top of page
Donovan Rennaker

Distant Echo
![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
---|---|---|
![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Platform:
Windows PC
Engine:
Unreal Engine 4
Language:
Unreal Blueprints
Duration:
13 months
Completion:
2018
Project Background:
Distant Echo was originally developed as a project during the Global Game Jam in 2017. The Global Game Jam is an event where teams all across the world design and develop a video game in 48 hours. Each year has a different theme for the weekend. In 2017, the theme was waves. The team I was a member of used this theme to design Distant Echo based around the idea of sound waves. After the Global Game Jam was completed and the other members decided not to continue development of the project. I took the shell of the project and finalized the concepts and features. I also optimized and refactored the project features to make the features more streamlined.
Project Overview:
Distant Echo is a randomly generated world that you and your friends must race to find the resonating sound through the darkness. Distant Echo supports 1-4 players on the same computer. Players may use power-ups and traps to get the upper hand and find the source of the sound.There are different types of power-ups that the players can use to give themselves an edge over the other players, such as breadcrumbs to help with navigating the world, glow sticks to help illuminate the darkness, speed modifiers that allow you to temporarily move quicker, and a shield that will temporarily protect you from other player's attacks. Players can also lay traps that will attack the other players if picked up, which include the ability to lay a fake goal sound, a shocker which will remove an inventory item, and "Lights Out" which will turn off all the lights in the room around the player. Once a player has found the goal, the world is regenerated and players must find their way through a brand new world.
Project Details:
Project Role:
-
Concept
-
Game Designer
-
Player System scripting
-
Power-Up System scripting
-
Fix issues with Random World Generator
-
Finalize Level Design
-
Optimization
-
User Testing
Game & Level Design:
-
Detailing and lighting to rooms
-
Added stairwells to create multi-floor worlds
-
Random Power-Up placement
-
Finalized Random World Generator
Scripting:
-
Player input (WASD/controller movement)
-
Split-screen
-
Player Inventory with bindings for Power Up placement and cycling
-
Power up interaction and affects
UI:
-
All In-Game menus
-
Controller interaction with menus
-
Menu sounds
bottom of page