14. Final blog before Viva!

The project deadline is approaching (3rd May), along with the final blog submission before the Viva presentation. The remaining task is to complete the documentation and create a project video for the Viva showcase.

Changes?

In the previous blog, I discussed future plans, but while working on the documentation, I started questioning whether this project is on the right track. It lacks smoothness and enjoyment, which is something many project creators experience. I'm considering what changes I could make to make it more interesting and grab the attention of Develop: Brighton participants, as this could be a good opportunity to establish myself as a game programmer/developer at a company.

First-person?

One idea is to switch the game view from third-person to first-person, which would bring a significant change to the gameplay. In the third person, the player has a wider field of view and can spot enemies approaching from behind. However, in the first person, it may be too late to react. I'm also considering how this change would affect the current skills, especially the ranged stance, which might work well in first-person. I need to ensure the action-oriented gameplay remains intact, possibly drawing inspiration from the Dishonored series. I could test a new camera view to gauge its feasibility and save some animation work. While Mixamo and other free sources offer great animations, finding the perfect fit for the game can be challenging and often leaves me dissatisfied.

My mind now

Planning a game is no easy task, even for a smaller project. The challenge lies in making sense of the features and balancing them appropriately. It's crucial to avoid overwhelming the final project with too many or too few features, as it may end up feeling more like a tech demo than a game. Time constraints and indecision have contributed to this dilemma.

This blog post lacks a specific topic; it's primarily a reflection of my thoughts. I might be feeling overwhelmed because the year is ending, and I can't recall the last time I had a break to relax. It feels like jumping from one assignment to another without respite. I plan to revisit this topic after taking a break and approach it with fresh ideas.

Until then, thank you for following this blog!

-Bence (Oliminor)