The Sphere Project - Evolving an online course game

As mentioned in a previous blog post, I decided to expand and evolve a project I began while following an online course on Unreal Engine Blueprints. The original game concept involved navigating through levels and collecting crystals while controlling a sphere. Wanting to integrate Wwise and bring the game to life with sound design, I set out to transform the project into something of my own; The Sphere Project.

The original version of the game where the player collects crystals and teleports to the next level through portals, once all of them have been collected.

Although this has been a personal side project, and progress has been slow, it has continued to grow nonetheless.

The current version of the game retains the core mechanic of controlling a sphere but introduces a new "tractor beam" ability. This feature allows players to interact with objects and doors to solve minor puzzles. Inspired by Portal and Viewfinder, I implemented devices that generate an energy cube (now randomized in shape for added flavor) and receptacles that unlock doors, allowing players to progress through levels. I also wanted to add a light narrative element, so there’s an off-screen voice providing guidance and a bit of backstory. (Let’s just say the scriptwriting isn’t exactly Oscar-worthy.)

Current version of the game showcasing the interaction with the doors and energy objects by using the tractor beam.

This could definitely be developed into a larger game, but the goal has always been to create a short, playable experience with integrated audio—short and sweet.

For visuals—materials, FX, and so on—I used free assets from the Unreal Marketplace (now known as Fab) and supplemented them with tutorials and resources found online. While the visuals aren’t perfect, they serve the project well and allow me to move faster, especially since I’m neither a programmer nor a visual artist.

Functionality-wise, most of the game is complete. Lately, I’ve been focusing on audio integration and sound design. Part of me also wants to compose music for the game, but that might come later down the line.

Now that this overview is covered, future posts can dive deeper into the process of adding sound to Unreal using Blueprints.