PXR 2023

Cole designed and created an immersive VRChat world for the annual Performance & XR (PXR) conference hosted by Single Thread Theatre Company alongside Electric Theatre Company in November 2023. The theme for PXR 2023 was Under The Sea, so he created an underwater dance world at the bottom of a deep ocean trench. His main goal for the Trench World was to create an immersive, responsive environment using advanced technical systems.

When creating the world, Cole utilized advanced technical systems like BOIDS, LODs, and VRChat's Audio Link to create a unique and engaging environment. He worked closely with the Creative Director of Single Thread Theatre Company to develop a story and design for the world that aligned with the conference's theme and narrative. It was a major attraction at the event, ending PXR 2023 with a dance party and the reveal of the PXR 2024 logo.

Cole also had the opportunity to speak at PXR 2023 and share insights about the world creation process. He took the attendees on a backstage tour of the Trench World and discussed various technical aspects. Specifically, he explained how the audio synchronization works using VRChat's audio link system, the BOIDS algorithm, and the concept of LODs and how they limit the level of detail and geometry in a 3D scene when the player is at a distance. 

Cole completed a successful internship at Aftermath Islands and was offered a full-time contract as a 3D generalist. Since then, he has proved his exceptional skills and versatility. One of his significant accomplishments includes coding a backend save system for the inventory used by players and crafting tables and vendors. He effectively implemented a system where item variables such as slot and quantity are sent to the backend database through a JSON-formatted WebSocket message whenever the inventory state changes.

Cole also showcased his creativity and game design skills by designing a scavenger hunt that takes players through popular locations on the Playground Island. Cole's position involved various tasks, including character rigging, coding through blueprints, and modelling and texturing of 3D assets. 

Additionally, Cole played a crucial role in developing the game's first public release, Clubhouse Island. He was responsible for multiple aspects of the project, from the initial concept and prototyping to the final public launch. His responsibilities included level design, interaction design, NPC movement on a NavMesh, and modelling and texturing 3D assets. The game is accessible on PC and mobile through any browser and runs via pixel stream on Accelbytes servers.

In collaboration with other developers and artists, Cole contributed to creating and optimizing an MMO environment, Playground Island. His tasks included optimizing previous code, creating 3D assets with modular pieces, and designing tiling textures, trim sheets, and atlases for existing 3D assets. To enhance the game's performance, Cole utilized Unreal Editor's built-in features, such as world partition, cull distance volumes, nanite, and real-time virtual texturing (RVT). Throughout the development process, Cole used Git and Perforce for version control and worked with Unreal Engine 5.03.

During his practicum at Lethbridge College, Cole participated in a 3D design competition against four other teams of three to secure a summer internship at Aftermath Islands. The challenge was creating a medieval scene with a furnished castle and village. The competition was judged based on five different themed rounds, each building towards the final scene. Cole won the competition and secured the summer internship at Aftermath Islands Metaverse.

During his internship, Cole designed and created three unique stores for Playground Island. He had to ensure that the stores created would showcase the distinct themes of various islands within the Aftermath Islands Metaverse. The three stores created were a Jewelry Store, a General/Grocery Store, and a Gem Store.

The Jewelry Store was created for Frasier Sterling. Its modern design features pink hues that match the company's colour.

The General Store was created for Harvest Island, an island with a rustic, agricultural feel. The store features a wooden plank exterior, a corrugated metal roof, and an interior with white plaster paint and stone tiles. 

The Gem Store was created for Blackforge Bay, an island-themed around Dwarven and Viking culture. The store features an entrance with a stone head above it and a blue-tiled roof. Inside, wooden shelves, torches, and candles create a soothing atmosphere. 

Cole utilized modular kits, greyboxing, and detailed texturing techniques to ensure aesthetic and functional efficiency while creating each store. These stores showcase his skills in crafting immersive and diverse environments for the Aftermath Islands Metaverse. 

In addition to designing the shops, Cole created 2D/3D graphics for the Aftermath Islands Lost Kingdom of Tsara mobile game. These graphics were utilized as resource icons, NFTs, and promotional art for the game.

While studying at Lethbridge College's Virtual and Augmented Reality program, Cole explored various VR/AR design and development aspects. His areas of study included VR/AR prototyping, interaction design, UX/UI design, 3D art and design, texturing, game optimization, audio design, coding in C#, and level design in Unity. He applied these skills to create a VR environment for the NEXT Beyond the Metaverse VR conference, attracting over 150 attendees. He participated in a 3D design competition during his practicum at Lethbridge College and won. Cole had to compete against four other teams of three to create a medieval scene with a fully furnished castle and village. The competition was judged on five different themed rounds, each building toward the final scene. These experiences allowed Cole to secure an internship with Aftermath Islands and kick-start his VR/AR design and development career.

Cole also completed an entrepreneurship program at Lethbridge College, maintaining a 4.0 GPA and a position on the president's list. He learned skills in market research, business strategy, branding, and creative problem-solving.