{"id":334,"date":"2026-01-25T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-25T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/questweavers\/?p=334"},"modified":"2026-03-28T10:22:40","modified_gmt":"2026-03-28T10:22:40","slug":"week-2-research-drafts-pitches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/questweavers\/week-2-research-drafts-pitches\/","title":{"rendered":"Week 2 &#8211; Research, Drafts, Pitches"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size\">During this week, we shifted from broad exploration to a more focused direction as our pitch ideas had settled. After pitching three different ideas to the faculty (1. Stealth in the mist in RIFTS-China; 2. Techno-wizard gadgets in Lazlo; 3. Line magic in RIFTS-Russia), the mist-based concept was selected, and we began digging deeper into that direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Weekly Focus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list has-large-font-size\">\n<li class=\"has-large-font-size\">Pitch our early ideas and settle on a stronger project direction<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-large-font-size\">Begin deeper research on the chosen mist-based concept<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-large-font-size\">Identify early technical needs, art needs, and design references<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Progress Update<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-text-annotation has-medium-font-size is-style-text-annotation--1\"><strong>Tech<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list is-style-checkmark-list has-medium-font-size\">\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Started researching how mist and fog could function as both atmosphere and gameplay<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Explored early player controls and enemy AI behavior<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tested early technical ideas related to fog, navmesh, and how enemies might interact with mist<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-text-annotation has-medium-font-size is-style-text-annotation--2\"><strong>Art<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list is-style-checkmark-list has-medium-font-size\">\n<li>Gathered more visual references to support the new direction<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Leaned toward a stylized visual approach with an abandoned rural village setting<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Explored early ideas for level tone, environment structure, and character style<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-text-annotation has-medium-font-size is-style-text-annotation--3\"><strong>Sound<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list is-style-checkmark-list has-medium-font-size\">\n<li>Reached out to external sound designer Liam to explore the possibility of having a dedicated sound designer for the project<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-text-annotation has-medium-font-size is-style-text-annotation--4\"><strong>Design &amp; Production<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list is-style-checkmark-list has-medium-font-size\">\n<li>Pitched three early project ideas to the faculty<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Began shaping more concrete level and narrative ideas around escape, the mist wall, and the broader RIFTS China setting<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kept multiple design details open, since the overall direction was chosen, but the specifics were still not fully defined<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Shifted the team\u2019s work from broad exploration into a more unified direction<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Began planning toward a more concrete 1\/4s presentation for the following week<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Notes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">This week marked an important transition as it gave the project a clearer identity. The team started to rally around the mist-based RIFTS China concept and started asking more specific questions about what the level needed technically, visually, and narratively. At the same time, many of the detailed design decisions were still open for further exploration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Next<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list has-large-font-size\">\n<li>Develop the chosen direction into something more concrete for 1\/4s<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Clarify the level design details and overall player experience<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Continue building references and technical exploration around the mist system<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Media<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-5 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;6a57f512d9d72&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6a57f512d9d72\" class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"9406\" height=\"5209\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-id=\"336\" src=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/questweavers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Art_Character-Reference.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-336\" srcset=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/questweavers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Art_Character-Reference.jpg 9406w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/questweavers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Art_Character-Reference-300x166.jpg 300w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/questweavers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Art_Character-Reference-1024x567.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/questweavers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Art_Character-Reference-768x425.jpg 768w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/questweavers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Art_Character-Reference-1536x851.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 9406px) 100vw, 9406px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-accent-5-color\">Character Reference<\/mark><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;6a57f512da3c8&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6a57f512da3c8\" class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"8570\" height=\"5717\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-id=\"338\" src=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/questweavers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Art_Environment-Reference.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-338\" srcset=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/questweavers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Art_Environment-Reference.jpg 8570w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/questweavers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Art_Environment-Reference-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/questweavers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Art_Environment-Reference-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/questweavers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Art_Environment-Reference-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 8570px) 100vw, 8570px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-accent-5-color\">Environment Reference<\/mark><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;6a57f512daf20&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6a57f512daf20\" class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1440\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-id=\"337\" src=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/questweavers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Brainstorming-Progress-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-337\" srcset=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/questweavers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Brainstorming-Progress-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/questweavers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Brainstorming-Progress-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/questweavers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Brainstorming-Progress-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/questweavers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Brainstorming-Progress-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/questweavers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Brainstorming-Progress-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/questweavers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Brainstorming-Progress-2048x1152.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Brainstorming Progress<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video height=\"1080\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1920 \/ 1080;\" width=\"1920\" autoplay controls loop muted src=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/questweavers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Fog-Particles-Test_x264.mp4\" playsinline><\/video><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong><em><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-contrast-color\">Fog Particles Test<\/mark><\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video height=\"1080\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1920 \/ 1080;\" width=\"1920\" autoplay controls loop muted src=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/questweavers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Navmesh-Test_x264.mp4\" playsinline><\/video><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-contrast-color\"><strong>Navmesh Test<\/strong><\/mark><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Overview During this week, we shifted from broad exploration to a more focused direction as our pitch ideas had settled. After pitching three different ideas to the faculty (1. Stealth in the mist in RIFTS-China; 2. Techno-wizard gadgets in Lazlo; 3. Line magic in RIFTS-Russia), the mist-based concept was selected, and we began digging deeper [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-334","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blogs"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/questweavers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/334","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/questweavers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/questweavers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/questweavers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/questweavers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=334"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/questweavers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/334\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":383,"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/questweavers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/334\/revisions\/383"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/questweavers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=334"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/questweavers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=334"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/questweavers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=334"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}