Once upon a time… a new project on Unity 3D!

During my Christmas holidays in 2021, I was incredibly bored. I spent most of my time learning Unity — experimenting with individual features, implementing random mechanics, dabbling in VFX, and even attempting basic animations and vehicle locomotion. But that wasn’t enough. I wanted more. I wanted a challenge.

An idea started to take shape in my mind: it was time to create something more significant than just another small project or simple game. I wanted to explore, learn, and tackle tougher, more complex problems. And what better way to do that than to start an open-world project? Brilliant idea, ArcaDone! What could possibly go wrong? After all, being a solo developer is perfect for handling everything: animations, assets, music, storyline, menus, VFX, materials, an open world, gameplay mechanics, etc., etc., etc. Piece of cake, right?

The story was simple. You’re a humanoid in 1980s Mazzarino. And… you’re just there. You’re free to explore the city. Maybe steal a car — or better yet, an Ape car? (That’s right, move over GTA.) Sounds amazing, doesn’t it? What could possibly go wrong? With this foolproof plan in mind, I was ready to dive in.

As for the art style? I like Minecraft, so why not go with big, blocky visuals? Done. Easy.

A few days later, I created my first-ever video. It showcased everything I had learned so far: a simple drivable Ape car, basic camera movement, rudimentary animations, and some physics applied to cubes. It wasn’t much, but it was the start of something… ambitious.

And that’s how it all began. But trust me, this was only the tip of the iceberg. Want to know what happened next? Stay tuned — things get messy, fast.

Read more on my site: https://www.arcadipanedanilo.it/