Explore the Futuristic Downtown City

Inspiration

The idea for "Explore the Futuristic Downtown City" is inspired by the ever-evolving and fast-paced world we live in, where technology is advancing at an exponential rate, and the way we interact with our environment and each other is constantly changing. In this lens, we want to transport users to a future city that is a reflection of this dynamic and futuristic world.

The city will be a bustling metropolis, with towering skyscrapers, neon lights, and advanced technology everywhere you look. The lens will allow users to explore the city in a unique and interactive way that's not possible in real life. The lens will be designed to give a sense of a real-world experience, but with a futuristic twist, where users can see how technology has advanced and how it has changed the way we interact with our surroundings.

In summary, "Explore the Futuristic Downtown City" is a lens that will transport users to a future world where technology has advanced and changed the way we interact with our surroundings. It will be a visually stunning and immersive experience, inspired by the cyberpunk genre of science fiction, where users can explore a high-tech, neon-lit metropolis and interact with advanced technology in a unique and interactive way.

What it does

This lens will be a visual feast, with high-quality graphics and attention to detail, and will be inspired by the cyberpunk genre of science fiction. Cyberpunk is a subgenre of science fiction, characterized by advanced science, technology, and the internet, and set in a dystopian future where the world is controlled by megacorporations and the urban environment is gritty, neon-lit and full of advanced technology. The lens will feature elements such as holographic billboards, self-driving cars, flying drones, advanced augmented reality, and virtual assistants.

The lens will also have a sense of immersion, where the user will be able to explore different parts of the city and experience different scenarios such as flying over the city, walking through the streets, or even entering a virtual reality arcade. The lens will be designed to be interactive, where the users can interact with different elements of the city, such as pressing buttons, opening doors, and triggering events. I also need to downgrade the graphics and the lens since lens studio only support 8mb max.

How we built it

3D modeling: The first step would be to create detailed 3D models of the buildings, streets, and other elements of the city. These models would need to be highly detailed and textured to create a realistic and immersive experience.
Animation: Once the models are complete, they would need to be animated to bring the city to life. This could include things like moving cars, people walking on the streets, and other elements that would make the city feel alive.
Programming: After the 3D models and animations have been created, a programmer would need to integrate them into the Snapchat lens. This would involve creating the interactive elements of the lens, such as allowing the user to move around the city and interact with different elements.
Testing and Optimization: After the lens is developed, it would need to be thoroughly tested for bugs and performance issues. Any issues found would need to be fixed before the lens is made available to the public.
Deployment: Once the lens is complete and has been thoroughly tested, it can be deployed on Snapchat for users to use and enjoy.

Challenges we ran into

Complexity: Creating a detailed and immersive 3D environment with multiple moving parts and interactive elements can be a complex task. It requires a good understanding of 3D modeling, animation, and programming.
Performance: A high-quality, detailed 3D environment can be resource-intensive, and if not optimized properly, it can cause performance issues on the user's device, like low frame rate or high CPU usage.
Compatibility: Snapchat's lens feature is constantly evolving, and the lens will need to be updated to ensure compatibility with the latest version of the Snapchat app.
Testing: Thoroughly testing the lens for bugs and performance issues is critical to ensure that the lens works as intended for all users. This can be time-consuming and may require a lot of testing on different devices and in different environments.
Limited Time and Resources: Developing a lens can be a time-consuming and resource-intensive task, and it may be difficult to finish the project within a limited timeframe or budget.
User Experience: Creating a lens that is immersive and engaging while also being easy to use can be a challenge. It requires a good understanding of user experience design and testing to ensure that the lens is intuitive and enjoyable for users.
Privacy concerns: Because the lens uses the camera, microphone and sometimes the GPS location of the device, it is important to make sure that the lens respects the privacy of the users and follows the guidelines set by Snapchat.
Monetization: Deciding how to monetize the lens, if at all, can be a challenge. It could be a free lens or a paid one, or it could be sponsored by a brand.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Technical expertise: Successfully creating a detailed and immersive 3D environment with multiple moving parts and interactive elements is a significant accomplishment in itself, and demonstrates a high level of technical expertise in 3D modeling, animation, and programming.
User engagement: If the lens is well-designed and engaging, it could be used by a large number of people and generate a significant amount of user engagement.
Positive feedback: If the lens receives positive feedback from users, it would be a sign that the lens is well-designed, immersive and enjoyable to use.
Monetization: If the lens is able to generate revenue, it could be a financial success.
Branding: Creating a popular lens could help with branding, as it could be considered as a form of advertising, and it can help to increase the visibility of the creator or the company behind the lens.
Innovation: If the lens introduces new features or technology that haven't been seen before on Snapchat lens, it can be considered as an innovative work, and could set a new standard for future lens.
Impact: If the lens is able to generate a positive impact on the community, like raising awareness on a social issue, or providing an educational experience, it could be considered as a valuable project, and it could be something to be proud of.
Awards: If the lens is able to win awards, it can be considered as a recognition for the quality and effort put into the project.

What we learned

3D modeling: Creating detailed and accurate 3D models of buildings, streets, and other elements of the city will require a good understanding of 3D modeling techniques, software, and best practices.
Animation: Bringing the city to life through animation requires a good understanding of animation principles, software, and techniques.
Programming: Integrating the 3D models and animations into the Snapchat lens requires a good understanding of programming concepts and techniques, as well as knowledge of the Snapchat lens development platform.
Optimization: Optimizing the lens to ensure smooth performance on different devices is an important aspect of lens development, and it requires a good understanding of performance optimization techniques.
User experience: Designing a lens that is immersive and engaging while also being easy to use requires a good understanding of user experience design and testing.
Monetization: Deciding how to monetize the lens, if at all, requires a good understanding of different monetization strategies, and it could be a good learning experience for those who are interested in the business side of lens development.
Privacy concerns: Understanding the privacy concerns of using a lens that uses the camera, microphone, and sometimes the GPS location of the device, is an important aspect of lens development, and it could teach you the importance of respecting the privacy of the users.
Project management: Managing a project like this requires a good understanding of project management techniques, and it could be a good learning experience for those who are interested in managing a project from start to finish.

What's next for Explore the Futuristic Downtown City

Optimization: Continuously monitoring the lens performance and optimizing it to ensure smooth performance on different devices, and fixing any bugs that are reported.
User engagement: Monitoring user engagement and feedback, and incorporating it into future updates and improvements to the lens.
Monetization: Exploring different monetization strategies to generate revenue from the lens, such as sponsored content or in-app purchases.
Promotion: Promoting the lens through social media, influencer marketing, and other channels to increase visibility and attract new users.
Collaboration: Collaborating with other creators, brands, or organizations to create new lenses or add new features to the existing lens.
Updating: Keeping the lens up to date with the latest technology, features, and trends in lens development to ensure it stays relevant and engaging.
Analytics: Analyzing the usage data, and using it to improve the lens, and also to understand the user behavior and engagement.
Personalization: Offering a personalized experience to the users by using the data gathered through the lens and providing a tailored experience to the users.