In this video, I will walk you through my vr project (The murder of Maple Batalia).
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Author: Yao Han
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Inside Unreal Engine
This is the first level of the scene introduces players to the virtual environment with a controller mapping instruction panel. This serves as a guide, providing players with a basic understanding of how to navigate and interact within the virtual space.
After completing the introductory map, players will find themselves teleported to this detective’s office, signaling the official start of their journey.
Here, they’re invited to watch a short video that introduces the case at hand: the murder of Maple Batalia. This video sets the stage, delivering key details and clues to immerse players in the investigation.
Armed with this crucial background, players are ready to take on their next challenge—stepping into the virtual crime scene to unravel the mystery.
After completing the introductory video, players are transported straight to the crime scene. The screenshots showing both lit and unlit states.
When player are been teleported in the scene, they will find a folding table stands in front of them, holding a radio that players can interact with. By picking it up, they’ll hear a voice message from an experienced detective, laying out the mission. (Gather all available evidence and deposit it in the evidence box next to the truck.)
Once players have successfully gathered all the evidence from the crime scene, they’re transported back to the detective’s office. This time, the space has evolved, reflecting the progress they’ve made in the investigation.
The once-empty billboard is now filled with key information and clues, carefully pieced together from the evidence collected earlier. On the side table, the gathered evidence is neatly displayed, allowing players to examine it once more in the comfort of a fully lit room. This feature gives players a chance to revisit the details and ensure nothing is overlooked.
At this stage, players are presented with a choice: they can replay the game, or they can exit the game entirely. These options are accessible via two interactive icons located on the lower side of the billboard.
When I designed this experience, I wanted to ensure that participants felt fully prepared before diving into the main scene. So, I decided to create an introductory video that will be shown in the office scene.
This video provides the player with the essential background information about the crime, setting the stage for what’s to come. By the time participants step into the main crime scene, they’ll already have a solid understanding of the case, helping them focus on collecting evidence and piecing together the mystery.
My goal is to make sure players have a clear goal when they entrered the crime scene. This video is the first step into that world—a briefing before the real work begins.
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Texturing Inside Substance Painter
Building Texturing:
This is the showcases of me using Substance Painter to texture a building model I created. Starting from a basic block-out, I’ve added realistic weathered details like aged concrete, rust, and grime to bring the structure to life.
Street Curb Asset:
I also textured a street curb asset, focusing on wear and tear like cracks and dirt for a gritty, urban feel. This is part of my ongoing practice in creating detailed, production-ready assets for games and film.
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Learning Unreal Engine: Study Notes
While researching the location of the Btalia case, I dove into gathering references from a variety of sources—Google Maps, news reports, and more.
At first, I thought using images from Google Maps to create a point cloud reconstruction with photogrammetry software like Metashape or RealityCapture would be a solid approach.
However, the results were underwhelming—lacking the level of detail needed for this project. Instead, I repurposed the Google Maps model as a reference and starting point, manually crafting a more detailed and accurate reconstruction of the crime scene.
After experimenting with photogrammetry software, I used the generated mesh as a foundation to build this scene. This model marks the first step in the process.
Up next, I’ll be cutting the UVs and adding textures to bring it to life. Once that’s done, I’ll convert it into a detailed point cloud for the final stage. Stay tuned for the transformation!
September 27, 2011 – Evening
- 9:30 PM – 12:15 AM: Maple Batalia studies with classmates at Simon Fraser University, Surrey campus. She appears slightly on edge due to recent harassment from her ex-boyfriend, Gurjinder Dhaliwal, but stays focused on her studies.
September 28, 2011 – Early Morning
- 12:30 AM: Maple leaves the study room alone and heads to her car, a 1997 BMW 323i, parked in the university lot.
- 12:35 AM: A white Dodge Charger, driven by Dhaliwal, enters the parking lot. He waits out of sight, surveilling her.
- 12:50 AM: Dhaliwal confronts Maple near her car, and an argument ensues.
