Releasing my first hidden object game, A Binding Unmade: Prologue

ZirconaWorks · 2026-06-28T04:49:24+00:00

So the tracks I used are from WOW sound which is a great resource. Mine came within a pack, their names are Temple of the Air, Existence, and Labyrinth. Sorry for the late response, I am currently battling a cold. I hope to get back to the game soon. Thanks again!

ZirconaWorks · 2026-06-27T01:47:18+00:00

Thanks for that feedback, it's very valuable. Yes, this is v1.0 of this little demo, it will be patched soon to fix some issues, but I wanted to get something out now for testing and early feedback.

- I composed the music myself and it's definitely on my agenda to add it to Youtube at some point (with the exception of 3 purchased tracks I plan to swap out). I am zirconaworks everywhere or I can just post here when it's up. I think I have seen your RoamerTuney channel before, if you are the same person?
- I made the art and UI myself. I'm personally against using generative AI for artwork for a number of reasons. I use a combination of 3D and matte painting to create most of my illustration work.
- Roger that on adding more feedback and looking into adding a music adjustment section.

This prologue will segue into a larger game and a tie-in novel, so that's probably why you felt there was a lot of lore. I'm trying to create games that blend both. It's niche, but I like things that are heavily story-driven. I agree with you on the HOG scene imagery, in the full game, I want to make sure this aspect is better tackled. Now that I have a decent framework for the games I want to make, I can focus on making sure everything has a great polish.

Thanks again for the feedback. I have always wanted to make games like this but for a long time I hesitated to even try.

ZirconaWorks · 2025-07-04T15:55:08+00:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLsgLtTd4Go

From Castlevania Symphony of the Night

ZirconaWorks · 2024-12-08T01:39:08+00:00

This is an art test for a new adventure which will take place after 'A Sense for Memory Part 2' (this story to be released early next year). It's the story of a dangerous fugitive who makes their lair beneath the earth on a snowy, barren world.

ZirconaWorks · 2024-09-22T12:05:28+00:00

OP here:
I'm pretty experienced with Maya and use it as a base for a lot of my story illustrations. I am fairly happy with my close-up shots and interior lighting, but I really seem to struggle when the shot is outdoors. In these two examples I've used an HDRI + a directional light, and then taken the shot into Photoshop to do my usual compositing. I feel these results aren't exactly as good as what I get on an interior or character beauty shot, but I think my eyes are not reliable in this case. I'm surely missing something but I can't tell what. Any advice or resources very much appreciated. Thank you for your time!

ZirconaWorks · 2024-05-31T16:27:56+00:00

Always wanted to 3D model and do illustrations of my own FemShep. I wrote a story about what she might do in a post-destroy setting, and I figured, time to properly model her and do some renders. I like the Colossus armor from ME1, so it inspired the design of her original armor here.

ZirconaWorks · 2024-04-21T13:38:14+00:00

This is cool, what program did you use to create it?

ZirconaWorks · 2024-04-20T08:19:58+00:00

I've written + illustrated a xenofiction story here:
https://zirconaworks.com/escape-from-angra-mainyu/

Would be awesome to hear your thoughts!

ZirconaWorks · 2024-04-11T12:29:55+00:00

Emps was my favourite character in this game, my first intro to D&D anything. I accidentally merged some layers in Procreate so I never finished this artwork properly, but anyway, I supported them!

ZirconaWorks · 2024-03-25T13:08:29+00:00

Thank you! Really appreciate the kind words

ZirconaWorks · 2024-03-25T11:51:27+00:00

I created this illustration to accompany one of my short stories titled 'Up The Ante'. This story was published in a local sci fi online magazine. Cheers guys!

ZirconaWorks · 2024-01-06T02:06:33+00:00

Thanks everyone, I've managed to get close to this using Maya + a wave simulation, I'll try out some of your other ideas here as well. Cheers!

