Azlan: Rise of the Burlpups

Project details

Azlan is a high-performance VR strategy platform designed to push the boundaries of spatial agency and systemic complexity. As the technical foundation for a stylized medieval ecosystem, the project focused on orchestrating high-density NPC AI and complex resource-management systems within a high-fidelity virtual environment. It serves as a primary case study in cross-platform persistence and optimized rendering pipelines for long-form immersive gameplay (7+ hours).

Key Systems Architecture

  • High-Performance NPC AI Ecosystem: Engineered an optimized state-machine architecture to manage over 30 unique ground and aerial entities, ensuring smooth performance during large-scale, high-concurrency battles.
  • Modular Spatial Combat: Designed an intuitive, single-controller interaction framework that allows for complex hero command and tactical turret deployment without breaking user presence.
  • Environmental & Lighting Orchestration: Architected eight expansive, modular maps with optimized baked and real-time lighting solutions tailored for high-performance VR throughput.
  • Global Persistence & Analytics: Integrated PlayFab to manage secure player data, global leaderboards, and 15 unique achievement triggers across a distributed user base.
  • Systems Balancing: Developed a data-driven balancing framework to refine combat difficulty and resource progression across diverse medieval landscapes.

Technical Leadership & Ownership
As the Technical Director & Lead Architect, I directed the end-to-end development lifecycle for a 7-person cross-disciplinary team:

  • Core Engine Architecture: Designed and implemented the underlying tower defense logic and player interaction systems in Unity.
  • AI Optimization: Led the research and optimization of NPC behavior patterns to maintain high frame rates during intense gameplay sequences.
  • Full-Stack Pipeline Management: Managed the transition from R&D to a successful Steam global launch, including hardware-level performance tuning.
  • Team Orchestration: Facilitated technical alignment between programmers, artists, and designers to ensure a unified architectural vision over a 22-month development cycle.

System Architecture
Engine: Unity & SteamVR
Infrastructure: PlayFab (Backend)
Optimization: NPC Logic / VR Shaders

Project Lifecycle
Duration: 22 Months
Phase: Global Commercial
Platform: PCVR (Steam)

Technical Ownership
Technical Director
Lead Systems Architect
Project Lifecycle Lead

Copyright © Momin Aman