In week 8 I finally got to put all the UI art to use and implement it into the Unity project (the right way, thanks to Sophie). This was also the week of group presentations and I believe my team and I did really well!

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As I write this over the weekend, with my Unity work on the UI done, I can’t help but feel unhappy with it. Not to discredit myself fully – I’m relieved that I have been able to produce something nice, and while I believe that it is good enough for the playtest coming up next week, I just don’t think I like the art style. It’s not to up to par with the standard of quality I would want, I think it deviates a lot from the existing art styles (Rosie and Gabi’s) and thus is quite honestly… just boring.

Having seen the gameplay with the implemented UI, it is not all that exciting and pleasing to look at. While I understand that TLB is a management sim, and look – I like those games as much as the next person, heck they’re probably my 2nd most played genre of games, it doesn’t give me the same satisfaction as other games would. I just don’t think it conveys what it needs to. Although, it’s most likely the flat colours and lack of texture.

What’s been frustrating is expressing this opinion to others and rather than being met with feedback or critiques, they tend to compensate me with compliments and reassurance. While I appreciate it (who doesn’t like getting their ego stroked?), it’s not what I’m looking for because I genuinely do want to make a change.

Solution

I’m going to try and reach out to people I have less of a connection with the project and gather feedback that way, I would rather it be blunt and honest than all buttered up. Before the end of week 9 I’m going to find Amy and ask for references for retro machines, maybe what I need is something that doesn’t actually exist.