What my Game Programming 2 class thought would be "just another project" rapidly evolved into a 6-month long foray into "the real thing". The first six months of my second year in game design at COTC were devoted to the creation of our first 3D game: The Cydonia Complex; a first-person shooter set on Mars.

Our group consisted of three modelers, two level designers, one programmer, one audio designer, one producer and two lead designers.

You might be thinking "Wait, TWO lead designers? How would that work?" Simply put, a few jobs were rearranged three months in and I became the new lead designer. We didn't have a person standing in as producer from the beginning and we lacked needed clarity and vision. When the first LD stepped into the producer's shoes (he did a great job!) I took over the roll of LD.

Originally my job was designing the large exterior levels and asset creations (models, textures, etc), but with the responsibilities of lead designer I was forced to up my game and take a more active role in the production of The Cydonia Complex.

While it was a student project, four years schools are constantly amazed at the production quality and advanced skill levels of everyone who took part of the The Cydonia Complex. While not a AAA game of any means, the effort and perseverance we put into the project fixes it as a permanent part of my portfolio.