VR PROJECT
Folklore / Adventure / Culture
During a summer folk art collecting course organized by our school, my classmates and I embarked on a journey to Yunnan, a southwestern province in China. Our decision was driven by a desire to escape the urban hustle and experience the tranquility of the grasslands and immerse ourselves in the vibrant culture of the local Naxi ethnic minority. Through extensive research and immersive cultural encounters, we discovered the captivating traditions of the Naxi people. Local residents described how they incorporate stars and the moon into their clothing, as well as their deep reverence for the North Star.
The ancient Chinese system of stellar division consists of three enclosures and twenty-eight mansions. Purple Forbidden Enclosure, often considered the central enclosure, is located in the central part of the northern sky. Purple Forbidden Enclosure, situated near the Big Dipper, is regarded as a pivotal region in ancient Chinese astronomy.
The Naxi ethnic minority is a minority group in Yunnan Province in southwestern China, known as the "people who wear the stars and the moon" due to their distinctive attire.
The Seven Stars Lambskin Shawl is a traditional costume of the Naxi ethnic minority. "Shouldering the sun and moon, wearing the seven stars" symbolizes the hard work of Naxi women. It also represents their yearning and pursuit of a better life.
At the shoulders, there are two large circular embroidered discs, representing the sun and the moon. Seven small colorful circular plates, representing the Big Dipper.
InsightWhat if we could make the cultural stories of the Naxi ethnic minority accessible to those who have never been there, allowing them to experience it as if they were there themselves?
The game "Ori" is set in a fantastical forest, and its glowing props and color palette have inspired me greatly. The overall style and visual effects of our game are mainly influenced by this game.
Our game is prepared to be presented in VR format, which demands high-quality model optimization. "The Last Campfire" is a cross-platform game that achieves excellent visual effects with low-polygon models, which has inspired our production process.
Our game adopts sandbox-style level design to divide different story chapters. When designing puzzles and scene layouts, we drew inspiration from the game "The Gardens Between," using island-like structures as the overall appearance of our levels.
Game Background: Player takes on the role of the North Star and, along with other stars, descend from the sky into the forest. Here, you encounter Dreama, the guardian of the stars for generations.
Player's Goal: With the North Star's unique abilities, player must help Dreama reach the mountaintop, retrieve the lost stars, and restore the forest's day-night cycle.
This is the VR panoramic intro animation from the original project page.
Base Color — Bark
Base Color
Base Color
Base Color
The name of this little girl is Dreama, and she lives in a tranquil village, taking care of a group of little sheep. Dreama is a pure and courageous girl. One day, the North Star falls from the sky, plunging the world into a deep slumber. However, Dreama, who ran into the forest in search of her lost sheep, narrowly escapes this fate and encounters the fallen North Star.
A group of adorable, soft sheep scattered throughout different areas of the scene. Players can pet the sheep, push them on swings, engage in jumping games with them, soothing the sheep, and eventually bring them back to Dreama's treehouse.
Simulating the falling of the North Star is achieved through a downward plummeting camera perspective.
When players enter the game, they will experience a panoramic starry sky in a first-person perspective. Players encounter guiding stars, proceed to the scene levels, and meet Dreama to kickstart the game's storyline as the north star.
