Summarized Daily Log, Game Jam's Duration Only

Day 0, May 21st, 2024

Tasks Completed

• Decided the game jam's main goal is pre-production and production.
• Used AI to research pre-production and found a video on paper prototypes.
• Brainstormed 10 game ideas.
• Combined similar ideas using convergent brainstorming.
• Scored ideas on Shippability, Marketability, and Personal Excitement.
• Chose "NecroNeedle Frankenstein" based on capabilities and excitement.
• Developed core game mechanics:Stitch together a zombie.
• Split the game into two phases:Phase one: Similar to "Operation," where body parts may need replacing.

In-Progress and Notes

• Implementing core mechanics for stitching zombies and solving puzzles.
• Developing the two-phase game structure.

Reflections and Next Steps

• Reflect on the effectiveness of convergent brainstorming.
• Further develop core mechanics and refine the two-phase structure.

Tags

• #GameJam
• #PreProduction
• #GameDesign

Day 1, May 22nd, 2024

Tasks Completed

• Created and tested a paper prototype with my 9-year-old son, Dimitri, who provided great feedback.
• Watched videos on paper prototypes and game design documents.
• Digitized efforts and created the project using a blank template.
• Documented ideas in Obsidian.
• Set up the initial project, resolving symbol errors using Visual Studio.

In-Progress and Notes

• Documenting player and AI actions.
• Aiming to complete Day 1 of a 3-day game creation window.

Reflections and Next Steps

• Reflect on Dimitri's feedback and identify more engaging moments.
• Continue documenting and refining the project setup.

Tags

• #GameDesign
• #PaperPrototype
• #ProjectSetup
• #Documentation

Day 2, May 23rd, 2024

Tasks Completed

• Set up player inputs, interact interface, interactable actor, game mode, and main player blueprint.
• Imported skeletal mesh hands.
• Tested the interact interface with a test message.

In-Progress and Notes

• Created a version control point due to successful implementations.

Reflections and Next Steps

• Reflect on the successful setup and testing of the interact interface.
• Plan to refine the interact interface and integrate more complex interactions.

Tags

• #GameDevelopment
• #PlayerSetup
• #VersionControl

Day 4, May 25th, 2024

Tasks Completed

• Set up animation montages and created variables in the main player blueprint.
• Created a delegate for item pickup and resolved delegation issues.
• Refactored item pickup to attach items to the player instead of creating new spawns.

In-Progress and Notes

• Continued setting up the coffin actor.Implemented 
• Working on attaching body parts from MainPawn to the coffin.Considering consolidating "remove" functions into the coffin class.

Reflections and Next Steps

• Reflect on the need to consolidate "remove" functions.
• Plan to test DropItem functionality to ensure zombies can hold items.

Tags

• #GameDevelopment
• #AnimationSetup
• #CoffinActor

Day 5, May 26th, 2024

Tasks Completed

• Discovered the "grab component" concept in Unreal Engine.
• Successfully spawned zombies with body parts.
• Created C++ files for an AI controller and zombie character.
• Found a workaround for assigning the static mesh component of the body part blueprint.
• Ensured zombies spawn with an AI controller.
• Implemented zombie movement towards the player upon spawning.
• Completed door opening when a character overlaps the platform.
• Finished the zombie behavior tree, allowing zombies to open doors and proceed after creation.
• Uploaded a version of the game.

In-Progress and Notes

• Encountered a null pointer issue when checking for body parts.
• Need to fix the removal of body parts from the coffin when it spawns.
• Need to create a behavior tree for the zombie to follow the player and stay when needed.
• Need to create button platforms that open doors to the next area.

Reflections and Next Steps

• 🧠 Reflect on the "grab component" discovery and its integration.
• Address the null pointer issue and assignment override problem.
• Complete the behavior tree for the zombie.
• Expand door opening functionality to include multiple platforms and doors.

Tags

• #GrabComponent
• #ZombieAI
• #BehaviorTree
• #DoorMechanics