- 1:00 AM: The confrontation escalates; Dhaliwal shoots and stabs Maple multiple times before fleeing in his Dodge Charger.
Aftermath
- 1:05 AM: Campus security finds Maple severely injured beside her car. Emergency responders arrive, but she is pronounced dead shortly after.
- December 2012: Dhaliwal and accomplice Gursimar Bedi are arrested. Dhaliwal is later convicted and sentenced to life in prison.
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Maple Batalia Murder
Crime Scene:
The crime scene was located in a parking lot near Simon Fraser University in Surrey, British Columbia.
Simon Fraser University – Surrey Campus
Timeline:
Date of incident: September 28, 2011.
Location: Simon Fraser University Surrey Campus Parking Lot, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.
Time of Incident: Approximately 1:00 AM.
Victim Background and Behavior Before the Incident:
Overview:
The Day of the incident:Maple Batalia was a bright, driven 19-year-old health sciences student and aspiring actress, known for her love of the arts and academia.
Well-regarded by her friends and classmates, she frequently stayed late on the campus, especially as exam season approached, to ensure she was well-prepared. She was involved in various modeling and acting projects and maintained an active social life despite her demanding studies.
The Day of the Incident:
September 27, 2011, began like any other day for Maple. She attended her classes at the Surrey campus of Simon Fraser University, participated in group study sessions, and was seen socializing with friends between classes. Several friends later recalled that Maple seemed in good spirits throughout the day, though some mentioned that she had recently voiced concerns about her ex-boyfriend, Gurjinder Dhaliwal. Their relationship had ended only a few weeks prior, and according to friends, Dhaliwal was struggling to accept the breakup, which made Maple increasingly uneasy.
Evening of the Incident:
9:30 PM – 11:30 PM:
Maple met with a group of classmates in one of the university study rooms. They reviewed notes for an upcoming exam, sharing resources and discussing complex topics in detail.
Witnesses later reported that Maple was entirely focused on her studies and showed no signs of distress. During this period, Maple received a few text messages from Dhaliwal. One classmate who glanced at her phone noticed her briefly looking upset, but Maple quickly composed herself and continued studying.
11:30 PM – 12:15 AM:
As the study session wrapped up, Maple and two classmates discussed grabbing something to eat. Maple briefly checked her phone, and based on her friends’ testimonies, seemed slightly on edge but dismissed their concern, insisting she was fine.
Maple’s classmates then left, while she stayed behind in the study room to finish up some personal notes.
Preceding Events Leading Up to the Incident:
12:30 AM:
Maple left the study room alone and headed to her car in the nearby university parking lot. Security footage captured her exiting the building, alone, clutching her notebook and phone. Dhaliwal, according to cell tower data later retrieved by investigators, was already in the vicinity. His vehicle, a white Dodge Charger, had been spotted by nearby cameras circulating the area hours earlier, suggesting he had been surveilling Maple.
12:35 AM:
Witnesses in nearby parked vehicles later reported seeing a white Dodge Charger enter the parking lot. Security cameras also picked up the vehicle pulling into the area at a slow speed, eventually parking out of direct view. Maple was unaware of Dhaliwal’s presence.
12:40 AM:
Maple was briefly seen on her phone as she approached her car. Cell phone records later showed that she made a quick call to a friend, telling them that she was leaving for the night. Moments later, she unlocked her car and placed her belongings on the passenger seat.
12:50 AM – 1:00 AM:
At approximately 12:50 AM, Dhaliwal exited his vehicle and approached Maple’s car. Based on later forensic evidence and eyewitness testimonies, he confronted Maple, and an argument quickly ensued. Their exchange grew increasingly heated, with Dhaliwal reportedly raising his voice. The argument was likely about their recent breakup, as Dhaliwal, who had reportedly been possessive throughout their relationship, appeared to have felt deeply threatened by Maple’s independence and success.
