Introduction of project

Week 1 Progress

This week was the beginning of something new as the team was going to be made up of 10 members which was new to me because the biggest group I've ever worked with was 5. With half of the team being animation students, it would allow our game to have animations, texturing, scripting, modelling etc. However, before we even get into that, we needed to think of ideas for a vertical slice project. This meant that the game didn't need to be fully fleshed out and instead have a developed level that is driven by a narrative structure and keep the player engaged with what's around them.

Communication

This is one of the biggest issues that can happen with a group of 10 people especially when you don't know them. However, it didn't take long for our members in our group to get along and work together on this project. Our group lacked time for discussing ideas in class as we were only together in class for about 3 hours.

Face-to-face

Meeting the team face to face is good sometimes as we were able to come up with ideas whether or not it was feasible, we still wrote it down on a whiteboard.

Discord

The team made a discord server so that we as a group could discuss further ideas beyond University hours. We also made progress member channels as well as channels that provide ideas, help and support for the project. Discord allowed us to make polls to decide what idea we are going to make.

Miro

I've used miro in the past and it is such an amazing tool for group projects to present ideas where everyone can view and add their own ideas.

Group Ideas

Initial Ideas

Defined Ideas

Idea 2/4

These two ideas were made by myself and I was very keen on making one of these ideas but the team choose idea 7 because it was something new and feasible. However, the ideas I made didn't come from, in the end, it is ideas that I can use to create in the next project.

Final Idea

The team choose Idea 7 and I was hesitant at first but with time, I became more invested in creating this idea into a game.

Research

In terms of research, I only looked at toy store images to get an idea of what the toy store could look like for the game room for the presentation.

Project Management

GitHub

I have used GitHub before in a previous project so I choose to be the one to set up the source control on the project with GitHub. I also managed and provided assistance with the team to sort out their end to connecting to the GitHub repository, and installing required applications and plugins for the project.

Project Roles

I made the project roles based on what was provided by me for the team members' primary and secondary roles. Originally, there wasn't a leader for the project but I stepped up as the leader in the later weeks into the project.

Gameplay Test Room

This room was used as a test to what the game could look like as its initial idea where you are a child who is trapped in a toy store and your goal is to escape while facing puzzles, enemy encounters and timed events that test the player and make them overcome their fears.

Game Scripting

I decided as one of the game designers to develop some scripting to help bring the core features of the game into action.

Flashlight Interaction

I developed a flashlight script inside the player character where the player presses "F" on the keyboard that can turn the flashlight on and off

Line trace Interaction

I developed a line trace script inside the player character where I can add an interaction event that allows the player to open a door within a limited range without the use of a collision box.

Level Design

This is the prominent role that I'll be focusing on the most as it is the role I want to get a career out of. Although, the game room test isn't part of the actual game. It has allowed the team to see what the idea could be and to make that happen, my role is to blockout the area and make it feel like a toy store with a playroom.

Level Blockout

End of Week 1