Transformational Goals
In our second week, we focused on developing our transformational goals. We actively sought subject matter experts and connected with Dan Holland, thanks to our advisor Mike. Heather Kelley also provided leads on organizations and research papers about gentrification in Pittsburgh. The transformational workshop helped us hone in on three key areas: our audience, their barriers, and our intended transformations. Kesha led our research efforts, bringing clarity to our project direction. As we defined our transformational goals, it was only appropriate to tell the story of a Black neighborhood affected by gentrification.
We identified our audience as young adults—college students of voting age who are apathetic toward the topic. This demographic is likely to engage with an indie PC game, making it the most impactful transformation we could aim for in the next 14 weeks.
Production Progress
In the background, we made solid progress on setting up the apartment environment. Lutong created a quick mock-up of the floor plan, while Meghna and Sophie added realistic furniture and objects. Collin set up the Unity environment with placeholder blockouts and implemented a pick-and-drop mechanic. Kesha explored different playable characters to serve our transformational goal, considering:
- Grandson: Emotional impact but limited community focus.
- Hired packer: Relatable and offers an external perspective.
- Hired packer with community ties: Relatable, but less compelling.
Challenges This Week:
- Finalizing specifics of our transformational framework.
- Ensuring team alignment on the project vision and goals.
- Navigating character development and representation complexities.
Next Week’s Goals:
- Conduct interviews with subject matter experts.
- Refine our transformational goals based on feedback.
- Continue developing the Unity environment and gameplay mechanics.
- Add a cultural identity board.
- Find references to create accurate aesthetics and narrative for a Black community and character.