Game Development
Creating Mobile Game Orbital Defence
Overview
Orbital Defence is a roguelite wave defense arcade game built for mobile devices. Players must survive increasingly intense enemy waves, using buffs and pickups to push for the highest possible score.
Each run offers the chance to collect currency, which can be spent on cosmetic upgrades to personalise your defensive setup between playthroughs.
Personal Growth
This project strengthened my understanding of gameplay readability and player feedback. It improved my skills in VFX, UI design, textures, and designing visual systems that communicate information clearly during fast-paced gameplay.
It also reinforced the importance of creating effects that not only look good but actively support the player’s decision-making throughout the game.
the process/behind the scenes
UI Design
The main player UI was designed with a classic retro arcade aesthetic. I first laid out all core elements in Photoshop, then implemented and animated the effects using Unity Blueprint visual scripting to ensure smooth performance and a nostalgic feel.
Technical Art
I handled all textures, VFX, and UI for Orbital Defence. The game launched with 10 planets, 5 bosses and 6 distinct enemy types. A key focus was creating clear and unique attack VFX for every enemy, allowing players to quickly identify threats and react accordingly during intense waves.
Overcoming hurdles
One of the most challenging aspects of the VFX was effectively communicating ship damage while keeping the game’s arcade feel. I wanted to avoid a simple flash, so I implemented a shield effect that flashes on impact. However, it still felt too flat, so I added directional impact indicators that clearly show the direction of incoming damage.
This gave players valuable extra information about where they were being hit, improving readability and gameplay feedback.