CODE: RAIN – Daniel Haynes

Project Details

Project Type: Student Project

Genre: Old-School FPS, Roguelike

Engine: Unreal Engine 4

Platform(s): Itch.io

Language: C++, Blueprints

My Roles: Creative Director, Game Designer, Gameplay Programmer, Sound Designer, Level Designer, Voice Actor.

Skills Developed: Leadership, Collaborative Brainstorming, Unreal Blueprints, Level Streaming, Physics-based Gameplay, Roguelike Design Philosophies, Weapon Feel, Modular Level Design.

Game Description

CODE: RAIN is a fast-paced, old-school FPS where you run at high speeds through a randomly generated cyberpunk city of ghastly monsters – just one of the corrupted elements falling apart in this digital dreamscape.

A monolithic wall of code grows ever closer as you run through challenging rooms of enemies trying to stop you. Each run is different, the rooms switch with each run, enemies and weapon placements different each time.

However, with each run you gain more and more credits to spend on permanent unlocks to use on future attempts. Guns and modifications can be purchased from the in-game hub and equipped before each run.

There are 6 unique weapons to collect and use to tear through 7 different enemy types as you brave the gauntlet.

Can you escape the program?

Game Republic – Student Showcase 2022

CODE: RAIN was a final year team project game at the University of Huddersfield. Right as the project was complete, we decided to take it to the Game Republic Student Showcase 2022.

We set up the game at an assigned stand and had it judged by members of the public as well as professionals from industry – namely Sumo Digital, Red Kite, Rebellion, Barclays Games, Revolution, Rockstar, and Distinctive Games.

During the event, we got to show off our game to many people to a very positive reception! It was super fun to get my first glimpse of the games industry as everything up to this point had been a hobby.

After the judgement phase, we were invited to a lecture hall where the awards were finalised and presented…

and… our game ended up tying for the most awards at the event!

I was so unbelievably happy and honestly in a bit of a trance, having to walk up and sit down only to stand up and go down for another award. It was a surreal first experience that I certainly won’t ever forget.

By the end, we had won 3 whole awards from industry veterans! 1st Place for Art + Animation, 3rd Place for Game Design, and 3rd Place for Sound Design. The last award of which was particularly surreal as the sound design on CODE: RAIN was entirely my own contribution to the project!

Overall, it was an electric experience that has led me to become a member of Game Republic and attend their events as a full developer as of today!