This is the last reflection post written before submission.

This semester was quite the journey with many ups and downs. For one I had my first experience properly working with UI in a game, both the design and implementation, I got to work two really close friends of mine which was neat, I scored a huge internship (yay! Everyone clap!) and just about finished with a playable game.

I started the semester so confidently and that all kind of morphed into indifference and lack of motivation, especially during and after Easter, which I know my teammates can relate to. Working on Those Left Behind was a much bigger challenge than I think any of us had anticipated, I felt myself losing interest in the game not long after the first playtest and found myself feeling super lost more often than not. The more we worked on it, the more it just became unfun to do so.

I believe that the story the game intended to tell was wonderful and very human, I totally got that from the GDD. But I don’t think we captured that. I did get to flesh out this desolate world with characters that were full of life in spite of the world around them crumbling.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m so super proud of what my group has accomplished from start to finish! I got to see these character’s stories be brought to life by a talented character artist (Gabi) who gave my words faces and immaculate little accessories. I also watched as a small Floridian island got populated by bin bags, scrap parts, and unique buildings thanks to the environment artist (Rosie). I saw Joe tackle and learn from intense work on the games code, doing things he’s never done before and determined to overcome anything he was faced with.

For once in a project I didn’t feel like the weight was all on me to have something to show for at the end of the semester, but that was a very uncomfortable comfort zone to leave. In the end, I did have to work overtime to polish the game as best I could. I really wanted to develop something I could be proud of and I can’t say that Those Left Behind is exactly that, but I can admit it was a good experiment and something very different. For that I can appreciate it for what it was.

Not Those Left Behind

On the other hand, Lament coming to life was really beautiful. While that semester was stressful for me, I was really happy with the work I had produced so to see it and be able to play it was really special. I just wish I could have been a part of it, despite the entire point of the module being to develop another concept. If that team decides to ever take it further then I hope I can play a part in it too.

This is also my last semester with my current cohort. What they don’t really tell you about finding an internship (despite how awesome it is) is that you have to completely put your uni life on pause. I wont graduate with these people and that makes me really really really sad. I wish I could experience year 3 with them and continue to come up all sorts of cool concepts. There are so many people I wish I could have worked with but haven’t had the chance to, I mourn the things I could have accomplished with them a year from now.

This 2026 class is so talented, cool, silly and funny. I hope I can still be a part of what they do, even if I’m not really there.

Good luck, GDA!!!

— Anna 🙂