Game Programmer
Jetpack Penguin
Jetpack Penguin is a 3D 3rd-Person Platformer where you play as a penguin named Pluck who uses a jetpack to collect trophies, defeat enemies, and navigate the world. It’s inspired by games like Super Mario Sunshine and uses jetpack mechanics and sliding physics to encourage fast and smooth gameplay.
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Jetpack Penguin was developed in Unity by a full team of 13 over the course of the Fall 2019 semester. Over this time I served a a programmer. Current plans are to continue development beyond the end of the semester.
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One my main tasks as programmer was to create the special ability systems. The first of which is a bomb throwing ability. With a simple press of a button a player can throw a bomb in front of them at a defined trajectory. Alternatively they can use a targeting system. If enemies are in view the player will lock onto the one closest to the center of the screen. From there, they can target between the enemies using the right stick. The bombs thrown freeze enemies and create platforms on lava.
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Another ability I developed was the system of picking up ice blocks. When facing an ice block the player can pick up the ice block. From there they can either throw the block or drop it directly in front of them.
Player ability script: here
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Additionally, I worked with the designers to create objects and systems that they could use throughout their levels. These included main objects like the collectibles, doors with pressure plates, moving platforms, and crumbling platforms.
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I also fronted the development of the UI. I designed and implemented the menu screens, pause menu, and player HUD. With the HUD this included syncing several systems up to it, like the number of collectibles found, health and lives left, and the amount of fuel the player currently has. This also meant I helped create the options menu enabling the player to adjust volume, to restart the level, and whether or not to display button instructions.
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And finally, I lead the way in finding bugs and defects throughout the development. As a member of my University's Quality Assurance Organization they would test Jetpack Penguin on a bi-weekly basis. I would then communicate the bugs and issues found with the rest of my team. I constantly kept track of known bugs, making sure the more important bugs would be solved timely.