gig-line/ROADMAP.md

ROADMAP.md

Living roadmap for this project. This file is the single source of truth for current progress.

0.1.0 — Local setup and walkable Hollywood block (weeks 1–6)

Environment setup

Status detail in Docs/setup.md; workstation audit in Docs/environment.md; pins in Docs/toolchain.md.

• Update Bazzite using its supported mechanism; verify NVIDIA driver and Vulkan operation.
• Register an Epic account and accept the Unreal license; obtain a pinned Linux engine build or build from Epic's authorized source repository.
• Validate Unreal runs on Bazzite before asset production (not an officially supported distribution).
• [-] Install the engine-required compiler/SDK, Git, Git LFS, and an editor; use Distrobox for isolated CLI dependencies where useful.
• [-] Pin Blender, MPFB, Blosm, and QGIS versions; confirm add-on compatibility; record in docs/toolchain.md.
• Create repository structure (Game/, Art/, Geo/, Tools/, Docs/) with LFS tracking and ignore rules applied.
• Keep project and Derived Data Cache on SSD storage; reserve several hundred GB for engine, assets, caches, builds.

Project bootstrap

• Create a C++ Unreal project with Blueprint gameplay iteration and Enhanced Input.
• Package and launch a blank Linux build.
• Export one static mesh from Blender and import into Unreal; verify scale and materials.
• Export one MPFB character with baked materials and deform skeleton; verify import.
• Document initial setup in Docs/: engine install, project checkout, fresh-checkout build procedure.

Geographic data

• Save a versioned OSM extract; document date, bounds, and source in Geo/.
• Acquire separately licensed elevation data if needed.
• In QGIS, set a suitable local projected CRS (e.g. EPSG:26911) and record a local origin.
• Verify the address, building footprints, and demo boundaries for 6840 Hollywood Blvd against source data.
• Import OSM blockouts through Blosm; clean and detail them in Blender.
• Preserve geographic coordinates in metadata; define explicit meter→centimeter conversion to local Unreal coordinates.

Asset production

• Establish a consistent scale test, named export presets, and repeatable import settings.
• [-] Collect licensed reference photography for manual façade work.
• Model hero façade for the El Capitan Entertainment Centre site.
• Model surrounding block frontage.
• Model simplified background buildings directly across Hollywood Boulevard.
• Build sidewalks, roads, and collision meshes.
• Materials and look development for all exported assets.

Gameplay

• First-person movement, mouse look, and Enhanced Input bindings.
• Collision, reset, and pause functionality.
• Walkable sidewalks and a designated street crossing.
• Fixed daytime lighting and basic ambience.
• Geographic attribution display ("© OpenStreetMap contributors" + license link).

Release checks

• Player can traverse both sides of the demo without falling through geometry.
• Building placement, street scale, and site identity checked against references.
• No blocking collision or packaging defects.
• 60 FPS at 1440p on the dev workstation (Bazzite, Ryzen 7 7700X, 64 GB RAM, RTX 5070 Ti 16 GB) using a documented quality preset; record upscaling state; report performance without frame generation.
• Fresh project checkout builds with the documented external engine installation.
• Package Linux build with documented controls.
• Tag v0.1.0 and write CHANGELOG.md entry; then remove this section.

0.1.1 — Collision fixes (patch)

Patch tasks

• Audit and fix any collision gaps or fall-through geometry found in 0.1.0.
• Regression-test traversal on both sides of the demo.
• Verify no new packaging defects.
• Tag v0.1.1 and write CHANGELOG.md entry; then remove this section.

0.1.2 — Scale and façade corrections (patch)

Patch tasks

• Correct building scale and street proportions flagged against references.
• Refine hero façade details where reference photography shows discrepancies.
• Tag v0.1.2 and write CHANGELOG.md entry; then remove this section.

0.1.3 — Packaging and setup fixes (patch)

Patch tasks

• Fix any packaging or build issues encountered in 0.1.x.
• Update Docs/ setup instructions for anything that changed.
• Tag v0.1.3 and write CHANGELOG.md entry; then remove this section.

0.2.0 — MPFB player body, third-person camera, basic animation (weeks 7–9)

Character setup

• Generate MPFB human base mesh; export baked materials and deform skeleton.
• Import character into Unreal; validate skeleton, scale, and materials.
• Create basic idle/walk animation set.
• Verify animation plays correctly on the imported rig.

Camera and controls

• Add third-person camera following the player body.
• Add first/third-person toggle.
• Add camera collision to prevent clipping through geometry.
• Document any input changes.

