Timeline:

• March 7th: GDDC Playtesting Session
• March 12th: Ubisoft Playtesting Session
• March 13th: FLC Playtesting Session
• March 14th: Art meeting
• March 16th: General meeting

Synopsis:

The playtest build is available! 

Between the alpha demo and now, we have been focusing mainly on playtesting and gathering feedback to incorporate into the game moving forwards. A major point brought up during playtesting was the need for more narrative interspersed throughout the gameplay, which is the primary focus going into the Beta demo. Considering the nature of this game, communicating the narrative is a major 'mechanic' in and of itself. Other than that, the game is essentially feature-complete at this stage.  Some things we’ve already changed based on feedback include:

• When picking up an item, it’s the active item in inventory
• Item switching controls are Q and E, character switching with Space, notebook opening with J, cutscene continuation can be done with left click
• Made ghostly afterimages of items stand out more so they can’t be missed
• Removed inventory from Wish’s view to make it clear Wish can’t interact with anything
• UI for changing mouse sensitivity and quitting game

Next steps based on feedback include:

• Intro cutscene to introduce Jules and Wish
• Change portal in tutorial hallway
• Include more narrative elements throughout, using environmental pieces and set dressing
• Rehaul text system to imply inner dialogue and add more to clarify game and story elements (picking up/putting down objects, selecting inventory objects, character switching, what Jules vs. Wish remember, etc,)
• Rehaul tutorial area - have Jules start with notebook, so need to change first interaction
• Finish placeholder textures
• Add visual/audio transition elements to character switching
• Calibrate audio elements to sound appropriate relative to each other and add needed SFX