UNITY GAME
PROJECTS
This section showcases my Unity-based game design projects, where I combined visual storytelling, interactive design, and technical execution to craft immersive player experiences. From ideation to final execution, these projects highlight my skills in level design, environment creation, and gameplay development.
UNITY GAME PROJECTS
This section showcases my Unity-based game design projects, where I combined visual storytelling, interactive design, and technical execution to craft immersive player experiences. From ideation to final execution, these projects highlight my skills in level design, environment creation, and gameplay development.
A USC GAMES JUNIOR THESIS PROJECT
CTIN 489 | INTERMEDIATE GAME DESIGN & PRODUCTION
Inspired by the nostalgic charm of retro platformers, Jambot’s Groove is a vibrant 3D platformer set in the wacky world of Jam City, a musical metropolis! But oh no! - the retched Beat Bandit has stolen the city's groove! No fear, with his rhythm and his flow, Jambot, the hero of Jam City, must embark on a journey to restore the city's groove.
OVERVIEW TRAILER
David Nguyen (Creative Director: Environment Art, Music & Audio, Level Design, Narrative, UI)
Claire Tolles (Programming Lead, Gameplay Mechanics, Character Modeler)
A USC GAMES JUNIOR THESIS PROJECT
CTIN 489 | INTERMEDIATE GAME DESIGN & PRODUCTION
David Nguyen (Project Lead: Environment Art, Audio, Level Design, Narrative, UI)
Claire Tolles (Programming, Gameplay Mechanics, Character Modeler)
InfoBot:
Inspired by the nostalgic charm of retro platformers, Jambot’s Groove is a vibrant 3D platformer set in the wacky world of Jam City, a musical metropolis! But oh no! - the retched Beat Bandit has stolen the city's groove! No fear, with his rhythm and his flow, Jambot, the hero of Jam City, must embark on a journey to restore the city's groove.
MAIN TRAILER
OH NO! JAM CITY LOST IT’S
GROOVE!
THE RHYTHM CENTER OF THE WORLD!
THAT RETCHED BEAT BANDIT . . . NOT ONLY DID HE LEAVE JAM CITY IN SHAMBLES - HE STOLE THE GROOVE! JAMBOT! THANK GOODNESS YOU’RE HERE! WE NEED YOU - YOUR RHYTHM . . . YOUR FLOW . . . TO RESTORE THE GROOVE OF JAM CITY! YOU CAN DO IT JAMBOT! THE FATE OF JAM CITY DEPENDS ON YOU!
OBJECTIVE:
RESTORE THE GROOVE!
RESTORE THE 3 JAM FACTORIES
JAM CITY IS POWERED BY 3 JAM FACTORIES, DRUMS, PIANO, AND GUITAR, WHICH DRIVE THE CITY’S GROOVE AND RHYTHM.
OH NO! JAM CITY LOST IT’S
GROOVE!
THE RHYTHM CENTER OF THE WORLD!
GROOVE RESTORED
POST BEAT BANDIT ATTACK
START GAME
LEVEL ONE COMPLETE
PowerBot
…POWER LEVELS… CALCULATING … JAM CITY … 0% GROOVE . . . CRITICAL CONDITION!!! WE CAN NOT BUST A MOVE!!!
QuestBot:
. . . THAT RETCHED BEAT BANDIT . . . NOT ONLY DID HE LEAVE JAM CITY IN SHAMBLES - HE STOLE THE GROOVE! JAMBOT! THANK GOODNESS YOU’RE HERE! WE NEED YOU - YOUR RHYTHM . . . YOUR FLOW . . . TO RESTORE THE GROOVE OF JAM CITY! YOU CAN DO IT JAMBOT! THE FATE OF JAM CITY DEPENDS ON YOU!
FriendBot
…STAY CALM, POWERBOT! HAVE NO FEAR - JAMBOT IS HERE TO SAVE THE DAY! HINTBOT - HOW CAN JAMBOT HELP US?
RESTORE THE 3 JAM FACTORIES
HintBot
LEVEL TWO COMPLETE
JAM CITY IS POWERED BY 3 JAM FACTORIES, DRUMS, PIANO, AND GUITAR, WHICH DRIVE THE CITY’S GROOVE AND RHYTHM.
