In this project, I acted as the gameplay programmer and -director. I was mostly responsible for implementing all the gameplay related systems, like the player controls and interactions, map mechanics, upgrades, game modes and the tutorial. I also worked on several other tasks, like performance optimisation, working with artists and sound designers, creating shaders, colour palettes and an autoplay AI that helped with automated testing, balancing and footage recording.

Coral Cove was created over the course of one-and-a-half years as our Master’s project at the University of Applied Sciences in Salzburg by a core team of three programmers. We also received help from several other students that created assets such as the coral models and textures, Steam achievement icons and the original soundtrack.

This game actually started off as a third-person online multiplayer game. It has come quite a long way from the first prototypes to what it is now.

Coral Cove is the biggest project I have worked on to this day, and I was able to make many new experiences throughout the development process. This was my first ever game released on Steam and my first time of getting to work with a community accompanying the development process. We got to exhibit at several gaming festivals like the Gamescom in Cologne or the LEVEL UP in Salzburg and do many other fun side projects like creating a port for an Arcade machine. In this game, I probably also had the biggest responsibility I’ve ever had in a team project, being responsible for the entire gameplay programming and -direction.

We are very grateful for the amazing assets we received from other students and the kind and supportive community that has been built around the game which has provided us with many ideas and bug reports and appreciate all the generous help and support we received from our project advisor, colleagues, families and many others.

We went through many ups and downs with this project, but I am very proud of what we have achieved as a team.