Mech Head
Twin-Stick Arcade Shooter built in Unreal Engine
Mech Head is a twin-stick arcade shooter developed by Staffordshire University's in-house game studio. I was the Technical Lead responsible for optimising and refactoring core systems into C++ to ensure a smooth future release on Steam. This role gave me the opportunity to manage a programming team and maintain a GitHub repository with over 30 contributors.
Team Size
- 30+ People
My Role
- Technical Lead
- Lead Programmer
Duration
- 6 Weeks
Tech Stack
- Unreal Engine
- C++ & Blueprint
Context
- University Studio
- 1UP 2024
Teaser Trailer
Technical Breakdown
GitHub Management
I handled source control for Mech Head (2024), designing the branching structure and overseeing the entire workflow. With ~30 contributors, I implemented a feature-branch strategy, resolved merge conflicts, and ensured daily builds were available post-refactor for testing. In just 6 weeks, we made over 700 commits with minimal merge issues.
Abilities
Mech Head features 12 abilities used for offense or defense, most of which I programmed. My favourites include:
- Barnabus (Turret) — Deploys a turret that automatically shoots enemies
- The Mine — Places a timed landmine that explodes on contact
- Dome & Field Shields — Blocks incoming enemy fire
- Corruption Grenade — Temporarily converts enemies to your side
Mech Customisation
Our programming goal was to make the game easily extendable for designers — allowing them to modify weapons, enemies, and visual elements without entering Blueprints. Using Data Assets, we enabled designers to plug in values and swap visuals through structured inputs. This system laid the groundwork for a future character customisation menu that only needs UI hooked up. Due to time constraints, this feature wasn't completed during this year's 1UP event.
Project Links