Fossil Finder

Project Overview

Fossil Finder is a VR fossil excavation game that allows players to learn about the species the fossils are from and the paleontological process, given the tools and environment. This project was developed for the Florida Museum of Natural History as they have an abundance of fossils found in Florida and would like a fun and interactive way for the museum visitors to view and learn about them. With VR, our team can give players the environment to learn in a safe and inexpensive way.

DEVELOPMENT

Game Engine: Unity 3D

Asset Design: Maya, Substance 3D Painter

Device: Optimized for the Oculus Quest 2

Timeline: August 2023 - December 2023

TEAM

Ana Thomas: Level/Game Design, UI, 3D Art

Brendan Caruso: 3D Art, Unity

Nick Reno: Project Manager, Programming

Thad Muchnok: Programming, Shaders, Unity

Zoë Mithaug: Programming, UI, Unity

Concept Art and Wireframe

Environment Design

We designed the environment realistically, based on actual dig sites. Because we worked with the Florida Museum of Natural History, we specifically referenced the Montbrook Site, a local dig site the museum uses for excavations.

ASSET DEVELOPMENT

In our collaboration with the museum, we were able to download their 3D scans of real fossils found in Florida. However, these fossils were very high poly, so we had to bring them into Maya and retopologize them, and then bring them into Substance Painter and repaint them. Some of the assets we were able to find for free on the Unity Asset Store to streamline development like the truck, sandbags, rocks, and crates. Other assets like the trees and grass are 2D images to help with the game’s performance. However, assets such as the pickaxe, brush, bucket, shovel, and bottle cap were made from scratch in Maya and then painted in Substance Painter.

Interaction Design

Our team designed Fossil Finder’s interactions with the audience in mind. Because this game was to be featured at the Florida Museum for museum visitors, we wanted to keep interaction as straightforward and intuitive as possible. Therefore, there are no buttons required for the player to push. Instead, we attached controller attachments so that the player felt less like they were holding controllers and more like they were holding tools. The player uses their right hand to swing the pickaxe, breaking the ground until they find a piece of the fossil, and their left hand to brush away dirt and assemble the fossils which will automatically snap into place.