Date: August 17, 2024

Introduction: Today marks the beginning of our journey in developing "Debug," a game where players use light to interact with and zap flies in a dark, mysterious environment. We explored Unity to establish basic and complex functionalities, focusing on creating an immersive gameplay experience.

Progress Overview:

1. Initial Setup and Prefabs:

Created the main game environment and objects like flies, moths, and the lamp, using prefabs for easy replication.

1. Movement and Collision:
   • Implemented logic for random fly movement and targeted moth behaviors affecting the lamp's energy on collision.
2. Score System:
   • Integrated a scoring mechanism to track and display the number of zapped flies using Text Mesh Pro.
3. Visual Effects with Shader Graph:
   • Developed a shader effect to make only the light-illuminated areas visible, enhancing the game's focus on light management.
4. Game Design Enhancements:
   • Refined background and mechanics to emphasize energy management and enhance the gaming atmosphere.
5. User Experience (UX) Improvements:
   • Mapped out the game flow, designed wireframes, and optimized instructional interactions to enhance player understanding and engagement.
6. User Interface (UI) Developments:
   • Selected aesthetic elements like color palettes and fonts, designed interactive controls, and implemented a dynamic battery indicator.
7. Concept Art Progress:
   • Finalized creature designs and animations, cover art, and developed detailed game components for seamless integration.
8. Sound Design Initiatives:
   • Initiated the creation of unique background music to complement gameplay and enhance immersion.

Challenges and Solutions:

• Prefab Reference Issue:
  • Challenge: Difficulty in assigning ScoreManager to FlyMovement via prefab.
  • Solution: Used FindObjectOfType<ScoreManager>() to programmatically link the ScoreManager within the scene.
• Lighting and Visibility Effects:
  • Challenge: Developing a shader that only reveals the background under a Light2D source.
  • Solution: Adjusted HLSL code in the Shader Graph to create the desired visibility effect.

Reflection: Our first day was filled with learning and overcoming challenges, setting a strong foundation for the game. We are excited about the potential of "Debug" and look forward to refining and expanding our gameplay mechanics and visual effects.

Next Steps:

• Refine game mechanics, focusing on light and insect interactions.
• Develop advanced lighting and shader effects.
• Expand game features, including energy management and power-ups.
• Begin UI design and gameplay experience refinement.
• Detail interactive animations and define game behavior for development.
• Enhance collaboration between designers and developers to ensure faithful implementation of designs.

Closing Thoughts: Today's session has been a promising start to our development process. We're motivated to continue this creative journey and eager to see how "Debug" evolves in the hands of our talented team.