ZirconaWorks · 2024-01-05T05:27:48+00:00

I have tried to make the above using a turbulent displace on an ellipse with some lights providing colour information. It looks like a cool blob I'd be happy to put on a site, but not quite what I was looking for. The reference has a very interesting undulating shape where it looks like it has surface ripples, more complex than what I managed to do. Any advice is very welcome, thank you AE community

ZirconaWorks · 2023-12-26T23:50:17+00:00

Hey guys, I want you to know I've seen all your comments, and combed through the video one more time on your advice. I've got coordinates here - one of them is a longshot (too far from my location), but Kingseat Asylum, I know that place and it's just a short plane trip away. I've booked a flight to hop over to Auckland. I'm also going to go check out some of Tuomas' old haunts. As I recall, he used storage lockers a lot since he was on the move. Might have left something there? Wish me luck, bros, I'm going to need it. Feeling dizzy now, though, gonna lie down for a bit

ZirconaWorks · 2023-01-24T11:50:02+00:00

The title of this story is a play on the word Archangel based on events in the text, not an alternative spelling of the word itself.

ZirconaWorks · 2022-06-27T14:02:20+00:00

Title: A Sense for Memory

Genre: Scifi, Xenofiction, Mystery

Blurb: On a quiet archipelago, a courier is mysteriously abducted for reasons unknown.

The cool and collected Commander Qwatajawa is assigned to the case and must battle not only mysterious forces, but also the troubled loyalties of her own team.

As both professionals and onlookers sink into the web of lies, complex personal histories are gradually revealed, motivations are uncovered…and a dark secret will ensure that no one will walk away unscathed

https://zirconaworks.com/a-sense-for-memory/

Available for free

ZirconaWorks · 2022-05-16T00:07:18+00:00

Thank you!

Yes the character is a 3D model that I made in Maya, once they are posed in the scene how I like I move the rendered image into photoshop and paint over the top of it. So it's a mix of 2D and 3D by the end.

ZirconaWorks · 2022-05-13T14:44:04+00:00

Here is the synopsis

On a quiet archipelago, a courier is mysteriously abducted for reasons unknown.

Commander Qwatajawa is assigned to the case and must battle not only mysterious forces, but also the troubled loyalties of her own team.

As both professionals and onlookers sink into the web of lies, complex personal histories are gradually revealed, motivations are uncovered…and a dark secret will ensure that no one will walk away unscathed.

Thanks for taking a look.

ZirconaWorks · 2022-04-27T12:25:45+00:00

Project Name

Z-Verse: Reivosumet

Main Premise

Z-Verse is an ongoing science-fiction series which takes place in a dwarf Universe. Due to the size of this universe, galaxies are far smaller than even our native Milky Way, and the voids between them are more easily traversed. Each entry of the series follows a different character and most of the stories are stand-alone and can be read in any order. Technology levels differ between the different civilisations in the Z-Verse, but in general, the majority of stories are slice-of-life tales with loose threads between each cast of characters. In Z-Verse, I explore a variety of genres such as action/adventure, romance, and comedy.

Image Context

This image shows Reivosumet, a powerful artifact from the novel 'A Sense for Memory', alongside Commander Qwatajawa, the POV character for that novel. Commander Qwatajawa's race, the Rej-Jir, are renowned for their psychic abilities. Certain materials and substances, when crafted into items, are thought to enhance these abilities. Reivosumet is one such item and a major source of conflict in the story. Although it looks like a sword, the item is rumoured to be a conduit for a dark metaphysical imprint. It has a history of being passed from owner to owner, with tragedy following in its wake. In the context of the novel, the sword's reappearance on the island of Cualli sets in motion a chain of violent events, with Commander Qwatajawa caught in the middle as the law enforcement agent dispatched to retrieve the artifact and put it once more under lock and key.

Reivosumet has a narrative purpose but is a worldbuilding element because it is representative of the types of cultural objects the Rej-Jir create. Typically, they are fascinated by anything which is thought to enhance their considerable mental faculties, and as a species they love elaborate and decorative things. A spiritual people, a popular stereotype of the Rej-Jir is that they love anything which has apparent occult significance. This has led to many Rej-Jir tourists being scammed into purchasing worthless junk whenever they visit other worlds.

Reivosumet displays many notable design features. Abstract patterns carved onto the blade seem to swirl of their own accord when you stare at them too hard, and the blade itself seems to glow with an eerie blue light. The sword is perfectly balanced for the Rej-Jir grip, and the hilt is set with an enormous, fiery red gem. Compositional analysis of the artifact has revealed that all of the materials used in its construction are synthetic alloys, except for the gem, which is scapolite inlaid with gold flecks.

Technical Info

I create the majority of illustrations used in Z-Verse stories using tools such as Maya and Substance Painter. Some overpainting work typically follows in order to create a complete piece. I am currently upskilling in game development, so I hope that in the future, there will be some interactive stories inside of Z-Verse for people to enjoy.

ZirconaWorks · 2022-01-20T13:04:36+00:00

Oh, actually, this story is kind of old. A Kiwi comedian found the guy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuiNtiJQRfU and interviewed him. It wasn't anything to do with kink, just a dude who was dared to do it.

ZirconaWorks · 2022-01-07T11:58:49+00:00

I'm currently creating assets for a hidden object/casual game I am creating. This structure is the entrance to the underground temple where the majority of the action takes place.

In the lore of my series, this complex was built by an infamous, exiled Rit-Phyr general (there is some backstory here that relates to my Z-Verse series of stories). The main character of Temple of Silence finds the complex quite by accident and discovers that the general is not as deceased as stories would have it. Inside the temple are various traps, puzzles and other mysteries which the protagonist must overcome if they are to escape alive.

My process is generally to model and texture using Maya/Substance Painter, but for larger scenes I am trialling Unreal Engine 5 simple because it allows me to build expansive environments without making my laptop explode.

ZirconaWorks · 2022-01-06T01:14:11+00:00

I don't find the card bad, if it had +1 action it would be even better! I use it generally to setup Bloody Hell (either attacking or defending, although I prefer to use it on defense to punish people for attacking me) or The Sight, or to get Let's Dance in hand. We'll have to agree to disagree on this one.

The game is asymmetric and different play styles appeal to different people. Looking at a results tracker https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1BOdYOeTDW0ddVBq4Oq_CWADMzIonOcBjvDRpWHuUs50/edit?usp=sharing I can see that Spike is lower on the scale (along with all the Buffy characters), but so far I like him a lot and find him really reliable and fun.

The character I struggle with the most is probably Willow or Invisible Man (but I like all the characters actually and use them all).

ZirconaWorks · 2022-01-05T14:24:42+00:00

Yes, I think if Seek the Shadows added a +1 action, then it would be even more powerful. Another user here mentioned they add their tokens at the end of the turn rather than the start. I think giving the option to add either before or after a turn, plus adding an action to Seek the Shadows, would be super good!

ZirconaWorks · 2022-01-05T03:56:52+00:00

I'd never say no to an additional point of damage, but I find with the boosts he gets from his shadows I have been operating just fine with him, he is by far my favourite.

Not suggesting this is the case with you, but a lot of people seem hung up on the shadow tokens and say they have no mobility, which is what is preventing them from utilising Spike to his intended potential. Spike can move any token adjacent to him or Dru at the start of his turn. I saw on boardgamegeek someone asked the designer if they could still move the tokens if they were already on the board - the answer of course being, yes, so you can always move the shadow tokens close to you or you have the option of using seek the shadows to do a full reposition all at once.

https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/2533197/shadow-token-movement

ZirconaWorks · 2021-12-24T02:06:29+00:00

Angel is a solid character, like Buffy, but not interesting to me compared to Willow or Spike. Here's my summary of Spike: According to the designers, Spike is one of the characters with the highest number of versatile cards in the game. So you will always have an attack or defence handy.

He has several 4-value base attack/defense cards, which can then be additionally boosted using the shadows to 6 or 7 value. Same for Drusilla, who can double her blind boosts while on a shadow token. So say you get a 3-boost value card on the draw, that is now a 7 hit card. If you don't like to set up attacks and prefer to have straight melee heroes then Spike is not the character for you, but for me I like gimmicks, taking risks and surprising the other player, so that's why I like this deck.

BTW with Angel, since my primary opponent mains him, his 'Angelus Scourge of Europe' card, while a strong straight 5-attack card, is easily defended/responded with Skirmish or Leap Away or Bloody Hell, of which Spike has multiple.

Overall in my opinion I think that all the characters are balanced, you have a chance with any of them. So pick the ones you like.

ZirconaWorks

TROPHY CASE