Release checks

• Third-person traversal works end-to-end in the demo area.
• No blocking animation or rig defects.
• Performance target still met at 1440p.
• Tag v0.2.0 and write CHANGELOG.md entry; then remove this section.

0.2.1 — Rig fixes (patch)

Patch tasks

• Fix skeletal/rigging defects reported after 0.2.0.
• Tag v0.2.1 and write CHANGELOG.md entry; then remove this section.

0.2.2 — Skin and hair tuning (patch)

Patch tasks

• Tune skin shading and hair materials on the player character.
• Tag v0.2.2 and write CHANGELOG.md entry; then remove this section.

0.2.3 — Camera clipping fixes (patch)

Patch tasks

• Fix remaining camera clipping cases in 0.2.x.
• Tag v0.2.3 and write CHANGELOG.md entry; then remove this section.

0.3.0 — Chaos vehicle, enter/exit, closed driving route (weeks 10–13)

Vehicle production

• Model one vehicle in Blender with collision meshes; export to Unreal.
• Set up Chaos Vehicle with wheel and physics configuration.
• Implement enter/exit interaction.
• Build a closed driving route with boundaries.
• Tune basic handling to a drivable state.

Release checks

• Player can enter, drive the closed route, and exit without defects.
• No blocking vehicle collision or packaging defects.
• Performance target still met at 1440p.
• Tag v0.3.0 and write CHANGELOG.md entry; then remove this section.

0.3.1 — Handling tuning (patch)

Patch tasks

• Refine vehicle handling feel based on 0.3.0 feedback.
• Tag v0.3.1 and write CHANGELOG.md entry; then remove this section.

0.3.2 — Vehicle collision fixes (patch)

Patch tasks

• Fix vehicle collision defects (mesh/physics mismatches).
• Tag v0.3.2 and write CHANGELOG.md entry; then remove this section.

0.3.3 — Input fixes (patch)

Patch tasks

• Fix vehicle/character input issues in 0.3.x.
• Tag v0.3.3 and write CHANGELOG.md entry; then remove this section.

0.4.0 — Small connected neighborhood and map streaming (weeks 14–17)

World expansion

• Extend geo pipeline to a small connected neighborhood beyond the demo block.
• Produce modular buildings, sidewalks, and roads for the expanded area.
• Set up World Partition with streaming cells.
• Configure HLOD for distant buildings.
• Verify no seams or popping between streamed cells during traversal.

Release checks

• Continuous walking (and driving) across the expanded area works.
• Streaming does not introduce blocking defects.
• Performance target re-validated at 1440p with streaming active.
• Tag v0.4.0 and write CHANGELOG.md entry; then remove this section.

0.4.1 — Seam fixes (patch)

Patch tasks

• Fix visible seams between streamed cells.
• Tag v0.4.1 and write CHANGELOG.md entry; then remove this section.

0.4.2 — Streaming corrections (patch)

Patch tasks

• Correct streaming/loading issues found in 0.4.x.
• Tag v0.4.2 and write CHANGELOG.md entry; then remove this section.

0.4.3 — HLOD tuning (patch)

Patch tasks

• Tune HLOD quality and distance settings.
• Tag v0.4.3 and write CHANGELOG.md entry; then remove this section.

0.5.0 — Pedestrians, crosswalk behavior, ambient traffic (weeks 18–21)

Simulation

• Add pedestrian characters with navigation.
• Implement crosswalk behavior (pedestrians use the designated crossing).
• Add limited ambient traffic on the street network.
• Optimize simulation cost to stay within frame budget.

Release checks

• Pedestrians and traffic behave without blocking defects.
• Performance target re-validated at 1440p.
• Tag v0.5.0 and write CHANGELOG.md entry; then remove this section.

0.5.1 — Navigation fixes (patch)

Patch tasks

• Fix pedestrian navigation issues.
• Tag v0.5.1 and write CHANGELOG.md entry; then remove this section.

0.5.2 — Crossing fixes (patch)

Patch tasks

• Fix crosswalk behavior defects.
• Tag v0.5.2 and write CHANGELOG.md entry; then remove this section.

0.5.3 — Simulation optimization (patch)

Patch tasks

• Optimize pedestrian/traffic simulation cost.
• Tag v0.5.3 and write CHANGELOG.md entry; then remove this section.

0.6.0 — Visual/audio pass and evening lighting preset (weeks 22–24)

Look and sound

• Create an evening lighting preset.
• Complete a visual polish pass across the neighborhood.
• Add ambient audio (city ambience, traffic, basic SFX).
• Verify licenses for all added audio files.

