What We Set Out to Build

Our mission was to figure out what kinds of games could truly leverage the Looking Glass Display — a volumetric 3D screen that creates a sense of depth without needing a headset. We weren’t just making something that looked good in 3D — we were chasing gameplay that leverage the sense of depth only the 3D display can bring. 

Key Highlights

• Designed and built three gameplay prototypes across the semester, each testing how much we could push the tech to do, and how depth could serve as a core mechanic — from egg-frying simulations to space shooters to vertical platforming
  
  

• Collaborated closely across disciplines (art, level design, VFX) to align around abstract concepts and navigate tough team conflicts during the second prototype phase
  
  

• Prototyped the final game CatDash — a cute, top-down food delivery platformer where players must physically shift their viewing angle to perceive building heights and avoid falling — built and pitched the concept in under 24 hours. Also iterated and fleshed out the prototype later on after it was greenlit by our team, mentors, and 20+ groups playtesters. 

What I Took Away

Mechanics must serve the medium. Our early prototypes — while visually appealing — didn’t justify the 3D display. It wasn’t until we reframed our design goal as “a game that can’t be played on a normal screen” that our direction clicked. That clarity shaped CatDash — a simple but effective game that used player head movement and depth perception as essential inputs.

Along the way, I learned how to mediate vision disagreements, move fast with rough prototypes, and keep the team grounded even in ambiguity. Sometimes the best solution is just a scrappy, well-timed cat jump.