Internship Weekly Blog – Week 1

Day 1 – Brainstorming & Planning

We kicked off the internship with a collaborative brainstorming session. Everyone contributed their ideas, and we had open discussions about the kind of experience we wanted to create. By the end of the day, we outlined a rough project schedule with key milestones and deadlines. This planning phase helped establish a shared vision and set expectations for the coming weeks.

 Day 2 – Ideation & Art Direction

Building on the first day, we refined our core concept and made great progress with ideation. The team aligned well on the vision, which made discussions much smoother. We explored the project’s art direction, discussing visual style, mood, and possible color palettes. These conversations laid the groundwork for a cohesive aesthetic moving forward.

 Day 3 – Gameplay Obstacles & Map Layout

Our focus shifted toward gameplay design, specifically the types of obstacles we could include. We brainstormed different interactive elements and challenges that would keep the experience engaging. We also started sketching the floor plan of the game’s environment, helping us better visualize the spatial flow and pacing of the level.

Day 4 – Prototype Review & Feasibility Planning

We observed the programmer’s progress on implementing core mechanics like active ragdoll physics, co-op interaction, gas cylinder management, and rope physics. This gave us a tangible sense of how the game was evolving. Based on what was functional, we had a detailed discussion about which gameplay elements and obstacles were feasible within our timeline.

Day 5 – Rapid Paper Prototyping & Level Design

We started rapid paper prototyping to quickly iterate on level design ideas. The fast-paced approach helped us explore various layout possibilities, and we successfully mapped out nearly half the game’s levels in just one day. It was a high-energy session that gave us a strong foundation to begin blocking out the levels digitally in the coming week.

Summary

Week 1 was all about building a solid foundation—from planning and concept development to early design and prototyping. The team worked well together, and our ability to iterate quickly while staying aligned on the vision was a promising start. We’re excited to move into production next week and start bringing our designs to life.

Aakash Nadadur | LAB 3 GAD

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