Apex is a survival simulation game set in the Botswanian savannah that sees the player controlling a Leopard as they attempt to hunt a range of varied prey and avoid packs of hungry Hyena and the increasing presence of humanity.
Developed for PC in Unity Engine over a seven-month development cycle, this project allowed me to improve on what I had learnt working on Bloodsport taking on new development challenges in a whole new team of ten person team with another programmer, an animator, four artists, two designers and a sound designer. Apex was a great opportunity for me to learn how to design, implement and maintain more complex AI using behaviour trees.
My primary responsibilities on this project were:
- Create and iterate on a first person character controller
- Devise and utilise a visual design structure for designing reactive behaviour trees
- Develop and maintain a custom behaviour tree framework
- Design implement and iterate on four different animals with unique behaviours
- Create a visual extension for Unity to visualise and debug AI agents
- Work with all disciplines to implement and maintain assets in engine
- Lead and track work hours and project progress as scrum master
Taking on the creation of multiple animal AI structured in a behaviour tree framework allowed me to learn how to program more efficiently within it’s patterns to create dynamic behaviors for Springbok, Hyena, Meerkats and fellow Leopards.
Using a devised visual design structure I was able to create ‘living’ behaviour plans for each animal that simplified the transition from concept to implementation as branch designs were iterated on.
Overall, Apex was an ambitious project that gave me loads of room for professional development and the opportunity to work alongside another team of diversely talented people.
Rory O'Dwyer 