We've found had a variety of feedback, however most of the time the theories I personally set out to conquer have proven correct!
ALSO! We had the first completion of the level this week! This is a massive success! =D
However, I'm going to write about the tests we have done recently, what problems arose and how they've been fixed.
First of all, a lot of the main issues that we have come across have been one of two things. Either, a problem on my part (for getting certain kismet scripting wrong) or something’s just weren’t clear enough for the player to understand, although they were close to understanding, as when we told them after their test they then thought it was relatively simple.
The new darkened corridor. |
So currently we have had about 9 people test the level, and all of them seem to understand what they are doing to some respect, however only one of the nine have completed it.
Three of the testers, Ryan, Farron and Josh, seemed to get stuck after finding the first code, as they thought that they don’t 'need' to explore to find others, they assume that a code is given after each puzzle has been solved. Though the other 6, Adam, Gary, Ollie, Jack, Adil and Joe, all understood that the code appeared in the dark. They all figured this out different ways however; though all are ways I wanted to happen. The three ways this is possible are:
1. The Map indicates that 'UVs' will appear in darkness.
2. I changed the code so that it was visible at the end of a darkened hallway at all times whether the lights are on or off.
3. Through exploration of the facility, should the alarm go off at the correct time, there are two other locations of codes that can be found if they are in the right area at the right time.
Based on these results I have only changed one more thing in the level and will be testing to see if this helps, I have made a symbol UV visible in the 'Jump Room' to indicate that there will be a code to find there as well.
The Visible symbol through the Jump Room Window |
Crates infront of the Jump Room |
One problem I did think of however is the fact we haven’t taught the player to jump yet, so before they get to this room, I will be adding crates for them to jump over, to let them understand that jumping is an option before they enter the room it is needed in.
Shot of a door closing. |
Along with this, most of the testers also understood that the alarm lights are timed and also that when the alarm lights that appear when the alarm is going off, are used to guide them. the other few thought they were either just for aesthetic purpose, or where a little disorientating. So nothing here needs changing.
The Botanical gardens |
Next is the 'Botanical Gardens' Room, this is the main puzzle all the testers have made it to, due to the first code appearing in the dark Hallway being the code for this door. In here, the player must insert three vials into the correct plant pods, to then release a gas (which isn’t implemented just yet) to kill a plant that is blocking the door out. In here we have three more indications on what to do:
1. The first indication is the plant that blocks the door. The plant that blocks the player in is also a plant in three of the pods on the inside of the room, indicating the correct place to put them.
2. The correct pots will have symbols on them, each of them correspond the symbol on the Vial that needs to be inserted into the pod.
3. Should the player read a 'Hologram' that is on the pod, each will say a different colour, which is also an indication to the colour of the vials.
Before the symbol was moved |
After the symbol was moved |
What the Holograms look like in some areas |
What the holograms should look like |
BUBBLES! (Inside the water tank) |
Dark Room Before |
Dark Room After |
Generator Room |
A lot of the testers while exploring the level usually come across the generator room, which is used to help power an orb in the 'Zero-G' room. They all seem to think it’s important but aren’t sure how. So to help indicate what it’s used for, the texture of it is being changed to show the symbol for the 'Zero-G' room.
All of the testers have currently learnt their way around the level after a few times of wondering around, which is great! If they haven't after a while however they have gone straight to the map to figure it all out. They have also made a connection with the 'Chevrons' being there to guide them, however not all have made the connection to the colours of the chevrons to the colours on the keypad, most seem to associate the green chevron to the leaves outside the botanical room for example.
Finally, all the testers have also understood how to interact with things from the get-go, which is mainly due to their prior experience of playing PC games. This is perfect as I was aiming the main basis of this theory towards gamers; this shows that the controls don’t need to pop up on the screen for them to know what to do. Even if they didn’t understand how to interact, they saw the 'E://...' on the computer screen at the beginning and then understood 'E' was the interact key.
Above is the test video for Adil's test! again its quite long (not as long as some of the other testers though which ranges from 45mins-2hrs) Unfortunately I cannot upload Jack's test as my computer seems to die when I try to due to it being over an hour long!
Tests will be continuing until next week before the final hand in for my MA!
LATERS TATERS!
No comments:
Post a Comment