EcoVision

Week 3 – Quarter

Week 3 marked our Quarter Review Week, a crucial milestone in our project’s early development. This week, we participated in the Quarter Discussion, where teams had the opportunity to present our initial concepts and progress to faculty members, receive valuable feedback, and refine the direction before diving into significant development work. This was an excellent checkpoint to ensure we were on the right track and make any necessary adjustments before moving forward.

“Gold Spike” – The Method to Confirm the Direction

Final Deliverable: A 10-15 minute immersive VR experience designed to inspire players to engage with environmental issues and empower them to take action against climate change.
Narrative Story: The player shrinks to a miniature size and embarks on an adventure in their backyard, uncovering hidden ecosystems on the brink of collapse. They must restore balance and save the environment from destruction to return to their normal size.
Target Audience: 12-18-year-olds
Play Time: 10-15 minutes

Feedback

Theme & Narrative

  • While the game highlights ecosystem balance, it needs a stronger connection to climate change.
  • We need to narrow the theme and clarify our message.
  • Should the setting be a home environment or a classroom experience? If in a classroom, should it include group discussions or reflection sections?
  • How can we visually represent the impact of climate change?
  • Would an abandoned house setting add to the storytelling?

Game Design

  • Define the emotional journey we want players to experience.
  • Ensure the message connects to real-world environmental issues.
  • How do small-scale actions in the game relate to larger climate challenges?
  • Be intentional about what we are teaching the player and how we balance learning with fun.
  • Consider incorporating real-life tools and activities that players can apply beyond the game.
  • Would allowing players to take on different roles in various levels enhance engagement?
  • Focus on the core game loop before expanding features.
  • Prioritize immersive experiences over mini-games.
  • Use familiar objects to highlight the contrast between nature and artificial elements.

Technical Considerations

  • Implement real-time shrinking in a visually compelling way.
  • Make the shrinking moment feel dynamic, avoiding a simple linear scale.
  • Keep the camera steady to ensure player comfort.
  • Explore Passthrough technology—could we integrate the real sky into the VR environment?

Looking Ahead

With these insights, our next steps involve refining our core themes, strengthening the climate change connection, and prototyping key mechanics—particularly the shrinking moment. We’re also exploring inspirations like FernGully, Ant-Man, and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids to enhance the storytelling and immersive experience. The feedback has given us a clearer direction, and we’re excited to move forward with a sharper focus on both engagement and education.