MDDN 243

Introduction to Computer Game Design

Project 3: Symbiosis

For project 2, the tutors chose the top games that they thought had potential to be made further and better. My game wasn't chosen unfortunately but that doesn't count me out just yet. The previous project leads onto our last project where we have to get into a group of 4 with one of the student's who's game was chosen. I got into my friend Tamati's group who had the idea of a game called "Nibiri" which has the main game mechanic of gravity. I can't wait to start this project and see what the outcome of it will be..

MDDN 243

Introduction to Computer Game Design

Project Two: Prototype

This is the final game prototype that I have created using Stencyl. Unfortunately, it wouldn't let me publish my game which was definitely a let down, so I decide to create a video documenting myself play the game and show it's main mechanics. The game is called Bunz's Quest. It's about a bunny who gets his family captured by evil poachers, and his mission is to save them. This game has a similar style to Mario but incorporates problem solving as well where the player needs to think about which jumps they need to do. The basic mechanics is walking with jumping as the main mechanic of the game. 

MDDN 243

Introduction to Computer Game Design

Project Two: Prototype

I decided that with my game, the poacher will not be moving as such and will just sit there big and powerful with its net in his hand with the wind blowing it. I wanted to animate just the net and also gave it a squashed look after being hurt and jumped on.

MDDN 243

Introduction to Computer Game Design

Project Two: Prototype

I played around with the colours a little bit and have come up with this combination. I chose these colours because my game is a children's game which is very colourful. So I wanted to continue the theme and apply a purple and orange mix to my Poacher.

MDDN 243

Introduction to Computer Game Design

Project Two: Prototype

I had to design a bad guy for the game that will work with the narrative and have created this mysterious no face poacher. This is just a basic design I made on my tablet but till need to colour it in now to suit the game.

MDDN 243

Introduction to Computer Game Design

Project Two: Prototype

The sheep was the first bad guy that I had with my idea and was the most common enemy. The sheep on the top is the normal version, which only takes a simple stomp from a jump to kill. Their animation will be that their feet are moving and that is simply gets squashed when it is stomped on. During the progression of the game, the sheep eventually turn into zombie sheep and are on fire. It has the same animation as normal sheep.

MDDN 243

Introduction to Computer Game Design

Project Two: Prototype

The main mechanic of my game will be jumping, and I took the idea from Mario that when my character jumps he only has on animation for it. In this case it will be his feet pointing downwards and his ears lowering a bit. 

MDDN 243

Introduction to Computer Game Design

Project Two: Prototype

Bunz's Is the main character in my game that I have designed. Below is the main and simple frames that I have created for his walking animation that I'll use in Stencyl.

CCDN 231

Experimental Design Ideas

Project One: Sensory Ethnography

Final Video

CCDN 231

Experimental Design Ideas

Project One: Sensory Ethnography

Final Findings Slide

MDDN 243

Introduction to Computer Game Design

Project Two: Prototype

After giving the characters a go, I thought I'd into the backgrounds as well. I plan to create and paint my own backgrounds for the final but for now I selected images from the internet of landscapes and turned them into pixel art, with surprising game like graphics and details. 

MDDN 243

Introduction to Computer Game Design

Project Two: Prototype

The characters I have used are just an idea for now as I am testing out the quality of the images when they are pixelated. These are the supposed bad guys of the game as the top image is one of the poachers and the bottom sheep are the annoying obstacles you have to jump over. The bad guy I thought looked best as the most pixelated image, as it won't be that big on the game so it'll show off more detail when it's smaller on screen. And the middle sheep was my favourite only because the last sheep looks like some sort of rice/food.

MDDN 243

Introduction to Computer Game Design

Project Two: Prototype

After doing a little bit of research, I decided to give pixel art a go and turned a few of my sketches into pixels through photoshop. I firstly had to colour them to the suited child-friendly colours of animals. So down below we have a chubby bunny and an insane looking pug. I've labelled each image below with the image size and pixels of it, just so we get a clear idea on which one works more and what measurements I'll need to use in the future. So far I'm definitely liking and veering towards the ones in the middle because it's not too abstract but can still show some sort of crazy emotion within the character.

