A cloud’s adventure: Developing an exploration game for a non-conventional avatar

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master_Li_Jinda_2025.pdf (5.45 MB)

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School of Science | Master's thesis
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Date

2025-05-23

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Major/Subject

Game Design and Production

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Master's Programme in Computer, Communication and Information Sciences

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en

Pages

37

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Abstract

This paper presents A Cloud’s Adventure, an experimental game exploring non-conventional avatar design through a procedurally simulated, player-controlled cloud. While most games feature humanoid or rigid-bodied avatars, this work investigates how an amorphous, physics-driven cloud avatar can create engaging gameplay when designed around three principles: intuition-centered interactions, exploration as core gameplay, and avatar perception. Core abilities like Flow (compression), Rain (precipitation), and Carry (object transport) unified with an energy system were designed while balancing realism with playability. The technical implementation combines real-time particle simulation (distance field collision and position-based dynamics), sparse volume texture for shaping, and stylized volumetric rendering to achieve a cloud that is both physically plausible and responsive to player input. A user study revealed that players quickly adapted to the cloud’s movement, forming the avatar perception despite its non-human form. Key findings include the effectiveness of subtle anthropomorphic cues (e.g., expressive "eyes"), the importance of physically intuitive feedback for reinforcing cloud-like behavior, and the player desire for more freedom to interact through the cloud. The project demonstrates that non-conventional avatars can succeed when their behaviors align with player expectations while offering novel perspectives on interaction. Limitations and future directions are outlined, including opportunities for more efficient cloud simulation and expanded environmental reactivity. A Cloud’s Adventure contributes both a practical solution for volumetric avatar implementation and insights into designing embodied experiences beyond humanoid conventions.

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Supervisor

Hämäläinen, Perttu

Keywords

non-conventional avatar, cloud simulation, game design, volumetric rendering, particle-based simulation, position-based dynamics

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https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202506174835

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[dipl] Perustieteiden korkeakoulu / SCI