Delve Major Update - 4

This sprint had the team focus on creating the second level of the game, which can be accessed by pressing 'E' when near the exit door in the boss room of the first level. We also continued to fix technical debt and bugs that were found in game. The second level introduces more platforming in addition to the rogue-like and survivor style of play from the first level.

The main tasks that I worked on were:

• Sound design for the first and second levels. This included more ambient sounds like skittering, dripping water, wind, whispering voices for the altars, and cult-like ambience for the temple entrance. I experimented with 3D sound settings and creating a proximity in which the player can hear certain sounds.
• Fixing the player's mining laser and gun switching. The team decided to replace the pickaxe with the mining laser because the pickaxe was causing too many technical issues. I switched out the input switching for the mining laser so that it was connected to the scroll wheel, and I made sure that all the scripts that needed to reference this new laser were correct.
• Reviewing all other bug reports and technical changes that are needed and sorting through the bug board to update the solutions that are in the main build.

Some major things that I learned during this project's first development phase are:

• Creating more spread with 3D sounds in Unity makes it seem like the sound is surrounding the player. Reducing that spread makes the sound source sound much closer to where the object is actually placed.
• Proper audio balancing is crucial to having all of the audio work well with each other. Keeping the overall volume the same is also important to getting a more professional sound feel.
• Reducing delays in audio that is meant to loop helps the audio sound more seamless.
• Quieting excess noise when recording audio is important to keeping out grain and static within edited SFX.
• Keeping up with the bug board is ideal for having the build's bugs be addressed quicker.

I still have been having a blast with audio design and ensuring the quality of the game. I am hoping to use my design further within the UI in the game, to have the overall experience be cohesive for players.

This phase was launched to itch.io on 11/07/2024