panopticon VR

panopticon VR is prison simulator game. you can shoot burp guns, punch giant boxing glove.. so much more main goal is to stop prisoners from escaping

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Inspiration

  1. As a PVE game lover, I wanted to create an immersive experience that players could enjoy entirely on their own.

  2. I wanted to build a VR title that captures the pure satisfaction of grabbing, pulling, and throwing objects in a physical, tactile way.

  3. he concept was also inspired by the complex machinery seen in Homer Simpson’s workplace—looking at those chaotic devices

What it does

  1. In Panopticon, players operate a mechanical control panel to stop prisoners attempting to escape.
  2. These prisoners don’t simply run—they pick locks, smash doors, and even resort to magic in their escape attempts.
  3. Players must frantically press buttons, pull levers, and use a foam-firing soda gun to neutralize each threat.
  4. Survive for 10 minutes to clear the stage,

with each stage completed, you uncover more of the dark truth hidden within the Panopticon.

How we built it

  1. Panopticon was developed using Unreal Engine 5.
  2. Most core features were created using Blueprints, with additional systems implemented in C++ where deeper control was needed.
  3. We adopted a hybrid workflow that seamlessly integrates both Blueprints and C++. Developers prepared modular Blueprint tools, enabling designers to adjust balance and create levels quickly and independently.
  4. We are currently transitioning major systems into C++ to further improve performance and stability.
  5. The game runs completely standalone—no PC or internet connection required.
  6. Our prisoner AI is powered by an FSM-based model, ensuring reliable and predictable behavior in every situation.
  7. All devices function with their own unique mechanics while interacting smoothly with one another.

Challenges we ran into

We aimed to push the capabilities of the newly released Meta Quest 3 to its limits. To achieve high-quality visuals without PC tethering, we spent two months progressively reducing polygon counts by 10% steps, optimizing until the entire game ran smoothly.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

  • Since heavy dynamic lighting is still difficult to support on VR headsets, we developed a cel-shading rendering method that minimizes lighting cost while maintaining strong visual quality.
  • We implemented 25 unique prisoner behaviors
  • and built 12 specialized devices designed to counter them.

What we learned

We discovered that with effective use of Unreal Engine’s material-based shader system, it is possible to achieve striking visuals without consuming excessive system resources.

What's next for panopticon VR

Panopticon is currently positioned between its alpha and beta stages. A full gameplay loop is already playable, but many narrative elements and cinematic sequences are still in development.

For now, our primary focus is completing the beta version.

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