Solarwake Devlog: 03

Today was a big day for Solarwake, I had to redo the entire css file to fix the duplication of rule sets. Today I got the base “game” part of the application- but believe I need to change a ton of things. From UI to the way the game feels- it’s clear that Solarwake is no where near done. The biggest upgrade is actually building the “game part” but it’s not good enough for release nor demo.

What changed

• Built the first real gameplay
• Each mission with different gameplay
• Built the main game UI

Next steps

• Making it feel more smooth
• Changing the UI
• Add scoring, risk, and outcomes.

Solarwake Devlog: 02

Today I focused on redeveloping and restructuring the entire Solarwake web app. I decided that the original approach felt too boring and non user-friendly.

This update was about finding the right feel for Solarwake, which is calm, smooth, and interactive. I switched the mission previews to use real 3d using three.js & improved the overall feel through animations, blurs, dropshadow, floating effects, and material.

The biggest upgrade was the mission selection screen, which can be visible after clicking “Play Mission”, the app now transitions into the mission control view where the user can select what mission type they want to launch.

What changed

• Reworked the main menu layout
• Added a cinematic animated space background
• Added floating mascot
• Integrated the Solarwake logo
• Added About and Tutorial buttons
• Built the Play Mission transition
• Added mission cards and mission descriptions
• Added Three.js 3D previews(interactive)
• Improved the colors, lighting and smoothness

Next steps

• Add real gameplay
• Connect space weather data into the system
• Add scoring, risk, and outcomes.

Solarwake Devlog 🌌🛰️☁️

(been doing them on GitHub so this is my first devlog)

What is Solarwake?
⤷ A space weather mission control simulator where you can choose a mission, and adjust weather conditions or actions to complete the mission succesfully.

Spaceweather is something that is fairly mysterious and creating a mission control to simulate the enviorment in space could help people understand space better.

What I built.
⤷ Today I built the first working prototype of the Solarwake dashboard. It has a mission selector, placeholder mission risk values, live Kp data from NOAA, and more. I also implemented a small astronaut dog mascot.

My realization.
⤷ After attempting to build a space weater mission control simulator- I realized that it feels too “normal” and not something a user would like. I came to the realization of making it feel more like a room full of screens, live systems, decisions that can affect the mission in real time, and a actual 3d viewer of what’s going on.

The change.
⤷ So I am changing the direction of this entire web app. The next devlog + version will have a first screen where users choose what mission to run, and pick what they want to be(a astronaut, ISS mission capsule, etc). After clicking play, they will be able to control what happens to their selection through a full mossion control simulator. The main screen shows a actual astronaut or spacecraft in space and the control panel lets users change data like power mode, shielding, communications etc.

🎯 THE GOAL:
Make the app feel more interactive & visual. Currently it feels boring and doesn’t “hit”, users should be able to learn how space weather actually affects a mission in real time through their mission controlling strenghts.

🔮 The future.
⤷ Now I am going to build Solarwake with 2 phases:

1. A mission select screen where users can pick what they want to control
2. A mission control screen where their decisions make a impact visually.

This should make Solarwake feel much more like a game simulator instead of a dashboard.