AQUABALL LEAGUE / DEV LOG

Sprint 0 log:

Setting the sprint plan expectations:

1) get menus and flow built out 

2) start a character selection and map selection 

3) buttons (play, settings, game modes, 

4) Redo Logo

INSP:

• https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/dolphin-spirit-ocean-mission-switch/ 
• Put the animals as a focal point https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gqpaz3hdsYI Ocean Phoenix
• Cat Clean Ocean

Bri

• Menu UI
• Make logo sketches
• buttons
  • dolphin behind button
    • once pressed, dolphin splashes down/away or looks happy!
• logo
  • A being under “Aqua”
• speech bubble for tips
• – accessiblity
• – audio buttons for text to speech
• – colorblind filters later on, along with languages
• – avatar icons
• – gamers ready screen, name input, maybe make cursor? (later)
• – changing the screen layouts, pirate map
• – make brand kit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• – try orange for when hovered, or white 
•  
• welcome screen is done, needs play screen
• – credits
• – options
• – leaderboard

Renee:

• Character selection
  • Character art
  • Menu UI for character design
  • Look at Splatoon concept art

Justin notes:

• Buttons look great
• change the setting button to just “settings” instead of the gear. 
• The logo will probably be kept (need to be talked about). 
• Notice the background of Audio Settings, need have a consistent background in the menus. 
• Team name should be BIG. Think of animations to the screen (Bri). Team name should be CENTERED in the main box
• When team name is entered, there could be a fancy animation where the name gets bigger (Bri and Renee)
• Menu should have animated transitions
• text box should not be above the avatar icon. (too close to the team name) It would look better on the BOTTOM.
• Bri and Justin should clean up the menu organization and figure out the background
• Justin needs to pick up more controllers for testing purposes (make sure it works for everyone)
• Bri has to think about ACCESSIBILITY, can someone read/understand the screen, is there text/directions to explain what to do. Ex there was a cartoon finger that pointed to the player what you should do next. How can you get the players ready?
• Bri meet with developer team to plan out the design of the menus and how we can guide the players
• on screen keyboard could pop up since not all consoles are created equal. What controls should trigger the next events, make it easy/accessible
• Might need multiple screens
• Think about the user experience and have the game mechanics/functionality support players.
• Remember to include back buttons. Back button could be right next to the next button
• Recommended to not include a back button in the character select, data could get messed up. So maybe just a back button to the MAIN SCREEN
• Can use the X in the upper right corner (but will prob need a word like exit since not everyone understands symbols)
• Start should be “go play now”
• Think of button order, next button could be greyed out until you write in all your information (team name/player name) It only becomes active when player is all done
• Justin will change the background to the level but Bri and him can work together to be more interactive. (ex think of the title screen where the animals are animated)
• Come up with final name for animal characters…. (1-2 syllabus)

Aldrin notes:

• Made general layout for character select (characters would be in the squares) Just need to add custom icons and beautify it
• Made a local repository to keep track of progress, added MIT License as well)
• Gonna make an LFS for the entire game (1 GiB of free storage but the next month would be 5$ per month)
• What will character screen look like? Design team will work on icons (JPEG/PNG) and he can just put it in
• Make sure to save original files of artwork in case something explodes 
• Make sure to do dev logs (it could just be in google docs or comments in code) This will also help future teams catch up and understand the project

Bri notes:

• Focused on platformer part of the game and want menu and UI done
• Found an adobe pirate pack
• Try to rasterize all the buttons to send over to code team. Export it and it can go out as a JPG/PNG (unreal doesn’t accept vector images…..) Make sure to export in HIGH PIXEL
• Can eventually have different languages after the English version is done (but not right now it is prototyping time )
• Some kids aren’t as literate so there should be an button where there will be audio to read out all the directions for the kids
• Can think of different fonts to match with the brand. (we can choose different fonts that isn’t wicked mouse but most of it SHOULD be wicked mouse) It allows the kids to see and understand better
• Blue on blue color should be changed. Try to change the text to orange or white to have a better contrast.

