Week 11: Refine

We used this week as a reflection time to analyze the feedback we got from the Playtest Day and set goals and directions of how we should refine our game for the rest of the semester.

Playtest Day Feedback

Besides from the statistics, we also gather a lot of written feedback summarized as follows:

• Should stop players walking through the net
• Penalty of serving in the wrong area
• Larger hitbox
• How to learn advanced techniques
• Teach users about teleport
• Choose TP/move by themselves
• Ball zigzag
• Curving colors not identified 
• Audio: you win/lose
• Audio: environment or official narrator to make it more real

Art

Pulei reworked all the textures in the stadium scene this week and fixed the messed UV so that we have good quality shadows now. He also finished the model for the scoreboard to be placed on each side of the court.

Design

Chao has been working on the trigger condition for spin this week. We realized that in our previous build, top spins are far more easier to trigger than back spins, and it as only rarely can player hit a flat ball. This is clearly not aligned with the real pickleball. So we re-examined the checking condition for spins and altered some of the parameters.

Finally, we managed to balance the equation so that about 60%~70% of the hits are flat hits and top spins and back spins are equally easy to trigger as long as player does it intentionally.

Voice Communication

Shiyong implemented the voice feature so that players can use the microphones and the Quests to talk to each other without having to physically be in the same room. This feature is proved necessary again during the playtest day as we noticed that players who know each are had much more fun in this game.

Things Left

• Design
  • Net mode
    • Do we still need it? How do we make it more useful?
  • Balance
    • How do we account for ‘a really good shot’?
    • Will the spin/curve really make a difference in game?
    • Make the game more competitive, allow players to be more aggressive
• Programming
  • Home page
    • Game
      • Customization (court, ball, name, room ID)
    • Tutorial
    • Training
• Art
  • UI and 3D environment for the main page 
  • 2nd court(?)
• Production
  • Website
    • Blogs are up to date
    • Need more work on the navigation and visuals
• Playtest
  • Playtest trade with DisCo for long-term playtesters
  • Soft opening (Apr 17th)
  • Office hour with Jesse and Mike