Postmortem DevLog

Successes: 

- Textures and Illusions: Experimenting with shaders proved to be a major success, particularly in creating a heat-like output and distortion scenes. These textures, combined with illusions, successfully crafted an eerie and Lynchian atmosphere, aligning with the desired self-reflective experience.

- Caustics: The implementation of caustics added another layer of visual interest to the environment, contributing to the overall immersive experience.

- Video Playback and Panels: Successfully learning and implementing video playback in Unity, as well as creating panels, showcased versatility in handling diverse aspects of game development.

- Hand Tracking Implementation: Despite challenges, the successful integration of hand tracking technology added a unique interactive element to the VR experience.

Challenges: 

- OpenCV and Coding: One of the significant challenges involved making OpenCV work seamlessly and ensuring objects functioned correctly as children of tracked points. The struggle to establish consistent interactions and resolve issues with lines disappearing or being drawn in unexpected locations added complexity to the development process.

- Interaction with Objects: A notable challenge was the limitation in hand/palm interaction with objects. The inability to seamlessly interact with the environment, particularly understanding why lines disappeared or were drawn elsewhere, presented a barrier to achieving the desired level of interactivity.

Learnings: 

- Understanding Code: A significant takeaway was the satisfaction of understanding how to write code effectively to achieve desired outcomes, showcasing growth and proficiency in coding skills.

Next Steps: 

- Improved Interaction with Spawned Objects: Addressing the challenge of object interaction, the next steps involve refining the mechanics to enhance user engagement and interaction with spawned objects.

- Seamless Game Deployment: A key goal is to enable users to download and play the game without the need to run Python separately, simplifying the user experience.

- Transformation into VR Experience: Considering the potential for a more immersive experience, the next iteration may involve transforming the project into a full-fledged VR experience, pushing the boundaries of virtual reality and architecture integration.

In conclusion, the project encapsulates a journey of exploration and challenges, weaving together architecture, game design, and cutting-edge technologies. The postmortem analysis provides a roadmap for future improvements and expansions, emphasizing the continual pursuit of a more refined and immersive user experience.