Sound Design:

We will keep music to a minimum (if at all) throughout most of the story, and only make music apparent in the final scene, using a peaceful and hopeful track. It will add to the impact of opening up and realizing the new hope.

• Gentle wind, rustling leaves, and distant waves to set the mood.

• The dog’s breathing, footsteps, and occasional barks to reinforce presence and connection

Voiceovers: Minimal but impactful, internal monologues and the mother’s phone call will guide the player’s emotional journey.

Rescue Scene Audio: Dramatic shift in sound design—heartbeat thumping, muffled underwater sounds—to heighten emotional tension.

 

Technical Implementation:

Designed for Meta Quest 2

We will be using Unity to create the experience, and blender for any custom made assets.

Only one of us can get VR working on our personal computers, so we will have to work efficiently.

Need to get controller

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7. Iterative Development & User Testing

Agile Development Process:

Kanban would likely be the best agile approach, with some elements of Scrum to keep development structured but flexible

1. Task Breakdown & Workflow (Kanban Board Approach)

• Use Trello to create a Kanban board with columns like:

  • Backlog (ideas, unassigned tasks)

  • To Do (ready for development)

  • In Progress (currently being worked on)

  • Review/Testing (awaiting feedback, playtesting)

  • Done (completed and integrated)

• Each team member picks tasks based on their skills (e.g., 3D modeling, programming, concept art).

2. Prioritizing Features (MoSCoW Method)

• Must-have: Core mechanics (VR interactions, navigation, main assets)

• Should-have: Secondary mechanics (polishing animations, extra models)

• Could-have: Extra visual effects, minor environmental details

• Won’t-have (for now): Non-essential mechanics that may be revisited later

3. Feedback & Iteration (Scrum-Lite Approach)

• Weekly check-ins: Short meetings (in person or online) to review progress, adjust priorities, and remove blockers.

• User testing every 2-3 weeks: Gather feedback early by having others try the VR experience and report usability issues.

• End-of-cycle review: Assess what worked, adjust the pipeline, and iterate.

 

User Testing Plan, Goals and Outcomes, and Critique/Feedback analysis:

1. Goals, Questions, and Hypotheses

Goals:

• Ensure the VR experience effectively conveys the theme of healing through the connection with a dog.

• Assess how intuitive and immersive the user interactions feel.

• Identify any usability or comfort issues related to VR mechanics (e.g., movement, object interaction).

• Measure emotional impact and player engagement to refine narrative and mechanics. 

Questions:

1. Does the VR environment evoke a dreamlike yet grounded atmosphere through soft lighting, muted colors, and atmospheric depth?

2. Are the movement and interaction mechanics intuitive and comfortable for users?

3. Do players feel emotionally connected to the dog character?

4. Are there any areas where users experience motion sickness or discomfort?

5. How effectively does the game communicate its narrative themes without excessive text or exposition?

Hypotheses:

• H1: Users will feel a strong emotional connection to the dog due to its responsiveness and animations.

• H2: The color palette and lighting will create a calming and immersive atmosphere.

• H3: Users will intuitively understand how to interact with the dog and objects without explicit tutorials.

• H4: Some users may experience minor discomfort if movement mechanics aren’t fine-tuned.

• H5: The presence of the dog will encourage players to be more at ease on the emotional journey, reinforcing the theme of healing.

 

2. Methods

User Testing Approach:

• Iteration 1: Basic Interaction Testing

  • Task: Users will navigate the environment, interact with the dog (e.g., petting, following commands), and complete simple tasks.

  • Observations: Ease of interaction, player engagement, any confusion or frustration.

  • Questions (Post-Test): What felt intuitive? What was confusing? Did you feel connected to the dog? Do you feel this is a transformative experience for better mentality?

• Iteration 2: Emotional & Narrative Testing

  • Task: Users will complete a short guided sequence where the dog reacts to their actions.

  • Observations: Emotional responses, level of engagement with the story elements.

  • Questions: How did the experience make you feel? What moments stood out emotionally?

• Iteration 3: Showcase-Ready Testing

  • Task: Users will experience the near-final version with improved interactions, refined visuals, and adjusted mechanics.

  • Observations: Any remaining usability issues, motion sickness, overall user satisfaction.

  • Questions: Did anything feel unnatural? How was your overall comfort level? Would you play this again?

 

3. Results

Iteration 1 Findings:

• Confirmed Hypotheses: Users intuitively interacted with the dog, and the movement system was mostly well-received.

• Challenges: Some struggled with object interaction due to unclear affordances.

• Next Steps: Improve visual and auditory feedback for interactions, adjust locomotion settings for smoother movement.

Iteration 2 Findings:

• Confirmed Hypotheses: Players felt emotionally engaged with the dog when it reacted dynamically.

• Challenges: Some users desired more guidance to understand their objectives.

• Next Steps: Introduce subtle environmental cues and animations to guide players organically.

Iteration 3 Findings:

• Confirmed Hypotheses: Users found the experience immersive, and most motion sickness concerns were resolved.

• Challenges: Some testers suggested additional animations for the dog to enhance realism.

• Next Steps: Final refinements to animations, additional sound design for emotional depth.

 

4. Meta-Reflection & Insights

• Surprises: Users were more receptive to environmental storytelling than anticipated, requiring fewer explicit instructions.

• Challenges: Ensuring balance between player freedom and structured progression without breaking immersion.

• Unexpected Findings: Some users preferred slower movement speeds, associating it with a more meditative experience.

• Key Takeaways:

  • The emotional bond with the dog is a major strength—lean further into this by refining animations and reactions.

  • Fine-tuning interaction mechanics is crucial to maintaining immersion and preventing frustration.

