🛠️ 1. Interactive Mockup

🎮 2. Peer Group Playtest Feedback: Ashes or Breath

Playtesters: Yunhui Song & Haiyang Xu

Playtest Duration: ~15 minutes

🧠 First Impressions & Emotional Response

Players were initially drawn in by the calm, immersive museum environment, but the sudden shift triggered by the fire event significantly heightened emotional engagement. The contrast between serenity and crisis effectively captured attention and framed the game as a meaningful narrative experience rather than a passive AR demo.

🎯 Purpose & Value Interpretation

The game was interpreted as a reflection on cultural preservation vs. emotional attachment, prompting players to consider the value of cultural heritage in comparison to living beings. The interactive dilemma was perceived as ethically challenging, encouraging deeper thought.

🗺️ Cultural Meaning

The experience communicated that cultural heritage is not limited to artifacts but extends into the personal and emotional connections we build with our environment and choices. This message was effectively conveyed through the fire event and the consequences shown in the Rewind Room.

🚀 Empowerment & Innovation

The transition from AR to VR, and the use of a looping "rewind" mechanic, stood out as particularly innovative and engaging. These design choices provided a sense of agency, allowing players to re-evaluate decisions and explore different outcomes, which reinforced the thematic depth.

🕹️ Gameworld & Gameplay Feedback

The world design was appreciated, especially the AR realism (e.g., marble flooring). However, players suggested that deeper contextual storytelling, such as more background on the painting or the cat, would increase emotional stakes and cultural relevance. The interactive cat added life to the scene, but could be better integrated into the narrative arc.

✅ Suggestions

• Introduce clearer instructional cues (visual/audio) in the AR scene to guide player interaction.
• Add more interactive materials to the Museum Scene.