Department of Computer Science
GameDev-Team
The GameDev team at H-BRS was founded in July 2022 as a project of the Institute for Visual Computing. Today, the group consists of about 15 members working across Game Design & Story, Graphics, Programming, and Sound Design. In addition to developing an in-house game titled Honu using Unreal Engine 5, the team also coordinates university events, including Game Jams.
The team’s base of operations is the Game Studio (C058) at the IVC (Youtube video), which is equipped with high-performance PCs, a sound station, and modern gaming consoles.
Interested in game development and want to get involved? Join us on our Discord server or send us an email with your inquiry.
Discord: https://discord.com/invite/7kvXMtTBGK
E-Mail: GameDev@h-brs.de
Honu
Honu is our ambition to create a video game entirely on our own — from the first concept all the way to release. As a team, we set out to design a calm and relaxing experience, a game where players can truly unwind.
What could be better suited than a puzzle adventure with an engaging story and plenty of mysterious places waiting to be discovered? With that vision in mind, we began development and have since been working to make Honu both challenging and enjoyable.
What is the game about?
Honu is a 3D adventure game with a strong emphasis on logic puzzles and exploration. Players progress through an immersive storyline, solve puzzles, interact with island inhabitants, and explore expansive environments.
The story begins with the player character awakening on the shore of an unknown island. Stranded and alone, they begin searching for help and soon encounter locals. These islanders recognize the newcomer as the prophesied stranger destined to protect their home from an approaching threat. Gifted with magical abilities, the player character can solve the villagers’ problems, gradually uncovering the island’s past as well as their own origins.
How do we develop Honu?
Most of our members are H-BRS students who contribute to Honu voluntarily alongside their studies. Academic success is the top priority, so we adapt development to fit the realities of student life. As a result, progress isn’t always steady but varies depending on each member’s availability. To keep planning and meeting time to a minimum, the team is organized into specialized areas of expertise.
Game Design
The Game Design team laid much of the project’s foundation, especially at the start. They define puzzle mechanics and integrate them into the game world while also taking charge of world-building to ensure the world feels authentic beyond the puzzles themselves. Many of their concepts are closely coordinated with the Graphics and Programming teams for quick integration into the game.
Graphics
The Graphics team is responsible for many of the in-game assets, including textures, models, visual effects, and shaders. They ensure that the game’s visual elements are consistent and cohesive. Tools like Blender, Substance Painter, Substance Designer, and Unreal Engine form their core toolkit.
Story
A compelling story is vital to giving depth and believability to the game’s world and characters. The Story team has developed both the overarching narrative and the background lore for Honu. In addition, three unique characters with distinct traits, personalities, and histories have already been created, with templates for more ready to be expanded.
Programming
The Programming team develops the core systems that power the game. Among these is an expandable interaction system that game designers can use to build unique puzzle mechanics.
Since puzzles are central to Honu, the team has also created a flexible puzzle system that allows components to be combined in countless ways — enabling puzzles of varying difficulty. Beyond this, they handle essential gameplay functions such as game flow management, character controls, and saving and loading game progress.