Renee notes (3D Modeler):

• Created a rough blocking of the 3D Young Girl with Shading
• Used Mixamo to initially create rigging and animation tests
• These act as placeholders until we make the animations
• Aldrin: noted that after $1 million in revenue, we will have to pay royalty for animations
• Next steps are to work on additional clothing and produce conceptual art/visuals for the customization screen
• Hairstyle is a bit difficult
• Shaders export out differently
• Recommendation from Bri: Showcase emote of dancing?/Easter egg?
• Wondering about representation in body types
• Making body bases is a current consideration
• Comment from Roman: Everyone is currently growing and advancing in their skills
• Use the asset store for inspiration and find different assets instead of building from scratch, find a wardrobe, etc.
• Research the potential of generation via AI (Leonardo.ai)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cF-SBgsnpYA
• Download Unreal Engine to modify assets
• On resume, highlight the sprint methodologies, stand ups, and tactics learned

Sprint 1 log:

character icon inspo!!!! (YOOO!!! I LOVE):3

character select screen inspo:

December 3rd:

(what it looks like so far)

12 characters (500px x 500px)

• Roman really likes Brawl stars
• Avatar icons for team
  • Aldrin (penguin)
  • Bri (capybara)
  • Renee (starfish)
  • Justin (justin LOL I MEANT TO WRITE DOLPHIN)
  • Roman 
  • Jay (fishing)
  • Kay (crab)
  • Akilah
  • 5 remaining characters
    • Ai (shark)
    • Yu (turtle)
    • Vee (jellyfish)
    • Elle (Octopus)
    • Emm (Seahorse)

Potential names:

• Bee
• CeeCee
• Dee
• Eve
• Gee
• Ai (I)
• Elle
• Emm
• En
• Oh
• Ar ®
• Ess (S)
• Tee
• Yu
• Vee

Sprint 2 log:

• Roman needs to show Bri and Ren the dashboard to get a better idea of the avatar icons and what they are used for(which will be used for platformer/adventure mode)
  • 2v2 you chose dolphin/shark your avatar could be in the upper corner with the username/avatar icon with their health/badge/ranking
  • Sports mode is simple to play so wants to keep that
  • Humanoid 3D models can be different from profile icon

• Keeping the names/islands
• Icons are great! Might need to change the blue over blue icons for color blind people
• Wants to animate the water coming up to the side (but that’s for the future/if have time)
• Loves the mickey mouse mouse 
• Need a help functionality
• Loves the big red oval for the exit button. Controller icon would move over when pressed (press b for exit would be
• Icons will be grayed out, first controller would hit the A to join, hit controller to join team A or B which will drop down right to player 1 (to put in name) 
• Next sprint should focus on switching out the placeholder buttons/maps with Bri’s work
• What makes it special? The game mechanics not the graphics, all of it is still placeholders/can be changed
  • Educational AI machine learning
  • Platformer mode is where they earn their badges/points since they have completed their adventure (which will be math/science questions) so they unlock powerup cards in platformer mode. (educational experience)
  • Make it to the checkpoint section will allow us to go to a special area where we can complete our adventure quiz)
  • Powerup cards will be used in 2v2 game which can be applied to the champions (the animals)
  • Platformer mode needs to be adjusted (change water shading) needs to create quiz engine (educational stuff)
  • When a humanoid character runs what will the UI interface look like? 
  • In the future they will modify game assets (UI/3D models) and Bri and Ren will learn from videos/training sessions. Can reach out to Nasrr for help 

• Once checkpoint is hit the math/science questions will pop up
• Put a bubble/oval around the player name (could be comic style)
• Every piece of the island has an area so should have a fun scenery (based off Roman’s book) Could be mountain scenery, cities, ocean themed

• Extended sprint due to finals(31st)
  • Sprint review 30th
  • Wants ALL of platformer mode finished (wants the menu to make sense)
  • Will have a trello board made
    • Will have tasks to finish
  • Renee
    • Get all humanoid characters DONE
    • 3D models of Jay/Kay other characters 
  • Bri
    • UI, Arrows, change menu, on screen keyboard that pops up (game won’t be built in PC as much. Game console will also player)
    • Click into certain text boxes a keyboard will pop up
  • UI team will change the landscaping and graphics of the platformer to make it more Aquaball league and not default
  • Justin, Aldrin, Nassr will focus on single mode and the educational side. Make sure the points are kept track of
  • VR mode (gorilla tag is becoming more popular)
  • 4 player mode should be finished (Justin and Nassr)