About the Project
As a 3D artist, technical artist, and scriptwriter for DATA ENTRY: PORTAL, I contributed to Phase 2 of this senior capstone project, reimagining the 1986 cult classic Portal into a cutting-edge VR experience for Meta Quest 2. Working alongside 22 fellow Fall 2023 Digital Technology & Culture graduates at Washington State University Vancouver, we built on Phase 1’s foundation to refine and expand the game’s immersive world.
My role involved optimizing 40+ custom 3D models for VR performance, scripting interactions for the holographic console, and refining the AI HOMER’s evolution from particle effects to humanoid form. Collaborating with Phase 1 alumni and faculty mentors, I helped integrate haptic feedback systems and troubleshoot Unreal Engine workflows to ensure seamless player immersion.
This project challenged me to balance technical precision with creative storytelling—whether writing dialogue snippets to deepen Rob Swigart’s sci-fi lore or debugging holographic interfaces players physically manipulate. Partnering with composers and sound designers, we layered environmental audio to heighten the mystery, while playtesting sessions shaped our iterative design process.
As a capstone, DATA ENTRY: PORTAL wasn’t just a technical showcase—it was a lesson in collaboration. Seeing players engage with models I sculpted, and narrative beats I scripted affirmed the power of interdisciplinary teamwork. Now live, this project stands as a bridge between 1986’s pioneering vision and today’s VR potential.
