Stela
I had the pleasure of working with SkyBox Labs, in the creation of their multi platform, home grown ip, "Stela" .
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It was originally envisaged as a PC/Xbox title, but was also a launch title for Apple Arcade and was also available on Switch and Steam.
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I was the the main VFX artist on the project, including DLC's, but I was joined by Eric Cheng who helped for 3 months as we fought to get a 40gig game to an Apple friendly 3.2gig. The Engine was Unreal 4.20. Effects were accomplished using a mixture of blueprints, shaders and Cascade particle systems. Houdini was used to generate the Stela language that appears on the stone Stelas.
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VFX for the game was mostly environmental (Snow, smoke, sparks, fire), as well as debris, and trails. In later stages there was more magical effects like Stelas appearing and even an interactive rainbow road. Ultimately culminated in an exploding planet.
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Stella was made by a small team with in Skybox, and has a fabulous soundtrack by A Shell in the Pit.
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If you want to try it, it will take 3-4 hrs of your life and can be found on Steam here:-
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1048600/Stela/
Stela is available on many platforms, but this trailer shows some of the DLC's. I was responsible for all the fx, like snow, debris, dust, fire, sound wave, sparks
The elevator is attacked by beasts. VFX Wood debris and dust
The elevator compartment detaches from the rails. VFX- wooden debris, diust, sparks
A creature burrows and gives chase inthe snow. VFX- Snow, Snow trails and thrown snow
Something ancient destroys walk ways. VFX- Dust and debris. Scrolling Stela
Giant stelas appear from nowhere. and are read by pyramids. Rainbow road reacts to you running over it, surrounding you with light
VFX- Stela text, reading light, appearing Stelas, rainbow road effects
Steal starts writing message in a new land. VFX- scrolling Stela text
Unreal, foot vfx and decal decided by returned material from raycast and speed of character
Unreal foot vfx driven by speed and material under foot