Anti-viRL

Game Design Process
"AntivIRL" is a cross-platform FPS designed to promote awareness about hygiene practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. Players must survive swarms of virus particles while practicing social distancing, sanitizing, and wearing masks. The game combines fast-paced combat with cooperative multiplayer gameplay, emphasizing teamwork for survival. Its modular design supports both PC and AR environments, ensuring accessibility and engagement across platforms.

Multiplayer & Networking
As the lead for multiplayer implementation, I integrated Photon (PUN 2) to enable seamless online gameplay. The networking system ensures real-time synchronization of player actions and interactions, allowing for smooth cooperative gameplay. I also adapted Google ARCore to work with the multiplayer framework, enabling players to experience augmented reality environments in a connected setting.

Game Mechanics
I was responsible for implementing all core game mechanics, including combat systems, player movement, and interactions. Players fend off virus swarms using weapons while managing resources like sanitizers and masks to stay alive. Mechanics were designed to reinforce the importance of hygiene practices in a fun and interactive way.

Augmented Reality & Cross-Platform Design
The game features an AR module powered by Google ARCore and Unity AR Foundation, allowing players to interact with virus particles in their real-world environment. The cross-platform design ensures compatibility between PC and mobile devices, providing a consistent experience regardless of platform.

AI & Reinforcement Learning
Enemy behavior was enhanced using Unity ML Agents to create adaptive AI for virus particles. These enemies learn from player actions, becoming more challenging over time. This dynamic difficulty system keeps gameplay engaging while encouraging players to strategize collaboratively.

Aesthetics & Visual Design
The game’s visual style uses assets modeled in Blender and designed in Affinity Designer to create a clean yet immersive environment. The AR implementation enhances realism by blending digital elements with the player’s physical surroundings, while PC gameplay maintains a cohesive aesthetic through consistent textures and lighting.

Game Flow
Players begin with basic tutorials on hygiene practices like sanitizing and masking before facing waves of virus particles. The cooperative multiplayer aspect requires players to rely on each other for survival, with increasing difficulty as the game progresses. The flow transitions seamlessly between PC and AR gameplay modes, maintaining engagement throughout.

Reflections
"AntivIRL" successfully combines educational objectives with engaging gameplay, earning third prize at the Covid-19 Gameathon organized by Angelhack. My contributions as the lead programmer for multiplayer integration and game mechanics highlight my expertise in networking systems and cross-platform development. This project demonstrates my ability to create technically robust and socially impactful games.