Homework 7

Link to blender file on google drive: 

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B_n8UjH6oDgCLWtpTGljakp4QTg/edit?usp=sharing

In this homework, we were given four tasks: parenting, animation, linking from another file, and materials. I accomplished all of these tasks and took three pictures depicting key individual milestones. This first picture shows the parenting aspect between the cone and the cube.

This second picture portrays animation, use of materials (as made apparent by the color), and even movement (for fun).

The third picture shows an odd looking device joined to the red cone. That device is my palmpilot object from a previous assignment linked and used as a proxy within this homework assignment.

Materials were easily selected and objects were named. Animation was all about key frames and the location, rotation, and scale of each key frame. The rotation of the child object around the parent object was initially stumbling, but once I dedicated the cone's origin to the cube's center, it was easy to translate rotations relative to the parent cube. Linking the palmpilot was extremely secondary. It was very simple to just link the object in and press ctrl+alt+p to make the object a proxy. From there, I just joined the palmpilot to the cone. After I was done, I decided to add some controls to the cube for proof of parenting and general fun.

Overall, how this particularly fits into the larger picture of our game is subjective at best. It, much like the other homework assignments, is just another proof of concept. If, say for instance, we wanted some sort of flying insect (or whatever) to fly around a character and move with relation to the character, this would be how to do it. Once again, the possibilities are endless when it comes to concepts.

Homework 6

 1.       For each of the four elements of the Tetrad, explain how it is addressed by your game. If one of the four elements is not used, please state this.? 

Mechanics: So for our game, we plan to to make use of the first person format in a seemingly free-ranged setting. The perimeters exist as an office building that the player starts off in, however, we want the player to be able to roam within the office building constraint. Our gameplay will consist of shooting various enemies and hacking your way to the top of  the office building. The hacking will be a typing based mechanic completely forwarded through use of the keyboard only.

Story: Lots of ideas have been thrown around for this so far. I conveyed to the rest of my team the importance of this element. I pointed out that it gives the game a driving force, a sense of motivation to follow through with the game and its mechanics. One of the more solid ideas for a story developed off of the plot from iRobot. I love the idea, but we'll need to find a way to maintain originality if we decide to keep that basis as our story.

Aesthetics: There have been a lot of ideas for this as well. Three out of our four team members are skilled in this field. That being the case, our game will certainly have a well designed and consistent aesthetic appeal. In terms of artistic style, we are leaning towards a more cartoon/comic/quirky style; though we want to maintain some realism to provide balance for our realistic setting and mechanics. Sound and music design will be upbeat, overdriven, and somewhat futuristic/progressive.

Technology: Well, for one thing, we are obviously using the blender game engine on various laptops and desktops. Paper, pencils, ect. Also, for audio and midi recording we will be using an Mbox2 interface and Protools 8LE. Any other technologies aren't intrinsically important  enough to name.

 2.      Do the four (or less) elements work towards a current theme?

Essentially, yes. Our developing theme is a thrilling infiltration and escape of a futuristic, evil-spy-network company.

 3.      In your own words, describe the meaning of a "theme", and how does it differ from an "experience" (see book for examples in Chapters 2 and 5). To me, a theme is a focus. It's like the chorus of a song. It's your ultimate mission statement. It's what you want to relay to your audience.

 4.      What is your game's theme?

A thrilling infiltration and escape of a futuristic, evil-spy-network company.

 5.      What are the elements in your game that are meant to reinforce this theme? 

 The hacking mechanic, spy guns, the music, and hopefully the art style.

 6.      What is it about your game that you feel makes it special and powerful?

The type-based hacking mechanic should spice up the cliché fps and give it some more versatility. Also, the aesthetic appeal should be refreshingly charismatic and quirky. 

Homework 5

I couldn't figure out how to link the blender file here, so I sent it in an email instead.

