04\/image-16-1024x667.png 1024w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/04\/image-16-300x196.png 300w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/04\/image-16-768x501.png 768w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/04\/image-16-1536x1001.png 1536w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/04\/image-16.png 1918w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unreal Engine has a very convenient set of tools to create UI, outlined in a tutorial I followed to create this main menu. All of it is done through GUI, and within half an hour I had it set up, at least visually. Buttons, texts and images can be easily inserted and blueprints can be easily attached to those elements to give them a function.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"How To Create A Main Menu - Unreal Engine 5 Tutorial\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/kumZj_mov58?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"667\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/04\/Screenshot_20260404_185642-1024x667.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-302\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/04\/Screenshot_20260404_185642-1024x667.png 1024w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/04\/Screenshot_20260404_185642-300x196.png 300w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/04\/Screenshot_20260404_185642-768x501.png 768w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/04\/Screenshot_20260404_185642-1536x1001.png 1536w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/04\/Screenshot_20260404_185642.png 1918w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As I said earlier, I&#8217;m also interested in SFX work. I&#8217;ve used the DAW Reaper in the past, but I&#8217;ve begun experimenting with it to edit samples. For now, I just added in one sound effect in Unreal for the UI. But for the playtest I&#8217;d like to do something more ambitious. I&#8217;ve been paying attention to the use of audio in video games when I play them as they deliver such a huge effect to the atmosphere. Many of the games I play are survival and based outside with a lot of natural ambience. Adding a hint of that despite how artificial the environment is could hint at the surreal nature of the setting. Echo or a reverb effect would also add a lot of depth<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"721\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/04\/Screenshot_20260314_203840-1024x721.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-301\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/04\/Screenshot_20260314_203840-1024x721.png 1024w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/04\/Screenshot_20260314_203840-300x211.png 300w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/04\/Screenshot_20260314_203840-768x541.png 768w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/04\/Screenshot_20260314_203840.png 1113w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I went about recreating the concept art that I had created before the previous playtest. This time I did it in a  document format with all of the annotations in text to be a lot more readable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kamilla made a really great reference document that helped me with this design work. It contained 100 mb worth of images and blueprints. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I decided to go with creating 1.5 levels. There would be one full level that allowed the player to explore and solve puzzles freely, which would lead into the &#8220;second&#8221; level, a single, fixed perspective which would contain the final puzzle to allow the player to beat the game. The first level would be in a contemporary, modern pool style, based off of the Transvaal building in Moscow that was wedge shaped with a curved roof. Then this would give way to the older, basilica-inspired environment of the final level. It would give a sense of progression, that the player had made their way into a deeper part of the girl&#8217;s psyche and was about to overcome her anxieties and fears. I felt like this was really important to convey as it complimented the story and even a small detail would interest the player and draw them into the dream world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Below are some images from Kamilla&#8217;s reference documented. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"798\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/04\/image-20-1024x798.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-310\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/04\/image-20-1024x798.png 1024w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/04\/image-20-300x234.png 300w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/04\/image-20-768x598.png 768w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/04\/image-20-1536x1196.png 1536w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/04\/image-20.png 1746w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I even sculpted this idea out in clay first. It really helped communicating the sense of perspective i was going for and it was quite fun. The player would traverse the outer perimeter and arrive back where they started to progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I ended up incorporating the platforming elements as Jeremy seemed to be keen on them. It also helped account for our lack of complex puzzling mechanics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/04\/image-18-1024x768.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-308\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/04\/image-18-1024x768.png 1024w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/04\/image-18-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/04\/image-18-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/04\/image-18-1536x1152.png 1536w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/04\/image-18-2048x1536.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Below are axonometrics that further elaborate the spatial view of my level design as well as a perspective drawing of what level 1.5 needed to look like. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"664\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/04\/image-19-1024x664.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-309\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/04\/image-19-1024x664.png 1024w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/04\/image-19-300x194.png 300w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/04\/image-19-768x498.png 768w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/04\/image-19-1536x995.png 1536w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/04\/image-19.png 2012w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"916\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/04\/image-21-916x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-311\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/04\/image-21-916x1024.png 916w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/04\/image-21-268x300.png 268w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/04\/image-21-768x858.png 768w, https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/04\/image-21.png 1267w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 916px) 100vw, 916px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This was level 1.5, my idea for the puzzle would be a tile sliding game that would unlock the VHS tape and end the game- adhering to the game pillars of using older technology to progress and unlock the endings. The tape represents memories and fears the main character processes throughout their dream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div data-wp-interactive=\"core\/file\" class=\"wp-block-file\"><object data-wp-bind--hidden=\"!state.hasPdfPreview\" hidden class=\"wp-block-file__embed\" data=\"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/04\/DAYDREAM-LEVEL-CONCEPT-1.pdf\" type=\"application\/pdf\" style=\"width:100%;height:600px\" aria-label=\"Embed of DAYDREAM LEVEL CONCEPT-1.\"><\/object><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-51f81cfa-dd80-495f-ab70-531d137d8c9b\" href=\"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/04\/DAYDREAM-LEVEL-CONCEPT-1.pdf\">DAYDREAM LEVEL CONCEPT-1<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/04\/DAYDREAM-LEVEL-CONCEPT-1.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-51f81cfa-dd80-495f-ab70-531d137d8c9b\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This week was a little slow as I got back into the project following last week&#8217;s kerfuffle. After a long conversation with the rest of my team, I believe we&#8217;re mostly over the communication boundary and can move forward with the project. With this in mind, I&#8217;m optimistic that we&#8217;re not majorly behind our schedule [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":50,"featured_media":303,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,26,27,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-300","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daydream-blog","category-ideation-uncategorized","category-production","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/300","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/50"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=300"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/300\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":372,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/300\/revisions\/372"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/303"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=300"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=300"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/er7g24\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=300"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}