1:00 AM:
The situation rapidly escalated. A few witnesses in the distance heard raised voices, followed by a series of gunshots echoing across the parking lot. Maple was shot multiple times and was found with several additional stab wounds, suggesting a prolonged and personal attack.
Aftermath:
1:05 AM:
Campus security, alerted by sounds of gunfire, arrived at the scene. They discovered Maple lying beside her vehicle, barely responsive, with gunshot and stab wounds. Emergency services were immediately called, but Maple succumbed to her injuries shortly after their arrival.
1:10 AM:
The white Dodge Charger was seen leaving the area at high speed, caught by several surveillance cameras positioned near campus exits. Authorities immediately began canvassing the area and collecting evidence.
Crime Scene Analysis:
Forensics & Surveillance Evidence:
Upon investigation, police discovered Maple’s blood on the ground beside her vehicle, along with shell casings that were later matched to a handgun found discarded nearby.
The Dodge Charger, caught on surveillance footage, became a critical lead. A subsequent investigation of Dhaliwal’s phone records revealed that he had been near the university parking lot, and further analysis placed him there at the time of the murder.
Cell Phone Data:
Phone records showed multiple calls and messages between Maple and Dhaliwal earlier in the evening, indicating that he had been trying to reach her persistently, likely feeling desperate or angry.
Maple Batalia drove a 1997 BMW 323i.
Key Findings and Motive
Jealousy and Control:
Gurjinder Dhaliwal’s inability to accept the breakup and his obsessive, possessive nature pointed to jealousy as the primary motive. Witnesses and friends testified that Dhaliwal’s behavior had become increasingly aggressive following their split, and he was reportedly incensed over Maple’s refusal to reconcile.
Premeditation Evidence:
The surveillance of Maple’s movements, combined with his known possession of the white Dodge Charger in the area, strongly suggested premeditation. Dhaliwal had come prepared, knowing Maple’s study schedule and routines. This calculated approach and the brutality of the attack revealed a chilling resolve.
Evidence Reconstruction/Collection/Preservation:
Mechanics:
Users are tasked with collecting or finding evidence from the crime scene through or after listening some audio recording or voice over. (Police interview, questioning of suspects, witness.)
Then put them (evidences) in a box (Trigger) to the next level.
Need at least 5 evidences to unlock the next level.
Evidence could be:
Knocked over trash can
A piece of cloting
A knife
A cup
…..
When the player collected the evidence from the scene, there will be some soundtrack or voice over playing and explain the importance of collected objects.
(User have to identify specific objects related to the crime from the crime scene.)
Evidence Sorting Puzzle:
User will be asked to sort evidence items collected from the scene into the corrected categories. (Categories cloud be: witness statements, suspect profiles, evidence from crime scene, forensic evidences)
Timeline Reconstruction Puzzle:
Users will be asked to reconstruct a timeline of events based on the police reports or other documents, records, etc.
Find The Right Fingerprints OR Police Line Up (Matching):
Inside the evidence room player will be presented with a close up view of finger prints from crime scene and need to match it with suspects. (Can also be a line up where the player be asked to identify the one who’s responsible for the murder from several suspects)
If find the right one, an audio prompt or visual effect will trigger (Indicates Success).
Dialogue to an AI Character:
User cloud talk to a detective to ask him/her about the case details.
Notes:
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Crime Case Research #4
Maple Batalia Murder (2011) (Solved)
Date: September 28th, 2011
Location: (Parking Lot) Simon Fraser University, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
What Happened:
She was a health sciences student at Simon Fraser university. Her Murder took place in the university’s parking lot after she had finished a late night study session.
Latter, revealed that Maple had seen shot multiple times, and also injured in stabbing with a sharp objects.
End & Justice:
In December 2021, Gurjinder (The Gary) Dhaliwal. her ex-boyfriend was charged with first degree murder.
Dhaliwal had been jealous and controlling during their relationship and he had trouble accepting the breakup, leading to this incident.
Gursimran (Simon) Mann charged with being an accessory after the fact (he helped Gurjinder after the murder)
Notes: