Week in Review: Prototypes, Playtesting, and Progress
This week, our main objective was to build prototypes and begin the playtesting process, all while navigating the usual hurdles. One of the challenges we encountered was the complexity of cross-campus communication, especially when coordinating with external team members. Additionally, we had to sift through feedback carefully, determining which insights were applicable to the project.
Here’s what we accomplished:
For the rite of passage, we successfully built the floor haptics and completed the handoff. We experimented with sound waves to simulate the effect of a stampede, which added a unique touch to the experience. A 3D hotkey prototype was created to represent a lurking predator, and while we took steps to create a wireless motor, we’re still waiting for a meeting with our SME to finalize the build.
For the echolocation feature, we crafted both visual and audio prototypes. After some consideration, we decided to scale the project down to use the Woojer vest. This choice was made because the Woojer vest doesn’t rely on a separate code base—it’s sound-driven, which aligns better with our needs. We also had to iterate on the game scene, shifting from a sea bottom setting to the middle due to shader problems with the Unity terrain.
All in all, it was a productive week with tangible progress made on both fronts. We’re looking forward to refining our work further and making the most of the upcoming play testing!