The following project is all work in progress and is still in active development.
I have recently been working as Co-Creative Director on version 2 of our flagship app Marco Polo: World School which is due to launch in Q1 2020.
Working as one of three creative directors on the project (alongside a Lead Illustrator and Lead Graphic Designer) we are each responsible for directing the products artistic style into a fun, cohesive package that children will love to explore.
My aim for this project is to enhance the look of our 3D front end and improve on what was presented in V1.
The Adventure Map
The Adventure Map is a new addition to Marco Polo: World School and presents a new curated Learning Journey for the user every month with topics ranging from Forest and Space to Human Body and Inventions. Each stop on the map represents a new lesson that features a video and a related game and quiz set within that topic. With each lesson completed, the next stop opens up. The map is an important visual tool to show the users their progression whilst letting them feel they are on a Learning Adventure with the Polos and can be accessed from the Hub Classroom at anytime.
Adventure Map Gameplay Concept Captured Directly From Unity
As soon as I was tasked with generating ideas for how the Adventure Map could look, I knew exactly what I wanted it to be: an isometric world inspired by games such as Overcooked that changes its appearance based on the type of topic covered in that Learning Adventure. I built the above concept using Forest and Space as example topics to showcase how the visuals could look as well as how we could animate and even transform the Polo Mobile based on those areas. I also wanted the map to feel like a pop-up book of sorts, as if this part of the app was actually taking place within a miniature world within the Hub Classroom. This style also worked well on a technical and production level as well as asset production time was greatly reduced by not having to build a lot of detailed 3D assets and polygon count is also kept low so we can keep the map loaded in the background of the app if needed.
Polo Mobile Model & Animation In Unity
Polo Mobile Animation & Rig Captured In 3Ds Max
The Polo Mobile can into transform from a van into several types of vehicles including a submarine, space shuttle, plane, planet rover and a boat. For this proof of concept I animated the Polo Mobile transforming from it's van state to its shuttle state. This included the transform animation as well as idle and driving loops for both states.
Modular Tile Assets For The Map
Even at the concept stage it was important to work out how the map would be built using as little assets as possible. The current approach is to procedurally generate the map and so it is built using a modular tile system with changeable textures depending on the topic type. Popup assets use an atlas template that is designed to allow for different props to be quickly changed on the existing model by swapping textures.
Adventure Map Post Processing: Colour Grading, Vignette & Tilt Shift
Whilst in the Adventure Map users can earn rewards that unlock various badges and prizes around the app. The Rewards can be tracked and viewed in the Awards Book will be accessible by a button in the Adventure Map. The following image is a concept of a 3D book and how that would look overlaid on the Adventure Map.
So far the Adventure Map has been the most exciting part to develop for World School V2 and the team, including myself, are excited about this new feature and getting it in game.