Blog Post 17: Full Player Testing & Stress Testing VR Performance
With the environment polished and all core mechanics stable, we initiated a series of full player tests to simulate real gameplay scenarios from start to finish. Our main goals were identifying overlooked bugs, measuring VR comfort, and confirming that the environment encouraged intuitive exploration.
Each team member took turns playing the experience using the Oculus Quest 2 headset, while others observed, taking notes on navigation flow, performance drops, or gameplay confusion points. We also enlisted a few classmates to act as external testers, providing valuable first-time player feedback.
Several minor issues were quickly identified: players occasionally missed visual clues guiding them towards stone puzzles, and some teleports inside narrow corridors felt slightly cramped. I adjusted lighting contrast levels and opened up certain paths slightly to improve clarity without reducing challenge.
Performance-wise, thanks to earlier optimizations, the experience ran smoothly at a consistent frame rate, significantly reducing potential VR sickness risks.
The testing phase validated our belief that a strongly designed environment acts as an invisible guide, subtly shaping player decisions without overt instructions. Watching players naturally explore, solve puzzles, and escape reinforced the strength of our environment-first design approach.
