A cooperative crafting and assembly game developed in Unreal Engine 5 where two players embody small forest creatures working together to fulfill construction orders for their Oakfolks community using machines and tools that require mandatory collaboration.

OakfolksGame

Project Pitch

Oakfolks (development codename: "Becorn") is a cooperative game where the objective is to create constructions for the Oakfolks community using machines and tools that must be operated by two players working together. Set in a miniature forest world inspired by photographer David M. Bird's "Becorn" creatures, players take control of small plant-based beings living in harmony with nature.

The game is designed so that cooperation is mandatory - it is technically impossible to play solo, forcing constant synchronization between players.

Core Gameplay Loop:

Discover gameplay mechanics and explore the environment
Explore and gather resources, operate machinery collaboratively through QTE mini-games
Craft and assemble items using the recipe-based furniture assembly system
Validate completed orders by delivering crafted items to delivery points

Key Features

Mandatory Cooperative Gameplay: Requires constant player synchronization
QTE System: Event-driven Quick Time Events with real-time progress feedback and visual effects
Recipe-Based Crafting System: FurnitureAssembler with DataTable-driven recipes and delivery points
TriggerZone System: Zone-based interaction detection triggering contextual events (dialogues, UI, VFX)
Rope Physics System: Rope interaction mechanics with physics and specialized animations
Camera System: Dynamic tilt-shift effects with player distance-based framing constraints
High Five Gestures: Player communication through gestural mechanics
Interactive Environment: HDR lighting, firefly effects, interactive foliage, and physics-based objects
Machine Operations: Wood cutting, mushroom slicing, and assembly stations

Controls

The game requires 2 Xbox controllers for cooperative play.

Xbox Controller Layout

Movement → Left Joystick
Jump → A Button
Pick Up/Drop Items → RT/LT Triggers
Objective Toggle → RB/LB Bumpers
Mini-Game Actions → A Button, X Button, Left Joystick
Menu → START Button

QTE Mini-Games

During cooperative mini-games, different button combinations are required:

Wood Cutting: Synchronized joystick movements between players
Machine Operations: Context-sensitive button inputs (A, X, RB/LB)
Item Processing: Coordinated trigger pulls (RT/LT)

Team Credits

Game Design Team

Sacha Pessin - Lead Game Designer & Project Lead
- Jennifer Desselier - Game Designer

Development Team

Léo Séry - Lead Developer
- Thibaut Le Perf - Developer
- Louis Merldaud - Developer
- Mathis Deswarte - Developer

Art Team

Mathis Desage - Lead Artist
- Macélie Fouchier - Lead enviro DA
- Thomas Boufrioua - Artist
- Loïc Dubar - Artist
- Arthur Fernandez - Artist
- Yvan Alvarez - Artist

Concept Art Team

Eliott Fiengo - Concept Artist
Lola Pimentel - Concept Artist
Doriane Dessevre - Concept Artist
Sarah Fallous - Concept Artist
Tuhana Pea - Concept Artist

Audio Team

Arthur - Sound Designer
Pablito - Sound Designer
Victor - Sound Designer

Core Systems

QTE (Quick Time Events) System

Event-driven system managing cooperative mini-games with real-time feedback.

Key Components:

**UQTESubsystem**: Central subsystem with event-based architecture
**UQTEConfigurationAsset**: Data-driven configuration via DataAssets
Real-time Progress Feedback: Visual feedback during mini-games with VFX on completion
Input Validation: Support for Press, Hold, Release, and Rotate QTE types
Player Synchronization: Mechanics for asynchronous cooperative inputs

Technical Details:

Configuration-over-code approach using Unreal's DataAsset system
Support for complex interaction states and animation transitions
Visual feedback with particle effects and environmental responses

TriggerZone System

Modular component-based system for zone-based interaction detection.

Architecture:

**UTriggerZone**: Component-based system implementation
Contextual Event Triggering: Supports dialogues, UI elements, VFX, and lighting modulation
Proximity Detection: Detection system for gameplay interactions
Multi-Zone Support: Configurable zones for different interaction types

Applications:

Machine interaction feedback with visual cues
Environmental lighting system integration
Interactive foliage and physics-based responses
Door systems with interior/exterior transitions

Locomotion System

Movement and animation framework with multiple states.

Key Components:

**ILocomotional**: Interface-based system for specialized movement management
Multiple Modes: HoldingBox, WoodCutting, Climb, and other context-specific states
State Transitions: Animation state changes between different locomotion modes
Snap Point Management: Positioning for 2-player cooperative interactions

Camera System

Cinematic camera with framing constraints.

