Voyage to Mars is a class project focused on building a VR experience in Unreal Engine. The project, split between 18 students, focuses on the development of 3D assets in a shared work environment.
As students handling the project, each individual is required to communicate with the other students daily, create and adhere to our own deadlines, and fulfill multiple roles in our work environment, including Concept artist, 3D modeler, painter, programmer, and UV specialist (UV specialist is usually covered by 3D modeler).
Treachery Stalk is one of the many carnivorous plants native to mars. When the seeds of this plant are growing, they'll die if not growing near at least two more seeds. The reason for this is because the seeds rely heavily on the nutrients in the ground to provide energy for their hard shell, and a single seed can't even sprout past the dirt if growing alone. Together, the seeds will share nutrients until they have sprouted past the surface line, and from there, all is fair in love and war. The plants begin eating away at each other, taking nutrients from the others as they grow. You'll notice 1 of the three rods seems to wilt during its growth cycle. This is due to the other two stalks teaming up on the third to take the most energy.
By the third week, it's a gamble to see which plant rises the most, but by the sixth week you'll know exactly which of the three is the top dog. The plants will never take too much nutrients from their neighbors because they need them to continue living in order to survive themselves. The rods of this plant are heat insulators, and the bulb will use it's transparent mesh outlining to recycle oxygen, producing an intense heat and bright light. The bulb of the smallest plant is hot enough to burn human skin upon contact. Insects that fly too close to the bulb burn their wings and legs off, falling to the leaves below where they are trapped within the Treachery Stalk's kingdom of decay, slowly becoming more nutrients for this ever burning spectacle.
"The egg model of the VR Chair was not made by our company, but adapted from a 3rd party retailer. This model encompasses the user in a semi-translucent, yoke-like fluid, that matches the user's body temperature to simulate the feeling of reduced gravity. The egg essentially acts as a deprivation chamber first and foremost, before allowing the user to interact in the VR experience. Due to health concerns, our engineers added monitors to the original design so we may view the visuals of the participant, as well as keep track of their condition in the egg and the fluid levels of the tank. Some might say this is a less humane model, and that rather than adapting it to the company standards, it should have been scrapped … I would agree. However, the company insisted that if third parties were going to make our chairs, we should ensure those chairs follow proper safety guidelines."
- Engineer at 'Voyage to Mars'
When creating the ship model, William was tasked with designing concept art, but to ensure that his interior design of the ship was well documented, he made a 3D mock up of the interior in Maya.
M.A.L.M
The Magnetic Adjustable Laser-Guided Mechanic, or "MALM", is the engineering bays personal robotic companion. Deployed via the airlock, the MALM moves in space through the release of air from its rear thruster, turning in place by way of the shifting magnetic force applied to its various panels. The MALM's high powered laser allows for quick repairs to the hull, and the MALM can be deployed in space for up to 4 hours at a time.
Engineering Room.
The engineering room is small, but efficient. With a single monitor, the engineers are able to view all damages, energy reports, and malfunctions, deploying MALM bots and personnel to repair and contain. Behind the engineer's panel is the ship's engines, powered by a newly developed fuel. This viscous fluid holds the power of a nuclear reactor in liquid form and is contained by thick windows and layers upon layers of hardened alloys. Leaks in the engines can be repaired on site.
The Ship’s Lounge.
The lounge was created in MAYA with the request that the back wall use monitors to simulate space. Otherwise, William was allowed to fill the area with his own ideas for furniture and appliances. The end product included a couch, two tables, chairs, three monitors, a drink machine, a snack machine, a pinball machine, and various food designs.