  • Iterative user testing is invaluable for catching subtle design flaws that might otherwise go unnoticed.

 

Future Improvements:

• Introduce additional interaction animations for the dog to increase its expressiveness.

• Further refine locomotion mechanics to maximize user comfort.

• Conduct one last mini-test before the final showcase to verify final adjustments.

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8. Inspiration & Theoretical Foundations

Inspirational Projects:

Ultraman Rising

Compelling Elements: The immersive storytelling in Ultraman Rising intertwines personal struggles with themes of duty and redemption. The protagonist's emotional journey is both intimate and universal, highlighting their responsibilities toward others in the face of personal loss.

Influence: This inspires Beyond the Horizon to explore themes of personal grief and reconnection through meaningful character interactions. The way Ultraman Rising integrates exploration with emotional stakes influences the design of our VR world, encouraging players to immerse themselves in the protagonist’s journey.

 

The Last of Us

Compelling Elements: The relationship between Joel and Ellie demonstrates the power of gradual trust and emotional depth in storytelling. The game excels in environmental storytelling and creating moments of profound connection amidst adversity.

Influence: The evolving relationship in Beyond the Horizon between the protagonist and the daughter echoes Joel and Ellie’s dynamic. The Last of Us also inspires Beyond the Horizon’s use of environmental design to reflect the protagonist’s emotional state and key narrative moments.

 

Fate/Zero

Compelling Elements: The relationship between Kiritsugu and Shirou highlights the powerful theme of a father passing on his legacy to his son. This transfer of ideals, responsibilities, and hope creates an emotional throughline that resonates deeply.

Influence: This inspires Beyond the Horizon’s core narrative, where the protagonist takes on the responsibility of raising their friend’s daughter, symbolizing the passing of values, care, and love. The themes of duty and legacy mirror the emotional stakes present in Fate/Zero.

 

Omori

Compelling Elements: The exploration of mental health, grief, and healing in Omori is presented through surreal, interactive environments that draw players into the protagonist’s psyche. The contrast between whimsical visuals and heavy themes creates a unique emotional resonance.

Influence: Omori inspires the emotional tone of Beyond the Horizon, blending moments of quiet beauty with the protagonist’s struggles and recovery. Its focus on personal reflection and intimate interactions shapes the design of Beyond the Horizon’s narrative and gameplay.

 

Manchester by the Sea

Compelling Elements: The film’s portrayal of Lee Chandler’s quiet but overwhelming grief, particularly in scenes like his confrontation with his ex-wife or his struggle to parent his nephew, captures the weight of irreversible loss. Its use of sparse dialogue and everyday interactions grounds the emotional intensity, making the pain feel real. 

Influence: Manchester by the Sea inspires Beyond the Horizon through its focus on grief manifesting in mundane moments, such as a failed attempt to connect with others or a sudden flashback triggered by an object. These elements shape Beyond the Horizon’s approach to exploring the protagonist’s trauma and their evolving relationship with the daughter, focusing on small, meaningful interactions over overt drama.

 

Theoretical Frameworks:

Self-Other Overlap

This research suggests that individuals experiencing the illusion of body ownership increase their Bodily Resonance, like, they are able to feel more deeply the emotional state of another person when they see them experiencing emotion or pain. One of the goals of Beyond the Horizon is to help players come to terms with emotional changes by allowing them to gradually empathize with the protagonist or child in an immersive, interactive environment.

 

How to achieve project goals with the theory:

From the reading, the theory of induced body ownership talks about by feeling ownership over another body through multisensory cues like synchronous visuotactile stimulation, we can shift other’s attitudes, biases, and empathic responses. While we are at the ideation stage, we realised that it might be difficult to relate to a single dad given our age and limited life experience, but with VR technology, we can immerse the players in the protagonist’s point of view by reinforcing the user’s sense of presence and guiding them to internalize the protagonist’s journey of healing rather than passively observing it, further allow them to think and feel in the shoes of the protagonist instead of passively observing the story.

 

The theory guides our design decisions as in it made us realised we would need to put more efforts into the induced body ownership part for the player to really feel like they are playing as the protagonist instead of just watching a movie in first person view, for example we can control the camera and add sound effect to imitate the protagonist's emotional state like changes in heart rate or breathing patterns, and even create moments of intimate eye contact or gentle touch when interacting with the daughter for the player to really feel their relationship with the daughter is getting better.

 

9. Innovation, Relevance, and Impact

Innovation:

In Beyond the Horizon, the protagonist’s environment dynamically reflects their emotional state. Initially dark and cluttered, the space gradually brightens and becomes more orderly as the bond with the dog strengthens, symbolizing healing and progress. Players actively shape this transformation through direct interactions—petting, playing, and responding to the dog’s needs—triggering both environmental and emotional shifts. The protagonist’s dialogue and behavior also evolve based on these choices, making each journey uniquely personal.

Relevance & Meaningfulness:

Emotional Resonance: Many people experience grief and emotional numbness at some point in their lives. Beyond the Horizon provides a safe space for players to explore these emotions without judgment.

Emotional Release: Compared to traditional media, VR lets players experience healing firsthand, rather than just observing it. This active participation in recovery makes the emotional impact stronger.Potential for Therapeutic Use: The game could be useful for mental health professionals exploring VR therapy for patients struggling with grief, offering a gentle, interactive way to process emotions.

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Selling Points:

Suitable for a wide audience: the game is suitable not only for gamers, but also for people interested in emotional stories. It can even be used as a mental relaxing experience, allowing players to play the game while watching it like a movie.

Social Value: Beyond the Horizon allows players to experience healing in the virtual world, an experience that may have a positive impact in real life, making players more willing to confront and resolve their emotional issues.

There is a cute dog.​