Dev Log 1

For our first three weeks of play testing, Tom (https://grumtom.itch.io/) and I worked on different games to try out different ideas. For the first week, I created a small demo game (https://stephenrockett.itch.io/mars-rock-sample-recovery) to test how the players would interact using a self-made custom controller. Tom worked on a movement script for point clicking for a NavMesh (provides a bounding area where the player can move freely in that space) controller in Unity. 

While we knew that these games would probably not be directly used in the final version of our game, they provided essential insight into what our game should look, play, and feel. We asked ourselves: ‘What will the player like about this playtest?’, ‘How will the player engage in using a unique controller design?’, ‘Will the player like the responsiveness of the game?’, and ‘Will the player suggest things that we completely overlooked?’.

Custom Controller Demo 'Mars Rock Sample Recovery' gameplay

Some positive feedback we received back (and things we will keep in mind for the final production of the game and in the coming weeks):

1. The players liked using the custom controller. Even though the design was simple and quite boxy, most playtesters found using a novel controller a unique idea. They especially liked the lack of buttons (only the ones needed to play the game were on the controller).
2. The players liked the use of the alternate camera views of the rover game (as it made the game feel more immersive) and the top-down game's distance and field of view.
3. The players liked the movement system for the top-down game as it felt responsive.

Some suggestions that the players suggested:

1. Make the controller more unique (one player noted the similarity between the custom controller and the NES (Nintendo Entertainment System) controller) and suggested making a controller unlike any other.
2. The top-down game could include ramps and differences in terrain or buildings.
3. The rover game could include a UI (User Interface) to record the player's progress.