Concept
SEPHIRA-03 is a real-time adventure and stealth point-and-click, blending puzzle and action phases while following a gripping narrative in a retrofuturistic cyberpunk atmosphere spanning the 80s to the 2000s. Take control of the security cameras to accomplish your objective with the help of the robot Binah, who will develop a human consciousness over the course of the story and forge bonds with the player's character.
Test the demo
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My work
As project lead, I was in charge of all project organization & management as well as the team. I supervised each area of the game to make sure the intentions were respected. I managed to keep my teammates' respect and keep them engaged in their work, as well as make the sometimes difficult decisions needed for the project to reach completion. As the guardian of coherence, I contributed to writing and Narrative, Level Design, System Design, Art Direction, and more.
This includes:
- Organizing meetings, setting up reverse schedules, a shared Notion to track the planning of each project step over 1 year, and a task system for the team.
- Creating the project's main storyline, supervising and co-writing the scenario.
- Co-designing the various mechanics and how they work.
- Level design and full dressing of level 3 "Scaffolding", 0 "Intro - Bedroom" and Menu; and partial work on levels 2 "City" and 5 "Kether". Partial development of the "Kether" level mechanics.
- Writing a detailed GDD split into several documents each dedicated to one aspect of the game.
- Implementing assets (3D, Sounds and Music, Textures, etc…).
- Supervising and connecting the GD team with the 3D and OST departments.
- Creating style guides & precise description documents on the intended design of characters, environment assets, textures, etc. Likewise for the original music.
- Managing and developing the shaders.
- Designing the UI & how it works, and creating its assets.
- A large part of the Sound Design.
This project is one of the most difficult and rewarding I've had the chance to work on, and it truly taught me an enormous amount about the pre-production and production process of a game. Between working in an interdisciplinary team, the many setbacks that arose throughout and that we managed to overcome, and the need to bounce back quickly, I came out of it stronger.
GDD extracts
Gameplay
Navigate a megabuilding by moving through the surveillance system you hacked. Help Binah reach the top of the building, and witness her evolution toward human consciousness.
The game focuses on its core pillar: stealth. Setting combat aside in favor of an advanced detection system that accounts for light, distance, the visible part of the body, and even sound.
GDD excerpt
Story
You acquired a hacking USB key, but it didn't give you access to what you were looking for. Instead, here you are inside the security system of the GINKGO yakuza clan, and they won't let that slide.
Worse still, you witnessed their strange experiments on robots, and now your only option is to use one of them to erase your tracks and ensure your safety. But what strange behavior — this Binah has such a highly developed AI, and her story is more than intriguing. What have you gotten yourself into this time?
The team
SEPHIRA-03 is a video game made as a final-year project by a team of 4 Game Designers, Jodie HANN, Enzo POLI, Alexis LION and Loïck MAHEO. Along with 3 3D artists, Mattis AUDEBOURG, Léa COQUARD and Christelle CUTAYAR.
The original soundtracks are composed by Ilona HANN and Sophie LAPORTE. With exclusive tracks composed and provided by Jean-Phillipe HANN.
