The Power of Paper Prototyping
Week 5 Updates
- second Prototype Update
- branding
Since last week, we have conducted more paper prototyping sessions. If you may recall, last week we learned that our guests favored discovery and exploration over fixed progression prescriptions. This week, we created a new paper prototype to test a more explorative experience, that used scaffolding to give guests the allusion of choice, and allow them to learn about the atmospheres of chord progressions.
The paper prototype was divided into three stages: a) a neighborhood corner, b) a secluded park, and c) a street corner. In the first stage, the neighborhood corner, the guest only had access to the 1st, 4th, and 5th scale degrees of the key [C Major]. In the second stage, the secluded, rainy park, they had access to the 2nd, the 3rd, the 5th, and the 6th. In the final stage, the street corner, they had access to all of the scale degrees. During each stage, we had an image of the environment that they were in, broadcasted on our monitor, and we played an accompanying soundscape – these environmental feelings helped inform the atmospheric qualities of each batch of chords. Guests were able to play these chords in any order, for any length of time, by pointing to the corresponding sticky note. Like the other paper prototype, we used scale degrees as identifiers, and Yuji was our jukebox – playing the appropriate chord for each scale degree held by the guests. Our hope was that guests would experiment, and try out different progressions, in order to develop a better understanding of sequencing and patterns.
Neighborhood
The Park
City Street
From the playtests, we learned that guests enjoy being able to freely explore and still make coherent, compelling music. They enjoyed the emotive qualities of the prototype, and how they were able to use music as a mechanism to convey particular emotional qualities that matched an atmosphere. Lastly, we learned that they do enjoy some form of objective, that can serve as a leading line to inform them of whether or not they succeed or fail.
We have been using paper prototyping as an auxiliary channel to test design ideas. Throughout this process, we have been also developing the prototype in Unity, and in particular polishing the accordion mechanism. Our goal is to do a tissue test prototype on Monday [10/4] to assess the fluidity, efficiency, and clarity of the accordion mechanism, and a more complete prototype on Wednesday 10/6, with environment art and diegetic visualizations in place.
Our pipeline has been steady and sturdy, as the audio team transitioned into using FMOD as an audio middleware to achieve a more adaptive, and flawless audio experience. This has lifted some of the weight off of the programmers, so that the audio designers have more flexibility and control with iterating sounds, updating passes, using parameters, and doing real-time mixing.
Lastly, we have spent the week working hard on our branding materials. Our artist, Jack, whipped up many different iterations, and we are very proud of how everything turned out. Check them out!
Branding Updates
Lastly, we have spent the week working hard on our branding materials. Our artist, Jack, whipped up many different iterations, and we are very proud of how everything turned out. Check them out!