So basically, the object that I created for the previous homework was a palm pilot. And considering this particular object will not be moving in our actual game, I decided to make it move around just for the purpose of this homework. First, I started with the object that I previously created. Then, I applied the blender game and blender physics options. Then, I changed the object's physics status to rigid body. Afterwards, I added a static plane under the object to stop the object from falling infinitely. After that, I added motion to the object: w,a,s,d, and spacebar all control the object's movement. Then I created a cube in a second layer and used an empty to add the cube into the game. I gave this cube plenty of initial velocity and even initial movement set with the "always" setting. Then, I placed my object high in the air and I let the rest play out. It's not conventional by practically any means, but it's certainly a proof of concept. These options can be applied to any object (or character) to provide movement and control to our game. The add objects facility doesn't quite interact with the other objects, but the homework didn't specify that, so I hope it does not matter. Anyways, we can easily apply these controls and movements in our game. It will most likely be applied to a different object or character, however.

Here's some pictures illustrating my file/engine simulation:

This picture portrays the height at which I released my palm pilot object onto the plane below with the empty in view as well.

This picture didn't come out so well, but it does actually show the pal pilot object falling onto the plane as the empty launches cubes at it.

As I said before, this particular simulation is not applicable towards our ultimate game, but it does provide a great example for possibilities. I could have created a simulation that was applicable, but alas, my object is supposed to be inanimate and the homework assignment doesn't specify regardless. 

Homework 4

 1.       Do you love your project/game. If not, how can that be changed? 

Definitely! Our project/game is in its very early stages right now, but I'm happy with how it is evolving.

 2.      Does the team as a whole love the project? If not, what can be done? 

I believe so. As I said before, the project/game is still in its early stages, but everyone seems happy with how it's developing as far as I know.

 3.      Are the team members communicating with each other?

Yep! I'll elaborate on how we communicate in question 5.

 4.      Does the team have a regular meeting schedule? What is that schedule?

Yes, it's Fridays at 6:00pm (ish).

 5.      Describe the modes of communication between the team members.

 We communicate through text, Oovoo, team meetings, discussions after class, and even Facebook.

 6.      Regarding game documents, what must be remembered while designing your game? 

We have to remember to listen to the input of our individual team members. According to the book, it’s the most important skill in game design.

Homework 3

So this is my blender object. It's a futuristic phone/palm pilot. In our game, it can be used for hacking or as something the player can hack. This is just a rough, general concept item, but it could very easily be useful for either the player or npc's.

To make it, I started with the generic cube and I clicked the push/pull button under Transform to blowup/warp the cube a bit to give it the general shape. Then, I scaled everything down until I got a normal-sized (length, width, and volume) model. After that, it was all just subdivision and extrusion. I subdivided the whole thing once and then dissolved the edges where needed (for the screen and back). Then I extruded the keys by subdividing the lower half a second time and clicking extrude individual faces. I brought the keys up a level and brought the spaces between the keys up two levels. Then, I just simply scaled the key faces to make them seemed raised inside their little key button shell. Then I applied some little finishing touches to the overall rest of the shape and there you have it. One, simple little hacking device. The possibilities are endless.

Here's that "editing" I was talking about in my video. Good ol' Windows Live Movie Maker. Doesn't get any more basic than this haha.


Now, the second part of this entry is supposed to contain links to specific games.

So here they are:


Animal Crossing New Leaf

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z09iRo44Mcs

I personally love the animal crossing series and I've been playing Animal Crossing New Leaf non-stop recently.


Minecraft

http://minecraft.net/

I used to play Minecraft all the time. I don't play it nearly as much as I used to, but it is an extremely versatile and innately simple game that seems to encompass every fun game element ever, one of which being village/house building.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qj0xfXNh4Mk



I finally uploaded something new to youtube after a very long break. I already have a few covers up on my channel that I posted years ago, but with this homework assignment, I decided to post a new one. So this is me performing a cover of Wonderwall by Oasis for a homework assignment in DIG3725, hope I get an A, haha. Oh, and I'm sorry, Mr. Erlebacher, about making it over the 3 minute maximum. I'm hoping you'll forgive me given this special circumstance.