Overview
Hollow Fair
Hollow Fair (Snowy) - Cinematic Trailer
Hollow Fair is a project built in Unreal Engine 5.4 that dives deep into the power of weather to tell a story. The goal was to showcase how a single location can feel completely different based on its weather, using lighting and atmosphere to shape the mood and evoke emotion.
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In the snowy version of Hollow Fair, the abandoned carnival feels frozen in time. The gentle fall of snow, combined with custom materials and Ultra Dynamic Sky, creates a chilling stillness that perfectly captures the sense of abandonment. There’s a haunting beauty to the snow-covered fairground, as if the entire place is holding its breath, forgotten but still holding onto its charm.​
Hollow Fair (Foggy/Rainy) - Soundscape Trailer
Then, there’s the rainy and foggy version, where the entire tone of the scene shifts. The thick fog rolls between the carnival rides, making everything feel enclosed and eerie. Wet surfaces catch the light in a strange, almost ghostly way, while the dim, flickering lights add a sense of mystery to the space. The atmosphere here is heavier, more oppressive, and the abandoned fairground feels even more unsettling, like it’s hiding something in its shadows.
Both versions showcase how weather can be a tool to guide the emotional response of the viewer. Lumen’s real-time global illumination brings a sense of realism, allowing the lighting to change dynamically based on the weather. Nanite handles the high-fidelity assets, ensuring every detail, from the creaky ferris wheel to the snowflakes falling gently to the ground, holds up even in the rain-soaked version.
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The foundation for this world comes from Meshingun Studios' "The Carnival - Creepwood Wonderland" asset pack, which I customized to fit the scene and enhance the mood.
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Hollow Fair is a personal exploration of how subtle environmental changes—like shifting from snow to rain and fog—can completely redefine the emotional tone of a scene. It’s a reminder that lighting and atmosphere play a huge role in world-building, and sometimes, the smallest tweaks can make the biggest difference in storytelling.