PROJECT VESPERI

The premise of this game is that a geode is discovered on Venus and might hold the clue to alien life. Evelyn, a top researcher is flown in to examine the object. Colonel Bradford also arrives at the station on a mission to secure the geode, which has become a matter of national importance for the United Colonies, who doesn’t have time to mess around. Of course there’s a power struggle and the player, through the perspective of Evelyn, must make the correct choices in this branching narrative game, where your decisions influence the outcome.

This was my first time using a motion capture suit. It was great to suit up and see your digital avatar move around the space. In post, the “mo-cap” movements, facial expressions captured by the GoPro strapped to our face, and audio would all be married together. An AI algorithm would transfer our facial expressions onto a 3D avatar and our imported onto a fully built out and designed digital character. Talk about AWESOME! I have now been immortalized in the digital world as Colonel Bradford!

Of course there were a few technical issues, and the word “re-calibrate” was a sign we’d be working late into the night. This method of acting was unique in that most of what we did wasn’t captured by the camera, but the energy and effort of all those who participated was out of this world! Haha.Get it?

If you hear the pre-slate scene number, one can tell that there were many different takes, many different scene possibilities where the player could lead the main character. Quick time events, having to push a particular button at the appropriate time, story structure and decisions the player makes have real consequences in this game.

Going to Venus is no simple task. This adventure into the digital world of Project Vesperi the video game, written by Trevor Gore and Directed by Brandon Hill was a delightful challenge. A thesis project by very talented Chapman University students, this game is proving to be one of my most anticipated projects I’ve worked on.

Again, my fiancé was the reason I was able to participate in this project. The director reached out to Sophia Khan for the role of Evelyn, the lead researcher and protagonist of the story. Since they hadn’t cast her nemesis yet, Colonel Bradford, I was fortunate enough to drop in and take on this role. Blast off! www.VESPERIGAME.com

I also had the great pleasure of working with Julia Cornell, who played a researcher named Helen & Dareionte’ Kinder who played another researcher named Jesse.

This was such a fun experience and I can’t wait to play this game. The cinematic nature and feel of the final product is going to be great! It will come out on Steam in the middle of 2023. A gaming party will be had! So grateful I was part of this project and so excited to play PROJECT VESPERI!