MDDN 243

Introduction to Computer Game Design

Project Two: Prototype


Now that I have a good idea on possible pixel game ideas, I need to research games that I've played which are auto-scrolling. One of the more popular ones that I can remember playing for awhile was Robot Unicorn. Despite the catchy soundtrack incorporated into the game, this game was very addictive and successful. The main mechanic is jump in this game as well along with dash. It involves the player to jump over obstacles and collect points, but has no clear ending. A few things about this game that I had noticed is that it doesn't have a health system, but a life system. So after dying the player gets another chance at redemption. I will consider using this in my game as a concept.

Image Retrieved from http://mobiputing.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/robot-unicorn-attack.jpg

MDDN 243

Introduction to Computer Game Design

Project Two: Prototype


Researching and rummaging through google images trying to find games that caught my attention, I found this one. It is Thor's Bring The Thunder in the style of pixels which are more to my liking. The way the graphics are in this game is the style that I am wanting to go for, as it shows off more detail compared to Mario but at the same time simplifies it completely. 

Image Retrieved from http://digitaltools.node3000.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/thor-pixel-game.png

MDDN 243

Introduction To Computer Game Design

Project Two: Prototype


Since my game will be all pixel art, I decided to do some research on the past games that thrived in using pixels as the graphics. The first one that sprung to mind straight away was of course, Super Mario. The image below break down the graphics of the game and clearly shows that it is made up of visible blocks of colour, which makes for a really interesting and retro experience. This will be something I can look at when designing my character but the background for me is too plain, mine will consist of actual images that have been pixelated. 

Image Retrieved from http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2011/268/a/e/pixel_art_mario_by_darilhowell-d4ax05g.png

MDDN 243

Introduction To Computer Game Design

Project Two: Prototype

I had plenty of ideas in my head about what characters I could use in the game, so I just started out doing random quick sketches. Some of these sketches I thought would help me start to develop further into designing my characters. I can also pixelate them on my computer to see what they would look like and how much detail each one would be giving off.

MDDN 243

Introduction To Computer Game Design

Project Two: Prototype

After having a talk to a couple of the tutors, they have given me some good and helpful feedback on my ideas. I have thought about all my ideas for the main game concept that I need to have and have come up with a proposal. I chose to go with the idea of having crazy animals and poachers. So this is how it works:

- It will be a 2D style auto-scroller game
- The main mechanic will be "Jump", players can do this by either swiping up (if touch screen) or simply pressing a key for computer
- The player will need to jump over certain obstacles and to dodge over incoming waves of poachers and bad guys
- Instead of having crystal clear graphics, the game will be pixelated for a more retro style game but with a modern gameplay feel to it
- There will be a narrative to the game as well, where the levels are progressed as the run is finished by that animal
- I will not incorporate a health system to the game, if you land or get hit by a bad guy, game over
- I will incorporate power ups into the game however, with every animal having distinctive moves

MDDN 243

Introduction to Computer Game Design

Project Two: Prototype

Process:

- Sketch and iterate multiple game concepts with a simple communicative game mechanics
- Design and paper prototype a simple 2D game with a strong core game mechanic
- Sketch game characters/environments/assets
- Prototype the initial game mechanic using interactive characters/environments

Hand-in Requirements:

- Development sketches of multiple game ideas
- Game design proposal: articulate the game mechanic, aesthetic goals and environmental theme
- Paper prototype concept. Document this appropriately, particularly the early wear-tests that you conduct with your classmates. Digitise appropriately (high resolution photos, scanned drawings and concepts with annotations, and videos of interaction) for documentation purposes
- Digital interactive prototype of character/environment

Ideas:

- Commando style main character with a paint gun that destroys "graffiti spray can" gang
- Slender style game in a top down view. Player must collect light sources to proceed through game to get away from the darkness.
- 2D game that features insane looking animals trying to dodge poachers
- Dragonball style game where "Paintman" distinguishes all the graffiti in the world where he uses his Kamehameha-paint blast