DEV LOG 1: A Dungeon Crawl of Challenges and Growth

Greetings, fellow gamers and developers! Today, I am thrilled to kick off a new chapter in my creative journey as I embark on a brand new game project in Unity. Through this blog series, I aim to document the trials, tribulations, and ultimate TRIUMPHS that come with developing a combat-focused, 3rd person action game.

Join me as I strive to push my limits, learn and grow, and build something truly remarkable from scratch.

Setting the Stage

So what is PROJECT DELVE? Well right now, it’s an idea— but one which will guide the larger development of the project and help define the game’s central pillars. As of right now, I want DELVE to follow these design paths:

  • Dungeon Crawler with some version of procedural mapping.

  • Realtime Combat Focus, to appeal to a larger audience.

  • A message depicting the need for green energy and environmental responsibility.

  • Local Coop, so my brother and I can throw ourselves down on the couch and just hang.

DELVE can’t be just an idea though, it’s gotta get into the engine ASAP, so people can actually see what the project is! So, this week marked the inception of what I hope will become a passion-filled and transformative project. To lay a solid foundation for my game,

I began by focusing on two essential aspects: player movement and cameras. These core mechanics are fundamental in creating an immersive and engaging gameplay experience. Whether it's leaping across treacherous chasms or skillfully evading enemy attacks, fluid and intuitive player movement forms the backbone of any action game.


Simultaneously, I delved into the realm of camera control, understanding the intricate dance between dynamic perspectives and gameplay visibility. Carefully sculpting transitions between both a Combat and Exploration camera, depending on the current state of the player. In exploration mode, player can view themselves in the environment, immersing themselves into the game scene, whereas the combat camera focuses on the player easily maintaining visibility on their targets and receiving enough information to snappily dodge incoming danger.

A Journey of Growth

This blog series is not just about the final product but also about the road leading up to it. My primary focus throughout this project is personal and professional growth. I aim to shy away from taking the easy route by relying heavily on pre-packaged asset packs that offer quick wins with scripts and functionality.

While art and animations play a vital role in creating a visually stunning game, I believe that tackling the more technical aspects on my own will strengthen my skills and deepen my understanding of game development.

As a developer mostly focused on turn-based projects, I am striving to hone the following aspects of skills outside the realm of documentation but within the hands-on experience that the Unity game engine provides:

  • Animation Integration

  • Animation Timing

  • Realtime Combat

  • Smooth Controls

  • Responsive and Snappy Combat

Challenges Await

Undoubtedly, there will be challenges and hurdles along the way. Debugging code, optimizing performance, and fine-tuning mechanics are just a few aspects that will require my utmost attention and dedication. However, I wholeheartedly embrace these challenges as opportunities for growth. Each obstacle I overcome will propel me forward, armed with newfound knowledge and expertise.

Victories Await

With every challenge conquered, every bug squashed, and every line of code optimized, I will celebrate small victories. These triumphs will serve as reminders of the progress I have made, instilling in me a sense of pride and motivating me to push even further. As I look back on all that I have achieved, it will be hard to believe, that PROJECT DELVE started as an idea formulated in this DEV LOG.

Hunter FoxComment