{"id":450,"date":"2026-03-20T17:23:20","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T17:23:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/?p=450"},"modified":"2026-03-31T18:55:41","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T18:55:41","slug":"week-9","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/week-9\/","title":{"rendered":"Week 9 &#8211; Iterations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>This Week\u2019s Goals<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-base-2-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-a93a661388d2ef021336e76227588732\">In Week 9, we focused on:<\/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\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\">\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-small-font-size\">\n<li class=\"has-small-font-size\">Iterating on core mechanics and interactions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-small-font-size\">Preparing for upcoming playtests with external and ETC audiences<\/li>\n<\/ul>\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>Mechanics Iteration<\/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-4dc3e56c3719d34050facf42d8943fb8\">This week, we continued refining our core experience through several key updates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Interaction &amp; Environment<\/strong><\/h5>\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=\"932\" height=\"690\" src=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/LightDemo-1.gif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-465\" style=\"aspect-ratio:4\/3;object-fit:cover\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-sml-medium-font-size\">In-game art assets are now interactive, which create a more immersive experience<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\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-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"224\" src=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/RotatingObject.gif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-464\" style=\"aspect-ratio:4\/3;object-fit:cover\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-sml-medium-font-size\">Objects are floating and rotating to better reflect the zero-gravity space setting<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Systems &amp; Features<\/strong><\/h5>\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-video\"><video height=\"720\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1280 \/ 720;\" width=\"1280\" controls src=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AI-Assisted-Demo-1.mp4\"><\/video><\/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-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/player-movement.gif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-643\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\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<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-sml-medium-font-size\">Implemented audio transcription and an LLM agent for interaction exploration<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-sml-medium-font-size\">Added player movement inside the spaceship<\/li>\n<\/ul>\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>Playtest Preparation<\/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-dfe0413e4ed0e20b721efefbde737deb\">We are preparing for two upcoming playtests:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-sml-medium-font-size\"><strong>IAW Playtest<\/strong> \u2014 March 25, 4:30 PM \u2013 7:00 PM<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-sml-medium-font-size\"><strong>ETC Playtest Day<\/strong> \u2014 March 28, 9:30 AM \u2014 3:00 PM<\/li>\n<\/ul>\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\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<div data-wp-interactive=\"core\/file\" class=\"wp-block-file\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10)\"><object data-wp-bind--hidden=\"!state.hasPdfPreview\" hidden class=\"wp-block-file__embed\" data=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/ETC-Playtest-Survey-Form.pdf\" type=\"application\/pdf\" style=\"width:100%;height:580px\" aria-label=\"Embed of ETC Playtest Survey Form.\"><\/object><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-58166c9c-f497-47ea-9b60-3cd7b4125a71\" href=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/ETC-Playtest-Survey-Form.pdf\">ETC Playtest Survey Form<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/ETC-Playtest-Survey-Form.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-58166c9c-f497-47ea-9b60-3cd7b4125a71\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-bottom is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><strong>Preparation<\/strong><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-sml-medium-font-size\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0\">Designed a post-playtest survey to capture player feedback<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-sml-medium-font-size\">Prepared an intro script to ensure consistent onboarding<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-sml-medium-font-size\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0\">Encouraged players to think out loud during gameplay for observation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-sml-medium-font-size\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">Ensured players do not watch others before playing, to preserve first-time experience<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Focus for Playtesting<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list has-sml-medium-font-size\">\n<li class=\"has-sml-medium-font-size\">How players understand and navigate the experience<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-sml-medium-font-size\">Whether interactions are intuitive and engaging<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-sml-medium-font-size\">How narrative and gameplay mechanics influence experience (e.g., motivation)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This Week\u2019s Goals In Week 9, we focused on: Mechanics Iteration This week, we continued refining our core experience through several key updates. Interaction &amp; Environment Systems &amp; Features Playtest Preparation We are preparing for two upcoming playtests: Preparation Focus for Playtesting<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":654,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-450","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\/450","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=450"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/450\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":668,"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/450\/revisions\/668"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/654"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=450"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=450"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/sparksmith-studio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=450"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}