This week, our focus was largely on preparing for Quarters, a crucial milestone in our project timeline. As we gathered our thoughts and materials, we realized that while we had made significant progress, our work was scattered and not clearly defined. We had research papers, multiple narratives, and character explorations, alongside a rough plan for art development and a vision for game mechanics. However, the challenge lay in how to present this information effectively within the limited time allotted for feedback from faculty groups.
Our main objective for Quarters was to gain clarity on our narrative plan, especially since we had already received substantial input on our transformational goals. To our surprise, most faculty members were primarily interested in discussing our transformational goals, which led to some valuable discussions and questions. However, we recognized that our audience definition seemed random, and our transformation felt overly ambitious. This highlighted a challenge we might grapple with throughout the semester, emphasizing the need to narrow our goals further.
Production Development
In terms of production, we made strong strides in game design this week. We brainstormed three primary methods for dispersing information to the player:
- Eavesdropping
- Item interactions
- Simple puzzle-like interactions
These options felt solid for our chosen platform. We also discussed how to structure the game in terms of “levels,” ultimately deciding to divide the experience into “days.” This approach would help us distribute the story evenly and gain more control over the narrative.
The art and narrative teams were facing similar challenges in researching how to authentically depict the legacy of a Black family and community. Hesitation and a lack of leads hindered our progress. Fortunately, our meeting with Bruce Chan, an urban designer we connected with through Heather Kelley, proved to be extremely helpful. Bruce provided insights into various instances of gentrification happening around us, as well as information about developers striving to create new buildings in an ethical manner. His biggest contribution was referring us to a photography project that explores the intimate lives and households of affected communities, which could serve as a valuable reference for our narrative and visual direction.
Challenges This Week:
- Presenting scattered work effectively during Quarters.
- Refining our audience definition and transformational goals.
- Researching how to authentically portray the legacy of a Black family and community.
Next Week’s Goals:
- Narrow down our transformational goals based on feedback.
- Continue developing game design and narrative structure.
- Utilize insights from Bruce Chan and the photography project for our research.
- Finalize character and environmental details to enhance authenticity.