Release checks

• Both day and evening presets render without defects.
• Audio plays without gaps or licensing issues.
• Performance target re-validated at 1440p.
• Tag v0.6.0 and write CHANGELOG.md entry; then remove this section.

0.6.1 — Lighting fixes (patch)

Patch tasks

• Fix lighting defects in day/evening presets.
• Tag v0.6.1 and write CHANGELOG.md entry; then remove this section.

0.6.2 — Material corrections (patch)

Patch tasks

• Fix material errors found in 0.6.x.
• Tag v0.6.2 and write CHANGELOG.md entry; then remove this section.

0.6.3 — Audio balancing (patch)

Patch tasks

• Balance audio levels across the scene.
• Tag v0.6.3 and write CHANGELOG.md entry; then remove this section.

0.7.0 — Settings, control rebinding, save/load, accessibility (weeks 25–27)

Systems

• Build settings menu (graphics and audio options).
• Implement control rebinding with persistence.
• Implement save/load for player state.
• Add accessibility basics (e.g. FOV, subtitle, colorblind options as applicable).

Release checks

• Settings, rebinding, and save/load all persist across restarts.
• No blocking UI defects.
• Tag v0.7.0 and write CHANGELOG.md entry; then remove this section.

0.7.1 — Save fixes (patch)

Patch tasks

• Fix save/load defects.
• Tag v0.7.1 and write CHANGELOG.md entry; then remove this section.

0.7.2 — UI fixes (patch)

Patch tasks

• Fix UI issues in 0.7.x.
• Tag v0.7.2 and write CHANGELOG.md entry; then remove this section.

0.7.3 — Input persistence fixes (patch)

Patch tasks

• Fix rebinding persistence issues.
• Tag v0.7.3 and write CHANGELOG.md entry; then remove this section.

0.8.0 — Performance budgets and broader Linux hardware testing (weeks 28–30)

Performance

• Define performance budgets (frame time, VRAM) and document them.
• Profile the full neighborhood; fix budget violations.
• Test on broader Linux hardware and VRAM configurations; document results.
• Re-validate the 1440p quality preset with upscaling state recorded.

Release checks

• Performance budgets met on documented hardware matrix.
• No blocking compatibility defects.
• Tag v0.8.0 and write CHANGELOG.md entry; then remove this section.

0.8.1 — VRAM reductions (patch)

Patch tasks

• Reduce VRAM usage where profiling shows excess.
• Tag v0.8.1 and write CHANGELOG.md entry; then remove this section.

0.8.2 — Frame-time fixes (patch)

Patch tasks

• Fix frame-time spikes found in 0.8.x.
• Tag v0.8.2 and write CHANGELOG.md entry; then remove this section.

0.8.3 — Compatibility fixes (patch)

Patch tasks

• Fix compatibility issues from the hardware testing matrix.
• Tag v0.8.3 and write CHANGELOG.md entry; then remove this section.

0.9.0 — Feature freeze, public beta, license and build audit (weeks 31–34)

Freeze and audit

• Freeze features; document the freeze in CHANGELOG.md.
• Produce a public beta build for testers.
• Complete license audit: THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES.md, all MPFB assets, textures, animations, vehicles, audio.
• Review ODbL obligations for any distributed derived geographic database.
• Review Epic distribution requirements before publishing.
• Verify a fresh checkout builds and packages reproducibly.

Release checks

• Beta feedback triaged; blockers logged for 0.9.x.
• Tag v0.9.0 and write CHANGELOG.md entry; then remove this section.

0.9.1 — Blocker fixes (patch)

Patch tasks

• Fix blockers reported during the public beta.
• Tag v0.9.1 and write CHANGELOG.md entry; then remove this section.

0.9.2 — Regression fixes (patch)

Patch tasks

• Fix regressions introduced by 0.9.x fixes.
• Tag v0.9.2 and write CHANGELOG.md entry; then remove this section.

0.9.3 — Documentation fixes (patch)

Patch tasks

• Update all Docs/ for accuracy before 1.0.0.
• Tag v0.9.3 and write CHANGELOG.md entry; then remove this section.

1.0.0 — Stable neighborhood-scale walking/driving release (weeks 35–40)

Final release

• Complete final acceptance sweep across all 0.x features.
• Confirm the stable, agreed game scope is met (neighborhood-scale walking and driving).
• Final build, documentation, and licensing verification.
• Tag v1.0.0 and write CHANGELOG.md entry; then remove this section.