Week 7 – Midpoint Reflections and Presentation Preparation
As we reached the halfway point of the semester, Week 7 was crucial for our project. Our primary focus was preparing for our presentation on Friday, which allowed us ample time to refine and enhance our scene. Our review identified a significant challenge: our current art assets were not sufficiently developed to create a visually compelling environment. Furthermore, we realized that our team lacked the time and capacity to produce all the necessary assets internally. To address this, we decided to purchase an outsourced asset package, which considerably improved our scene’s richness and aesthetic appeal.
A significant milestone this week was the creation of our trailer, designed to convey the atmosphere of our project to the instructors effectively. This visual showcase helped illustrate the immersive experience we aim to create with EcoVision and the impact of our design choices.
Presentation Content
In our presentation slides, we covered several key aspects of our project:
Player Perspective
We explained the reasoning behind making the player character a miniaturized human, reinforcing our theme that even small actions can make a significant environmental impact. This metaphor aligns with our mission to counter climate despair and empower players to believe in their ability to contribute positively to the ecosystem.
SME Interviews and Insights
We shared valuable takeaways from our subject matter expert (SME) interview, including feedback on the ecological accuracy of our game mechanics. These insights guided our design modifications, ensuring that our actions in the game are both meaningful and scientifically valid.
Playtesting Feedback and Adjustments
We presented findings from our playtests, detailing how players engaged with the environment and the interactions that required improvement. We also outlined the adjustments made based on their feedback, such as refining hand interactions, enhancing NPC guidance, and implementing better object-handling mechanics.
Evolution of Level Design
We compared our initial level structure with its current iteration, highlighting the modifications influenced by SME feedback and playtesting results. These changes included a more practical approach to water management, better integration of biodiversity-supporting actions, and the refinement of player interactions with the environment.
Development Roadmap for the Second Half of the Semester
Looking ahead, we outlined our plan for the remaining weeks, including finalizing the water basin level, improving narrative elements, refining game assets, and scheduling another SME consultation. These steps will ensure we maintain our momentum and achieve our project goals by the end of the semester.
Looking Forward
With our presentation behind us, we now have a clearer vision of our next steps. The insights gained this week will be instrumental in shaping the development of EcoVision as we enter the latter half of the semester. Our primary focus moving forward will be refining gameplay mechanics, enhancing environmental storytelling, and conducting additional playtests to validate our improvements.