IVY ZHAO


ARTIST & DESIGNER


  • GAME PROJECTS.
  • ILLUSTRATIONS / ART.
  • ABOUT/CONTACT.

GAME PROJECTS.



GOODBYE VOLCANO HIGH





"The world is about to explode. Just in time for senior year." A cinematic interactive narrative experience developed by KO_OP.


Released Aug 2023!


+ Role: 2D Character Artist

  • Illustrated and designed characters/props - producing final assets aligning with storyboards, narrative requirements, and team feedback

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WANDERLOST





Survive in a post-apocalyptic zombie world! Wanderlost is a rpg survival simulator being developed by Eli Segal and published by Crytivo.


Currently in Beta!


+ Role: Game Content Designer

  • Designed over 200 unique game items across 4 biomes
  • Wrote item descriptions, designed crafting recipes, and balanced content (gear stats, progression/difficulty)
  • Created documentation to catalogue item information

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BACKSHOT



VR ARCADE PINBALL



A project sponsored by Another Reality Toronto over a development period of 8 months. Enter a virtual pinball arena, wield the flippers and become the ultimate pinball wizard!


+ Role: Game Designer, Technical Artist

  • Designed level events and ball interactions - translating pinball mechanics into VR contributing to establishing core gameplay
  • Created shaders for VFX and animation
  • Participated in playtesting sessions - using observations to iterate on designs

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FRIEND SHIPS



HOSPITAL SCREENPLAY



An interactive "toy" designed to entertain and accommodate kids of all ages and abilities using the Screenplay input system for Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital.


Won Best in Discovery - 2nd overall among 30+ projects submitted.


+Role: Game Designer, 3D Artist

  • Designed level events (eg. docking, hidden treasure) and iterations of interaction mechanics
  • Art direction and created 3d assets/particle effects

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PAINTER'S DILEMMA



2D PHYSICS PUZZLE



A prototype where the player must find a way to get to the exit using only their paintbrush!


+Role: Level Designer

  • Designed levels and colour/block mechanics

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FOREST SPIRITS



AI NPC ENVIRONMENT



Solo project. A functioning AI environment using Behaviour Machine in Unity focusing on scripting and designing unique NPC behaviours and interactions.


+Role: Game Designer, Developer

  • Designed envionment and NPC behaviours/interactions
  • Scripted NPC behaviours, states, game mechanics and integrated assets

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ACACIA



CHILL PUZZLE RPG



A chill puzzle experience inspired by Gris and similar narrative titles. Play as a girl on a journey to return colour to her world.


+Role: Game Designer, Artist, Developer

  • Designed initial game idea pitch, interaction mechanics, and concept art
  • Maintained updated GDD
  • Integrated assets into Unity and helped with scripting events

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TOO MANY HOOKS



PROCEDURAL ARCADE PLATFORMER



Survive and sabotage your opponents in this competitive arcade platformer where your only way to avoid death is by using grappling hooks to swing upwards! A functional prototype from proof of concept.


+Role: Game Designer, Developer

  • Built and iterated on prototypes in Unity in a team
  • Designed and implemented new mechanics and features (eg. hazards, game modes)

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METROLINK



PROCEDURAL BOARD GAME



A board game where players race to visit all the landmarks and collect money by building metro lines in a procedurally generated map!


+Role: Game Designer

  • Pitched initial game idea, designed procedural map rules, and mechanics (action cards, metro building rules)
  • Built physical prototype

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GAME ECONOMY DESIGN



ANIMAL CROSSING POCKET CAMP ECONOMY MOD & WRITEUP



An analysis and proposal for a mod of Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp's game economy as well as re-designing it to fit the MMO genre.


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THE DAILY LIFE OF A LITTLE STAR WITCH



CASUAL LIFE SIM



Banishing ghosts and cleaning up after their messes is a full time job, or at least it feels like it for our little star witch. Find out what it's like to live the life of a witch trying to keep these lively beings at bay!


A prototype for an idea hatched from Global Game Jam's "Home" theme.


+Role: Game Designer, Artist


COMING SOON.

CATNYIP



MOBILE GARDENING SIM



What if you could grow cats like you could plants?! Specifically one that could projectile vomit rainbows?!?! Or maybe one that farted flowers... Assert dominance with your sparkly rainbow vomiting friend!


A personal project combining the concepts of gardening and pet raising/battle sims into a mobile game.


+Role: Game Designer, Artist


COMING SOON.