Tasks and Duties
Task Overview
This week, you are tasked with creating a comprehensive Game Design Document (GDD) that outlines a unique game concept that can be developed using the Unity engine. The objective of this task is to plan and strategize a game idea with clear goals, mechanics, story elements, and target audience definitions. You must explore and document various aspects of the game's design, which will be later used as a blueprint for development. This GDD should include detailed sketches, flowcharts, and mockups where necessary.
Expected Deliverables: A single PDF or Word file containing a detailed game design document covering game concept, storyline, character profiles, level design, mechanics, user interface ideas, and a proposed technical roadmap. You should include diagrams or sketches that visually convey your ideas.
Key Steps:
- Brainstorm and research game ideas and decide on a unique, achievable concept.
- Create detailed outlines that include game mechanics, primary controls, level design, and progressive challenges.
- Document the story or context of your game, including any character backstories and settings.
- Draft flowcharts and wireframes to illustrate user progression and interaction flow.
- Compile all elements into a structured document; include visual aids to support your narrative.
Evaluation Criteria: Your submission will be evaluated based on its clarity, originality, thoroughness, and the degree to which all game development aspects are addressed. Emphasis will be placed on originality in concept and the professional presentation of the document. Ensure that your final file is well-organized and reflects a clear vision of your game project.
Task Overview
This week’s task requires you to transition from planning to execution by implementing the core game mechanics in a functional Unity project. You will focus on creating a basic game environment with essential player controls, camera movement, and initial interaction mechanics such as object pickups or collisions. Your built prototype should be modular and designed with the idea that additional features can be seamlessly integrated into it.
Expected Deliverables: A Unity project folder (compressed as a .zip file) containing all assets and scripts used for the implementation of core mechanics. Additionally, a brief text file or PDF documenting the purpose of each main script and an explanation of your project’s structure is required.
Key Steps:
- Set up a new Unity project and develop a basic game scene that includes a primary playable character.
- Implement movement controls, camera follow logic, and basic interaction mechanics (such as object collision and simple triggers).
- Write modular, well-commented C# scripts to control player movements and interactions.
- Develop a simple environment layout that demonstrates your core game loop in action.
- Compile a brief technical document explaining your coding approach and project architecture.
Evaluation Criteria: Your submission will be assessed based on the functionality and fluidity of the implemented game mechanics, code readability, and the quality of the technical documentation. The interactive prototype should be easily navigable and lay a solid foundation for future feature additions.
Task Overview
In this task, your focus shifts to expanding the game’s features while emphasizing robust debugging practices. You are to integrate additional features such as power-ups, enemy AI, or environmental challenges into the existing prototype developed in Week 2. Alongside feature expansion, you must also perform thorough debugging to ensure the game runs smoothly and is free of critical errors.
Expected Deliverables: A Unity project folder (compressed as a .zip file) that includes the updated project with new features and refined scripts. Additionally, a testing and debugging report in a text or PDF file detailing the bugs you encountered, the strategies you used to identify them, and the methods implemented to resolve them.
Key Steps:
- Review the existing Unity project and plan which additional features you can integrate.
- Implement at least one new interactive feature such as enemy AI, power-ups, dynamic obstacles, or environmental challenges.
- Conduct systematic debugging and troubleshooting sessions to identify and fix errors or performance issues.
- Document your debugging process, including tools and techniques used, and outline any unresolved issues along with potential solutions.
- Integrate final code clean-ups and improvements for a seamless gameplay experience.
Evaluation Criteria: Your project will be evaluated on the successful integration of new interactive features, the effectiveness of debugging efforts, and the clarity of the documentation provided. Emphasis will be on the logical structuring of new features and the demonstrable improvement in overall game stability and performance.
Task Overview
The final week task is to apply final optimizations and polish the Unity project to meet industry quality standards. This task requires you to enhance the visual and audio components, improve performance, and implement user interface (UI) enhancements, ensuring the game is engaging and user-friendly. You will now conduct a final review of the project, making necessary adjustments to optimize resource usage and streamline gameplay flow. This stage emphasizes the importance of delivering a refined, professional product ready for further development or presentation.
Expected Deliverables: A final Unity project folder (compressed as a .zip file) with all optimizations and enhancements applied. Additionally, a comprehensive final report (in PDF or text format) that includes an overview of the optimizations, UI changes, performance improvements, and any remaining known issues along with future considerations.
Key Steps:
- Review the project to identify areas for performance improvement, such as script optimization, asset management, and scene organization.
- Enhance the game’s UI by adding menus, interactive buttons, or HUD elements that improve the user experience.
- Integrate audio elements such as background music and sound effects that complement the game’s aesthetics.
- Conduct a performance analysis and make code/data optimizations to ensure smooth gameplay across different systems.
- Prepare detailed documentation outlining all changes made, the rationale behind optimizations, and recommendations for future improvements.
Evaluation Criteria: The final submission will be evaluated on the quality and extent of optimizations, the aesthetic and functional improvements in the UI and audio elements, and the clarity of the final report. Your submission should reflect a professional level of polish and provide clear evidence of your ability to refine and optimize a complex Unity project.