Blacksands
About the Project
Platform: PC
Genre: FPS, Puzzle, Knowledge Vanilla
Description: Blacksands is a puzzle game, Knowledge Vanilla and an FPS. In this game, you play as a gladiator trapped in a time loop, forced to fight again and again for the entertainment of a sadistic alien audience. You and your ally can only rely on the knowledge acquired during your previous lives to hope one day to break this endless cycle.
Download: itch.io
Project Details
Development: Fourth-year student project developed at IIM
Production Time: 12 weeks
Status: Released
File Size: 854 MB
My Contribution
Sunlight Detector System
One of my major contributions to Blacksands was the development of a sophisticated Sunlight Detector System that added dynamic lighting mechanics to the game. This system allows game designers to easily implement sunlight-responsive objects by adding just a few components to any actor.
Designer-Friendly Implementation
The system is designed to be easily implementable by game designers. They can add sunlight detection to any actor by simply adding a few components, making it accessible for rapid prototyping and iteration.
Technical Implementation
The system is built using C++ Actor Components and C++ Components for performance and reliability, while remaining accessible to game designers through Blueprint Callable Delegates. This architecture allows designers to easily tweak and customize the sunlight detection behavior without needing to modify code, providing the perfect balance between technical robustness and design flexibility.
Visual Effects Comparison
Door System
Platform System
Jump Pad System
The system provides dramatic visual feedback, with objects displaying different VFX states when unlit versus when illuminated by sunlight, creating engaging environmental storytelling.
Weapon System
I developed a sophisticated weapon system that combines technical performance with designer accessibility, featuring hitscan mechanics and extensive customization options.
Weapon Overview
The weapon was designed as a hitscan weapon, utilizing line traces instead of actual projectiles to register hits. This approach provides instant feedback and precise hit detection. The team is currently considering reworking the weapon to use projectiles for enhanced gameplay mechanics.
Blueprint Integration
Following the same architectural pattern, the weapon system is built in C++ but implements several Blueprint Events. I also created the blueprint part of the weapon, allowing game designers to tweak weapon behavior, add feedback, and enabling sound designers to implement sounds after specific events like reload or weapon pickup.
Designer-Friendly Variables
The system showcases variables editable per instance of the weapon, allowing game designers to easily tweak weapon behavior without touching code. This provides maximum flexibility for balancing and iteration during development.
Team
Lead Game Programmer
Lucas Guichard
Game Programmers
Chloé Mathias, Alexis Le Bourhis, Yanis Rojano-Rajonson
Game Artists
Flora Denis, Galadriel Lavasier, Ivan Bon
Game Designers
Tristant Bauchet, Antoine Pinson, Eliass Godson, Simon Lenain
Production and Marketing
Fantin Dahmani, Hugo Reymondet
Sound Designers
Dan Ravot, Benjamin Macé