Halves Presentation
This week we presented our halves milestone for SoulOS. Our goal was to communicate the core concept of a cooperative mixed-reality experience where players collaborate with a physical robot inside a crashed spaceship narrative. We shared updates on character design, environment direction, mapping the AR avatar to the physical robot, and synchronization between players and hardware.
Core Design Concerns Identified
Several deeper concerns emerged from the feedback:
1. Why Does This Experience Need a Robot?
Some reviewers mentioned that it is still unclear why the physical robot is essential . If the robot is mostly static or fully overlaid by an AR avatar, then why not make it fully virtual?
This question reframes our core design challenge.
We need to design choreography between player and robot that:
- Makes the physical presence irreplaceable
- Uses motion, proximity, and embodiment
- Justifies real-world risk, delay, and weight
If the robot does not move meaningfully, the experience loses its uniqueness.
3. Robot Personality & Relationship
Another key piece of feedback was about defining the robot’s identity .
Is it:
- Childlike?
- Arrogant?
- A blank slate?
- A companion?
- A burden?
We have focused heavily on interaction mechanics but have not fully defined the emotional role of the robot. Without this clarity, the narrative risks feeling disconnected from gameplay.
Next Steps
Build a stripped-down physical choreography test:
Robot moving in space
Player moving around it
No narrative, just motion study
Redefine robot personality and arc.
Present next milestone starting with:
A demo first, then next design and tech.