DISCOVERY

DISCOVERY is an interactive edutainment application created for children aged 8 to 12. The project aims to make history accessible and engaging by allowing young explorers to travel across a virtual globe and dive into ancient monuments through detailed, interactive 3D dioramas.

- Technical Development & Systems Architecture :

As the sole programmer on this project, I was responsible for the entire technical backbone developed in Unreal Engine 5 using only Blueprints.

My primary challenge was to create a seamless bridge between educational content and gameplay. I developed a data-driven system connected to Google Sheets, allowing the team to dynamically update texts, images, and variables for every Point of Interest (POI) without touching the code. Thanks to this architecture, the project is highly scalable: new monuments and locations can be added almost instantly by simply updating the database.

To make the navigation intuitive, I designed a custom camera controller and a dynamic world map. A key feature of the planet navigation is a procedural material I built; it intelligently handles level-of-detail by revealing country borders and names based on the user's zoom distance. I also spearheaded the entire UI/UX design, focusing on immersion through a profile selection system that welcomes the user into the experience.

- Performance & Optimization :

Beyond functionality, stability was a core priority. I ensured the application ran smoothly by:

- Optimizing Material Complexity: I kept instruction counts low and streamlined the shading for the dioramas.

- Asset Performance: I balanced the visual quality of the 3D models with strict performance constraints.

- Pipeline Stability: I implemented PSO (Pipeline State Object) caching to eliminate micro-stutters and ensure a hitch-free experience from the very first launch.

- The Experience :

The application features three iconic sites: The Colosseum, Petra, and the Baalbek Complex. Each diorama includes a custom "Time-Shift" animation that I helped orchestrate, allowing children to see these ruins restored to their original architectural glory.