Vortex Gaming

· The 2D game Stardew Valley has been reborn as a fully playable 3D version, showcasing stunning visuals.
· Features previously impossible, such as camera rotation and entering buildings, have been implemented.
· This project was suddenly unveiled by a developer named 'Stretch Pixel'.
· The developer provided a detailed explanation of the project along with additional video material.

· The project began with simple experiments in modeling shipping boxes.
· Modeling the farmhouse (Coupe) was challenging because the 2D game didn't show the sides or back.
· The developer had to redesign all sides of the objects while respecting the original art style.
· Specifically, the roof, when directly translated from the 2D image to 3D, caused visual glitches. This was resolved by flattening and reconstructing it.

· 3D Stardew Valley was created by combining the free and open-source software Blender and the Godot engine.
· Blender was used for 3D modeling tasks, while the Godot engine was utilized for implementing gameplay.
· The Godot engine has been used in the development of various games, such as 'Slay the Spire 2' and 'Dogwalk'.
· This project was completed based on approximately one month of focused work and 3D modeling experience.

· Even in a 3D environment, character sprites are maintained in their 2D form, creating a unique visual effect.
· To solve the problem of characters appearing flat depending on the camera angle, many games tilt the camera to adjust the viewpoint.
· This is a technique seen in games like 'The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening' or the older 'Pokémon' series.
· However, excessive tilting can cause characters to get stuck on objects.

· 'Billboard sprites' are a texture technique where the texture always rotates to face the camera.
· The trees in 'Super Mario 64' are a prime example.
· In 3D Stardew Valley, this technique is applied to some objects like water buckets and pet bowls.
· This technique is judged based on visual effect and is sometimes replaced with fully modeled objects (e.g., bushes).

· In a 3D environment, issues like characters being hidden behind bushes or buildings can occur.
· To address this, the released video restricts the camera from moving along the vertical axis (Y-axis).
· However, the developer's private video allows for free camera movement.
· Features like making obstructing objects transparent or disappear, as seen in the original Stardew Valley, were removed due to visual bugs during implementation.

· Problems arose where lighting textures would appear or disappear depending on the camera angle, and shadows would flicker.
· To solve this, the developer chose to 'bake' all lighting into the main texture.
· While this method isn't ideal for time-of-day light changes or optimization, it's currently an effective solution for maintaining visual consistency.
· This project is in a Proof of Concept stage, aiming to demonstrate visual implementation possibilities rather than a full game release.

· While the current version doesn't allow core gameplay like farming or fishing, it showcases the potential of 3D Stardew Valley.
· In a 3D environment, spatial awareness, scale, and perspective are added, making the game world feel more vibrant.
· Details like walking around buildings, seeing NPCs from different distances, or peeking into windows could be added.
· Experiences utilizing height differences, such as watching the sunset at the beach, exploring a long coastline, or enjoying panoramic views from cliffs, are also anticipated.
· Based on the positive reception of this project, the developer is leaving the door open for future expansion.