OBJECTIVE:
RESTORE THE GROOVE!
LEVEL DESIGN
The level design for the Jam Factories draws inspiration from the dynamic platforming challenges of Tick Tock Clock in Super Mario 64, focusing on a mechanical and evolving environment.
INSIDE THE JAM FACTORIES
Progressive Interaction: Players activate groove buttons scattered across the level, which serve both as progression markers and interactive switches. Each button powers up sections of the factory, including gears, lights, and moving platforms, visually showcasing progress.
JAM FACTORY
THE DRUMPORIUM!
FULL LEVEL PLAYTHROUGH
Mechanical Theme: The level’s design reflects the inner workings of a music factory, where every obstacle doubles as a functional part of the rhythm-restoring process.
JAM FACTORY #1
THE DRUMPORIUM!
FULL LEVEL PLAYTHROUGH
STARTING AREA
BOUNCE DRUMS
Mechanical Theme: The level’s design reflects the inner workings of a music factory, where every obstacle doubles as a functional part of the rhythm-restoring process.
LASER JUMPS
FINAL GROOVE
HEAR THE
GROOVE!
Soundtrack Integration: A key design choice was to tie progression to the music itself. Every activated groove button adds a new instrumental layer to the soundtrack, reinforcing the player's impact and creating an auditory sense of momentum.
HEAR THE GROOVE!
Soundtrack Integration: A key design choice was to tie progression to the music itself. Every activated groove button adds a new instrumental layer to the soundtrack, reinforcing the player's impact and creating an auditory sense of momentum.
JAM FACTORY
THE PIANORAMA!
FULL LEVEL PLAYTHROUGH
JAM FACTORY #2
THE PIANORAMA!
STARTING AREA
XYLOPHONE BRIDGE
Platforming Challenges: The obstacles ramp up in complexity with each button activated, encouraging players to adapt to new mechanics and environments while maintaining a rhythm-oriented flow.
PIANO RUNWAY
SPINNING LASERS
HEAR THE
GROOVE!
HEAR THE GROOVE!
DEVELOPMENT:
IDEATION, PLANNING, EXECUTION
This next gallery showcases the planning and development processes behind Jambot’s Groove. From using Figma for task organization and burndown charts to track progress, using FL Studio for the game’s original soundtrack, putting it all together in Unity Engine, presenting brain trust progress presentations, to conducting playtests and analyzing data for iteration, these visuals highlight the structured approach taken to ensure a polished final product.
ORIGINAL GAME PROJECT
CTIN 289 (GAME DESIGN FUNDAMENTALS) | FALL 2023
DAVID NGUYEN (LEVEL DESIGN + ART DIRECTION)
M . MO (USER INTERFACE + PROGRAMMING)
ORIGINAL GAME PROJECT | CTIN 289 (GAME DESIGN FUNDAMENTALS) | FALL 2023
DAVID NGUYEN (LEVEL DESIGN + ART DIRECTION) M . MO (GAMEPLAY + PROGRAMMING)
LEVEL DESIGN
SOULSNATCHER IS A 2.5D SIDE-SCROLLING SURVIVAL HORROR GAME.
THE OBJECTIVE IS TO HUNT FOR
THE 13 SCATTERED SOULS
OF YOUR FALLEN FRIENDS, WHILE AVOIDING
BEING HUNTED DOWN BY THE VICIOUS
SOULSNATCHER.
LEVEL ONE LAYOUT SKETCH
LEVEL ONE UNITY BUILD
GAMEPLAY VIDEO
INTERIOR DESIGN STILLS
LEVEL DESIGN
SOULSNATCHER IS A 2.5D SIDE-SCROLLING SURVIVAL HORROR GAME. THE OBJECTIVE IS TO HUNT FOR THE 13 SCATTERED SOULS OF YOUR FALLEN FRIENDS, WHILE AVOIDING BEING HUNTED DOWN BY THE VICIOUS SOULSNATCHER.
LEVEL ONE CONCEPT SKETCH
LEVEL ONE UNITY BUILD
