Internship Weekly Blog – Week 5

Day 1 – First 2-Player Playtest – It’s Alive!

We kicked off Week 5 with our first full 2-player playtest, and it was an absolute blast. Seeing our tethered co-op system in action brought a whole new layer of excitement—and chaos. The game is genuinely fun, which was a huge validation of our efforts so far.

That said, the test also revealed some clear issues: several mechanics and level sections felt way too hard when two players are physically connected. It became obvious that we’d need to rework some design decisions to better suit the co-op nature of the game. Still, this test marked a major milestone, and it felt great to finally see players engaging with the core experience.

Day 2 – Gameplay Tweaks, Testing Fixes & Netcode Beginnings

We followed up with another round of playtesting, this time after tweaking and expanding the gameplay. Some parts of the game previously felt a bit flat, so I added new interactive elements to make the experience more dynamic.

I also fixed a number of issues spotted during testing to improve flow and reliability. Later in the day, I began learning the basics of Unreal Engine’s netcode—understanding replication and how to ensure co-op mechanics function smoothly across multiple players. It was challenging but essential groundwork for future development.

Days 3 to 5 – Playtests, Level Design Polish & A New Teammate

The rest of the week was focused on iterative playtesting and level design refinement. Each test session gave us actionable feedback. We adjusted pacing, rebalanced difficulty, and made the flow of each level section feel more natural and intuitive for co-op play.

On Day 5, we welcomed a new teammate, a character modeller, to the project. After showing him the game and our one-month progress, he was genuinely impressed and surprised at how much we’d accomplished. It was a proud moment for the whole team.

Day 6 – Offline Playtest & Pizza Party

To celebrate our progress, most of the team came over to my place for an offline playtest and pizza party. Playing the game together in the same room added a whole new layer of fun—and chaos.

The live reactions, laughter, and teamwork really highlighted how far our co-op gameplay has come. And yes, yours truly may have absolutely nailed the game design (with help from the team, of course). It was a wholesome and high-energy way to wrap up the week—equal parts celebration, testing, and bonding.

Summary

Week 5 was a turning point in both development and team dynamics. With playtesting in full swing, level design refinements happening daily, and even a new teammate joining in, the project has found its rhythm. Seeing people genuinely enjoy what we’ve built—and having those hilarious offline moments—was a powerful reminder of why we do this. Week 5 wasn’t just progress—it was proof that the game is becoming something special.

                                                                                                        AAKASH NADADUR | LAB 3 GAD

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