🧩 Module 6: Environmental Polish and Immersion

🎯 Goal of the Module

To transform your simple flight space into an immersive, believable world using lighting, sky effects, and environmental detail — all powered by AI prompts. This is where your game begins to feel truly alive.

🌇 Step 1: Set the Mood with a Skybox

The sky dramatically affects the game’s emotional tone. You can shift the entire mood by changing the lighting and horizon.

✅ Prompt Example:
"Create a dusk skybox with soft orange-pink tones on the horizon. Add subtle stars in the distance to suggest early evening."

The new sky fades in gently, signaling a time of day and adding a cinematic feel.

💡 Step 2: Add Runway and Ambient Lighting

Light guides the player and enhances realism, especially during takeoff and landing.

✅ Prompt:
"Add blinking runway lights on both sides, shifting from green at the start to red at the end. Increase ambient lighting slightly to make the jet and terrain visible at night."

Now, the runway feels like an operational, guided space — not just a texture.

🌿 Step 3: Improve Terrain and Ground Textures

Flat environments feel empty. Let’s inject life with color and detail.

✅ Prompt:
"Replace the flat terrain with a vibrant grass field. Use different green tones and light variation for a natural look."

You can also request hills, trees, or scattered debris to break repetition.

🧱 Step 4: Add World Props for Realism

A world feels real when it has purpose — even small details help.

✅ Prompt Example:
"Place a small control tower at the edge of the runway to imply supervision. Add scattered crates or repair gear to suggest aircraft maintenance areas."

These props don’t need to function — their presence tells a story.

🌌 Step 5: Enhance the Atmosphere with Motion and Light FX

Make the world breathe by giving it subtle motion.

✅ Prompt:
"Add a gentle wind sway to grass. Slightly animate runway lights. Add glowing reflections on the jet’s surface when close to light sources."

The combination of movement, lighting, and environment brings your game from functional to cinematic.

✅ By the End of This Module You Will:

  • Have a dynamic sky with realistic lighting and mood.

  • Use runway lights and ambient lighting for visibility and atmosphere.

  • Populate the terrain with textures and props for immersion.

  • Add motion and visual feedback that makes the world feel alive.