Newsletter #14: April 25th
Overview:
This Monday we had our softs presentation. Our faculty gave us a lot of feedback which we are using to help us make the game better. The rest of the week we spent polishing our art and game as well as fixing some of the bugs that we saw occur due to unexpected interactions with the game. We also went to the Pittsburgh Zoo on Wednesday to meet our content advisor Kenneth Kaemmerer, along with the Curator of Education Margie Marks and other educators at the zoo. The discussion we had was really fruitful and we were able to get some good advice with regards to our games.
Build:
Our latest build can be downloaded from:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0gyQphBXokCT2pJZnNrZXp6UEE/view?usp=sharing
As always the build can be downloaded and installed onto an Android tablet device.
Tasks Completed:
- Review and Unify art style for the animals
- Fix bugs in the code and ensure that all the games had been cleaned up to remove any left over dev art
- Figure out the entire game flow and ensure that the UI/UX did not break this game flow
- Journal and its contents have been revised
- Maps have been revised
- Fun facts have been added to be rewards for discovering the animals
Art:
One of the feedback that we continuously got at Softs was that there were certain art assets that felt different from the others. In order to figure out what exactly the problem was we decided to print out all of the art assets that we had and conduct a full fledged art review. Through this review we were able to view all of the art side by side. Having stared at the art over periods of time on our computer screens and the tablet screens, this printed layout gave us a fresh perspective on our art and we were able to figure out which assets needed some adjustments to better fit in.
We also completed updating/revising some of our assets such as the maps and Journal. We finished up the remaining animals that could be found in our card game. Lastly the art team started work on a splashscreen for our game.
Revised Maps:
Initial Splash Screen:
New Animals:
Promotional Video:
We have made a promotional video.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8kYBTSZYHQVd21Jd2VfbVJfRlk/view?usp=sharing
We would like for you to take a look at it and tell us what you think.
Design:
The design team has been creating instructions that can help guide the players in a non-obtrusive way. These instructions do not need to be text heavy yet should say enough for the players to understand what needs to be done. Also these tutorials are being designed to indirectly lead the players through the entire game flow from the world map to the unlocking animals on the journal. We also want to use these tutorials to hopefully call attention to concepts that the players can learn through the game.
Using the tools provided to them by the programmers the designers have been able to swap out the animals and make small tweaks in balance to improve and polish our games.
Programmers:
The programmers are working to integrate the new art as it comes in and also work to make the games bugs free. they are also working with the designers to refine and tune the instructions that are given to the players.
The programmers have also been working to implement a more rewarding feedback system in the journal and make changes and revisions to the games.
Moving Forward:
This week we hope to complete:
- We will be finishing the reward system of the Journal
- Tutorials will be fully implemented
- UX will be cleaned up and the appropriate UI elements will be made and integrated
- All of the animals will be integrated and in case any of them need revision or polish that will be completed too.
- A bug free build
- A final presentation for Monday
Important Dates:
April 29th – Playtest at Mountainview Elementary School
May 4th – Final Presentation