Assignment 3 Part 2

Project 1: Game Installation

For my individual project, I am looking to create an installation based on games, an expansion from a previous idea called Game Face.

It is commonplace for players to record themselves while they’re playing a game and post it online, or even live-stream their adventures on twitch. We watch them react to situations in the game, and we can comment on them, but that’s about the furthest point we can reach when it comes to influencing them. Words.

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This lead me to think about how it would be different if you were in a space where you are not merely playing a game and reacting to it alone, but there was others watching you, and responding with you? How would this change anything?

This project focuses on how we react to games and the emotions that they evoke. Anger from a difficult level, happiness from passing one, or perhaps, nothing at all? In this installation, I propose to create a display where a person will be playing a game, and the emotions he experiences will be reflected on a separate screen, with the video loops of several other players feeling the same emotion as himself.

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The final installestion will be set up in this manner:

1 game console, 1 video camera, 2 screens (1 game screen, 1 video loop screen), 1 player

While a player is engaged in a game, a video camera will be recording his face and determine the emotion he is experiencing, from there, a selection of videos based on his expression will play in a loop on a screen above the game screen. For example, if he is experiencing frustration or anger, a series of videos of people reacting angrily to a game will be played in a loop. If he is calm or has a very neutral expression while playing, a series of calm players will be played.

WBS

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Gantt Chart

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Project 2: Isometric RPG (Pair)

For my pair project, and my ideal FYP, I will be working with Darryl.

We are looking at creating a video game that focuses on action and strategy.

The inspiration for this game comes from traditional 2D pixel games that were played during our childhood, long before AAA games came into the market. In fact, there are still many pixel games that are still being developed today. It is a timeless and irreplaceable form of art.

The game will revolve around placing points, called Totems, around the map which will act as beacons. The space created by placing these totems will cause different effects based off the type of totems placed. When two totems are place, a single line of action will occur. When three are placed, a triangle is formed to create an area of effect. The type and combination of totems placed will create a different effect. The totems come in 3 types, attack, defence, and support.

The game will also encompass a strong narrative in order to give the game a good flow. The game and the narrative is set in a sci-fi fantasy realm, with the protagonist being a mysterious man who doesn’t know who he is, and the only things he has in his possession are his totems.

Premise: A man wakes up in the middle of the desert and he can’t remember his name. The only things he has in his possession is a poncho, and 3 mysterious totems in his pocket. He wanders to look for food and shelter and he stumbles upon a hermit living in a yurt. He shares his story with the hermit and reveals the totems in his pocket. The hermit, recognising these totems, teaches the man to use them.

We are looking to use GameMaker Pro to program the game, and Photoshop to create the necessary game art.

While most of our equipment is without cost, we will be looking at outsourcing the sound design for our game to create relevant and high quality music, environmental sound, and sound effects.

WBS

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Gantt Chart

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Guest Lecture: Justin

The guest lecture with Justin was a really good experience and it really opened my eyes to the reality of the gaming industry. As much as it sounds fun and exciting to be a part of the industry, Justin also tells us that there is a lot to think about and that there is a lot more that is required to do in order to have a game take off the ground and for it to succeed.

In ADM we are taught to rely mostly on ourselves and the members of our team and to rely on each other’s strengths and weaknesses, we aren’t really taught how to deal with budgeting in the real world, as well as getting others to look at our idea (besides our professors), and have it developed further.

He also exposed us to the different aspects of creating a game, the art, the design, and the programming. While game designers readily understand the difference between art and design in games, it was still refreshing to have him talk about the key difference and why one tends to be more essential and of greater importance and prominence in the success of a game as compared to another. His analogies also allowed me to open my mind to different ways a game can be made, and that I did not need to stick to the ideals and the standards that society or the industry have set.

Assignment 3 Part 1

  • For my first idea, it is actually something I was thinking of pitching for my part-time job at Red Bull, which  would be to create a freshmen care package for the incoming NTU freshmen. As of now they have a moving-in package for those staying in halls but not across the faculties. I am proposing to make a small booklet of about 4 pages (not including the cover and the backing), of how an NTU student can survive university with Red Bull, and how student committees can readily engage the Student Brand Managers in the school.
  • For my next idea, I proposing to create a comic book that allows the reader to choose the next part of the story. For example, the reader will follow one character in the story and when the character comes to a crossroad, they will decide whether the character will choose A or B, therefore progressing the story in a different manner.
  • Thirdly, I propose to make a survival game with a 2D interface. Most survival games are 3D based, such as Day Z, and Left4Dead. Instead of making them a player versus player based game, I intend to make it a narratively driven game.
  • For my fourth idea, I propose to make an installation piece based on games. Game invoke different emotions to different players based not only on the genre but on the difficulty. I propose to make an installation piece that can detect a person’s face and it will display a series of videos of player’s faces during phases of a game that relate to the expression. Such as if you frown, it will display players who are facing a difficult part of a game and tend to be frustrated. Or when you smile, it will display players that are feeling a sense of accomplishment or joy in a game, such as their reactions when they defeat a difficult enemy or when they complete the game.