Jiggly Realms: Crafting a Jelly-Filled Fantasy World
For my final project in World-Building for game design, I wanted to create a bright, fun, and colorful virtual world that felt immersive yet unique. After reflecting on fantasy worlds I enjoyed in games and media, I initially considered candy and food-themed lands. However, since candy-based environments are commonly used, I refined my concept to focus solely on a world made of jelly and gelatin. This decision allowed me to explore a fresh and whimsical aesthetic while still incorporating familiar elements of playful, fantastical design.
Flyover with explanation:
Walkthrough:
Concept Development and Inspiration
To bring "Jelly World" to life, I needed to design an environment that felt cohesive, interactive, and visually compelling. My primary inspirations came from:
Fantasy worlds in media, especially vibrant, exaggerated landscapes with strong thematic elements.
The properties of gelatin. Its translucent, wobbly texture, bright colors, and soft, bouncy nature inspired the material choices.
Simple yet effective geometric designs. opting for stylized, rounded forms instead of intricate modeling to enhance the fun and playful atmosphere.
Tools and Techniques Used
For this project, I utilized a variety of software and tools to shape my world:
Nomad Sculpt: Chosen for its intuitive modeling workflow, it allowed me to create the organic, smooth forms I envisioned without much complexity.
Unity’s Particle Effects System: Used to add small interactive and atmospheric touches that complemented the jiggly aesthetic of the world.
Sketchfab: Assisted in previewing, saving, and managing assets during the development process.
MagicaVoxel: Explored for potential voxel-style accents, though the primary focus remained on soft, organic modeling.
Overcoming Challenges
One of the biggest challenges I faced was making the world look compelling despite my struggles with 3D modeling. Initially, I found it difficult to translate my ideas into models using traditional modeling programs. However, Nomad Sculpt proved to be a more intuitive solution, allowing me to craft shapes that fit the world’s theme without excessive frustration.
Another issue arose with shaders. Even after transitioning to a new HDRP project, I encountered persistent difficulties getting them to function as intended. Instead, I leaned heavily on textures to achieve the jelly-like appearance I was aiming for, using vibrant colors and material effects to bring out the gelatinous quality of the environment.
Final Outcome
The result was an engaging and visually striking jelly-themed world that felt fun and immersive. By carefully selecting colors, textures, and simple yet effective particle effects, I was able to create an environment that embodied the whimsical nature I envisioned. Despite technical challenges, I was able to adapt and find alternative solutions that kept the project on track while still maintaining high artistic quality.
Conclusion
This project pushed me to refine my skills in world-building, modeling, and visual storytelling. Although I faced obstacles, particularly with shaders and modeling, I learned valuable lessons in problem-solving and adapting to different tools. By focusing on a strong thematic direction and leveraging effective design choices, I was able to create a world that stands out in both concept and execution. "Jelly World" represents a unique and playful addition to virtual world design, demonstrating how simple shapes and textures can come together to form an engaging, interactive experience.