Features:

CinematicCamera: Integrated tilt-shift effects for diorama aesthetic
Dynamic Constraints: Player movement limits to maintain proper framing
Distance-Based Positioning: Camera positioning adapts to player separation
HDR Environment: HDR background integration
Configurable Settings: Vertical offsets and maximum distance parameters

Mini-Games System

Modular mini-games with DataTable-driven configuration.

Features:

Modular Function Library: Blueprint function library for quick iteration
Dual-Player Snap Points: Positioning with locomotion constraints
Recipe-Based System: DataTable-driven input requirements with real-time tracking
QTE Integration: Subsystem integration with progress callbacks
State Management: Player tracking and machine reset capabilities

Artistic Universe

OakfolksDiorama

The complexity of the environment lies in the macroscopic scale. Mushrooms had to be gigantic in size so that the scale matches our small characters. We also had to adapt our vegetation to convey the macroscopic aspect. As a result, our characters don't walk on grass but on moss! To have a scale reference, we created flowers or blades of grass that are larger than the moss strands.

However, the path had to be perfectly readable! Therefore, we implemented a color code, with a dirt path that our characters can follow, delimited by vegetation.

For lighting, to bring movement and life to our game, we used animated gobos in our Directional Light. This allows us to fake the shadows of oak foliage projected on the ground. In the game, only one Directional Light is used for exterior lighting, and there are also light blockers to have the foreground darker than the path!

OakfolksPath

This also allows us to guide players in the scene while keeping an optimized scene!

The workshop, less cluttered than the exterior, showcases the machines used by players. They are made of mushroom, which is the material in our universe comparable to wood.

There are also fruits that allow us to obtain dyes, and the acorn symbol in the woodwork which is the emblem of the Becorn people. As you will have understood, all our materials come from the forest that our characters have gathered during their adventures!

OakfolksTree

Here are the level art stages: first, the ground is laid with the largest props that define the play area. Then gameplay props and medium props are added. Finally, we place vegetation, meshes that dress the terrain, and adjust the lighting.

LevelArtProcess

Environment & Level Design

Workshop Environment

Workshop Layout: Optimized workshop placement and interior elements
Interactive Elements: Physics-based object handling with collision detection
Door Systems: Interior/exterior transitions
Environmental Details: Moss trees, reworked stumps, forest ground texturing

Visual Elements

HDR Lighting: Environmental lighting system
Particle Effects: Firefly effects around wood-cutting machines, pollen systems
Interactive Foliage: Physics-enabled plants
Machine Feedback: Visual feedback effects when QTE completes

Character Animation System

Trunk & Flower Animations: State transitions with contextual responses
Rope Interactions: Animations for rope handling and physics
Tree Climbing: Locomotion system for vertical movement
Object Handling: Pick-up/drop animations

Installation & Setup

Development Environment

Requirements: Unreal Engine 5.4 or later
Clone the repository: https://github.com/LeoSery/Project-Becorn--UnrealEngine5-2024.git
Clean and rebuild: Run the .bat file named "BuildSolution" located at the root of the folder
Open Becorn.uproject in Unreal Engine
Generate Visual Studio project files (right-click .uproject → Generate Visual Studio project files)
Play in editor

For Players

Download the latest release from GitHub Releases
Latest Version: Gold 1.14 (July 2025)
System Requirements:
- Windows 10/11 (x64)
- DirectX 12 compatible graphics card
- 8GB RAM minimum
- 2GB available storage
- 2 Xbox Controllers required

Core Design Pillars

🤝 Cooperation

Players can only progress together. Every challenge requires synchronized effort between both players.

🏠 Cosy

The game is accessible to a wide audience. Mechanics emphasize approachability over difficulty.

🔍 Curiosity

Exploration and engagement with the environment is rewarded and encouraged.

Version History

Gold 1.14 *(July 2025)* - Final release with audio integration, UI polish, credits screen, and performance optimizations
Beta 0.6 *(May 15, 2025)* - Rope system overhaul, TriggerZone system, High Five feature, HDR lighting, and machine bug fixes
Alpha 0.4 *(March 13, 2025)* - ILocomotional interface, event-driven QTE redesign, FurnitureAssembler with DataTable recipes, and camera constraints
Prototype 0.3 *(December 18, 2024)* - MiniGameSystem, QTE subsystem, CinematicCamera with tilt-shift effects, and IInteractable interface
Pre-Production *(September 2024)* - Project inception and team formation

References & Inspiration

Development references:

Core Concept: David M. Bird's "Becorn" nature photography
Gameplay: *'It Takes Two'*, *'Unravel'*, *'Moving Out'*, *'Chippy & Noppo'*
Visual Style: Macro photography, Alice in Wonderland, The Secret World of Arrietty
Art Direction: Nature-based fantasy, miniature dioramas, forest ecosystems
Character Design: Plant-based creatures, fairy aesthetic, natural material integration

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