ABOUT THE PROJECT

Angel's Pass is a VR experience that takes you on a dreamlike car trip through a quiet countryside route known as Angel's Pass - a place where not everything is as it seems.

At first seeming like a normal on-rails VR ride, Angel's Pass uses environmental storytelling to portray its deeper themes - memories, death, and acceptance. The titular Angel's Pass itself being a place from an unknown person's memories, as they relive it before they pass. The final trip they take through it becomes a representation of their passing.

This was a university group project to create an art showcase for my Art & Technology minor. Angel's Pass was made in Unreal Engine using a combination of self-made and free assets.

CONTRIBUTION

Project Leader

I coordinated with my project mates to create and achieve the visual style and themes of the project.

Environment & Technical Artist

Planning out geography, sculpting landscapes, placing map assets, adjusting environment lighting, and more. This was done in Unreal Engine 4.

3D & 2D Artist

As with every member of the project group, I contributed to the project's 3D assets - modeling in Blender, and texturing in Substance Painter. I was also the primary source of 2D assets, which were all made with Photoshop.

3D ASSETS

DINERS

I modeled a set of two diners in different configurations and themes. Inspired by 70's roadside diners, I wanted to give these buildings a sense of aged identity. Not quite run-down and not quite popular watering holes either, these businesses thrive on its modest local customer base.

MOTEL

A motel built in association with the Hollowgrounds National Park, the Hollowgrounds Motel and Cafe was designed with a wilderness cabin aesthetic. The motel's modest amenities mostly serve travelers and truck drivers merely passing through the sleepy Angel's Pass.

BILLBOARDS

I created a set of billboards that add to the visual style and environmental storytelling of the project. The billboard contents were also designed by myself, with a focus on hinting at the game's themes.

ENVIRONMENT DESIGN

A Vague Memory of a Place

Angel's Pass was inspired by North American interstate routes. A major theme of the project is the reliving of one's memory - which will vary greatly with any audience. The choice of our geographical inspiration was meant to draw from the prevalence of American locations in media with which many around the world grew up with. Artistically, this was also our preferred aesthetic to portray our "nostalgic car ride" in.

A Setting Sun

The Angel's Pass demo takes place close to sunset.
More than just an aesthetic choice, the nearing of sunset makes the moment feel transitory - like a fading memory.

Angel's Pass Map

Originally used as a concept and plotting map for the project, I made this map as an immersive supplement which was printed and given to our audience.