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Rev. 1C, JDM, July 3, 1997.
THIS IS STILL A DRAFT.
Milestone |
Duration |
Delivery |
M1: Integration
Integrate major subsystems and demonstrate the "software toy."
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April 24
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M2: First Playable
Demonstrate a representative piece of the gameplay
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July 22
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M3: Pre-Look-and-Feel Integration
All technology for look-and-feel milestone.
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Look-and-Feel
All game play and UI components, with real art. Iterate until fun.
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Iteration 1 |
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Iteration 2 |
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Iteration 3 |
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Demo 1
Tested, fun, publically distributed demo.
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Start Alpha |
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Start Beta |
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Final |
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Release |
5 days |
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Golden Master
To market.
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Start Beta |
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Final |
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Release |
5 days |
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Milestone Descriptions
This milestone pre-dates this document. The documents of the time
should either be incorporated or referenced here, together with post-mortem highlights.
Goals
- Major technical subsystem integration.
- Validate character routing and interaction UI
- Test the art pipelines
- First hands-on play test
Goals
- Provide the gaming experience, with challenge and failure states
- Demonstrate autonomous simulator in NPC's and family idle state
- Demonstrate the "economic model"
- Upgrade graphics engine, character animation, and sprite animation sync.
- Installer and uninstaller
- Object editor tools suite ported to Windows (in its own framework)
- TBD: Demonstrate conversations and relationship matrix
Marketing Goals
- Use deliverable for "hands-on focus group" and structured playtesting
- Demonstrate "Five features" for Preliminary Fact Sheet
- System requirements partially determined (CPU, graphics, not RAM)
Deliverable Form
- Automated build of self-installing .exe w/ uninstaller
- Runs on either DirectX 3.0a or 5.0 beta (CONFIRM)
- Readme file (in install and on web) explaining installation, current capabilities,
basic how-to-use notes.
Features and Simulation Objects
- Semi-autonomous family members (w/ "threshhold idle" scheme)
- Autonomous NPCs arrive as visitors
- Household funds, costs, and job with earnings
- Complete object containment and carrying.
- Each motive has two objects (w/o artwork) which service it
- Cascading motivation advertisement (get food, cook, eat)
- Broadcast environmental effect: alarm clock, stereo
- Sample house lot layout has curbside, sidewalk, walkway (w/o real artwork).
- Groceries (needs cooking and refrigeration)
- Snacks (no cooking)
- Refrigerator (add "Fridge o' Plenty")
- Job object
- Alarm clock (broadcasts)
- Microwave oven
- Coffee maker
- Stereo (add broadcast)
- Coffee beverage (mug)
- Couch (add Sleep interaction)
- Bathtub
Designs and Plans
- New artwork content flow
- "Full-screen" UI design
- Programming design for construction, decoration, and landscaping
- Plan for tighter integration of object tools and running game.
Goals
- Final UI system in place (windows, toolbars, scrolling, pause mode)
- First integration of new construction, decorate, and landscaping.
- Object system complete (as defined in task plan)
- Add-on objects complete and installable
- Family selection, creation, custom personalities functional, mockup UI
- Fully tunable
- Doors open/close/greet
- 3D Sound and additional laugh-track hooks
- Final object, art, and animation tools and pipeline
- Object version stamping, sensing
With Marketing
- Preliminary screen shots and promo video clips
- Functioning internal web site
- RAM requirements established
Simulation Objects
- Conversations
- Guitar (learning, styles)
- Others to be identified
Designs and Plans
- Look-and-feel final art and sound lists
- Digital authentication design
Goals
- Complete the major portions of the game's UI, tune scrolling
- All artwork seen is final
- Final construction, decorating, and landscaping
- Game passes the fun test, or we know (and fix) what's needed
- Remaining development schedule can be locked.
- Deluxe sample homes
With Marketing
- Final screen shots
- Private previews
- Web-site internal deployment
- Our-hands-only demo w/ script
Simulation Objects
- Lawn trash for failure, kudos for success
Designs and Plans
- Demo 1 final art and sound lists
- Network version game design
- Test plan
Goals
- Provide addictive experience and leave them screaming for more
- Eliminate any remaining uncertainty in GM date
- Complete neighborhood screen with thumbnails
- Feng Shui
- Maxis.com hooked in
- Splash screens, credits, etc.
- Valid licenses or rights to all content
- Online help
Simulation Objects
With Marketing
Goals
- Paydirt
- Localization
- Manual, complete help
Simulation Objects
Designs and Plans
- Add-on packs, sequels, network
- Next one
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