{"id":391,"date":"2026-03-17T21:50:24","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T21:50:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/?p=391"},"modified":"2026-03-30T20:34:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T20:34:10","slug":"week-8-gdc-present","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/week-8-gdc-present\/","title":{"rendered":"Week 8 &#8211; GDC Present"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>This Week&#8217;s Goals<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-base-2-color has-text-color has-link-color has-sml-medium-font-size wp-elements-e9d16183e7dbd98934d22705b1182718\">In Week 8, we focused on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul style=\"padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\" class=\"wp-block-list has-base-2-color has-contrast-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color has-small-font-size wp-elements-0f571242e1364ccd2488ba518140fe3a\">\n<li class=\"has-small-font-size\">Identifying key areas for iteration based on Halves feedback<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-small-font-size\">Presenting our project at GDC Festival of Gaming<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-small-font-size\">Conducting playtests to observe player behavior and experience<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-base-2-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-base-2-background-color has-background is-style-dots\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Halves Feedback<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"867\" height=\"848\" src=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Presentation-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-585\" style=\"object-fit:cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Presentation-1.png 867w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Presentation-1-300x293.png 300w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Presentation-1-768x751.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 867px) 100vw, 867px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-base-2-color has-text-color has-link-color has-sml-medium-font-size wp-elements-20f291f4d1494bdaf2c4dc561e344c02\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10)\">Following our Halves presentation, we gathered feedback from faculty and our client, which helped us identify several key areas for improvement.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"731\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Product-1-731x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-582\" style=\"object-fit:cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Product-1-731x1024.png 731w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Product-1-214x300.png 214w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Product-1.png 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 731px) 100vw, 731px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading has-base-2-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-80fa71606afcb5e4301d742b034f8915\"><strong>Research<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-sml-medium-font-size\">Need to reference existing VR welding simulators (e.g., Ocuweld, WeldVR)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Interaction &amp; UX Clarity<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-sml-medium-font-size\">Player interactions are not clearly communicated<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-sml-medium-font-size\">Need to visualize UI and physical actions (hover, push, pull)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-sml-medium-font-size\">Ergonomics concerns with prolonged controller use<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Experience &amp; Visual Design<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Opportunity to strengthen the futuristic environment through lighting and CGI<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\"><strong>Next Steps<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-small-font-size\">Clearly demonstrate player interaction and UI<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-small-font-size\">Ensure playtest design is comprehensive<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-small-font-size\">Work toward a feature-complete build for Week 10 playtest<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-base-2-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-base-2-background-color has-background is-style-dots\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>GDC Present<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-base-2-color has-text-color has-link-color has-sml-medium-font-size wp-elements-5571b3fc353e88fbe26b430773b795ab\">This week, we presented <em>XR Welding Edu Game<\/em> at the <strong>GDC Festival of Gaming<\/strong> at the CMU booth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"767\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GDC-1-767x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-591\" style=\"aspect-ratio:3\/4;object-fit:cover;width:auto;height:480px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GDC-1-767x1024.png 767w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GDC-1-225x300.png 225w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GDC-1-768x1025.png 768w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GDC-1.png 856w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) 100vw, 767px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"767\" src=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Playtest-3-1024x767.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-592\" style=\"aspect-ratio:4\/3;object-fit:cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Playtest-3-1024x767.png 1024w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Playtest-3-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Playtest-3-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Playtest-3.png 1525w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"767\" src=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/gdc-2-1024x767.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-593\" style=\"aspect-ratio:16\/9;object-fit:cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/gdc-2-1024x767.png 1024w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/gdc-2-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/gdc-2-768x575.png 768w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/gdc-2.png 1524w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-base-2-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-base-2-background-color has-background is-style-dots\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Playtests &amp; Observations<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-base-2-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-c924eaf47e8ad917c07b8299785e98a9\">In addition to GDC, we conducted playtests with <strong>high school students and ETC visitors<\/strong> to better understand how new players experience our game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"767\" src=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Playtest-high-school1-1024x767.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-588\" srcset=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Playtest-high-school1-1024x767.png 1024w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Playtest-high-school1-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Playtest-high-school1-768x575.png 768w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Playtest-high-school1.png 1524w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"767\" src=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Playtest-vip-1-1024x767.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-589\" srcset=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Playtest-vip-1-1024x767.png 1024w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Playtest-vip-1-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Playtest-vip-1-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Playtest-vip-1.png 1525w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Takeaways<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-sml-medium-font-size\">We need stronger onboarding for first-time VR users<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-sml-medium-font-size\">Guidance should support players without removing challenge<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-sml-medium-font-size\">Visual design needs to better align with the intended tone of the experience<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This Week&#8217;s Goals In Week 8, we focused on: Halves Feedback Following our Halves presentation, we gathered feedback from faculty and our client, which helped us identify several key areas for improvement. Research Interaction &amp; UX Clarity Experience &amp; Visual Design Next Steps GDC Present This week, we presented XR Welding Edu Game at the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":655,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-391","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-production"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/391","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=391"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/391\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":627,"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/391\/revisions\/627"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/655"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=391"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=391"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=391"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}