Fus Ro Sparklechops...

Ding and indeed Dong Merrily on High. It's Christmas time and all that festive mularky...

I finally handed in my second assignment on Tuesday and bid farewell to my first Game Design module.

Didn't know quite what to expect when I started but was extremely excited. I have not been let down.

It's been great learning about the thought process behind games and looking into stories. Loved getting the insight into archetypes and seeing how they fit into nearly everything I've played (or watched for that matter). I now can't watch / play anything without going, and what type are you ???

Level design and mechanics were even more intriguing and has loved doing that. Again, it has changed the way I look at the games I play and actually find myself looking at things in life going, that would make a cool mechanic - OMG my nerding skills are going to be horrendous by the end of this course !!!

Maybe this could be the "player path" I take when I finish ;o) The reading list was rather large for this module, I have read a few chapters of most of the books but none are complete. I'm still going to read them though - I WANT TO KNOW MORE !!!!

Ben is an Awesome* tutor. I'm sure he has actually played every game known to man... ever...
(* copyright cptkittens 2011)

As for the guys on the course - couldn't ask for for a better set of weird and wonderful characters to spend the next 3 years with. All of us, proper gamer geeks. I love it :o)

Well, programming in the New Year. Although I'm looking forward to that, I think I will have a major advantage on this one, having done it for over a decade, so may be a little less focussed !!! But let's wait and see.

Right, I'm off for a large turkey, an egg nog and a mince pie (or should that just be mince???)

Messy Xmas from the Ponahkiin....

Where's the windolene ??...

Here's some shots of my completed crystal level.

Because of the crystal mountain being on different levels the first image shows only the bottom level of the mountain, the second shows the remaining levels side by side and the last images show the levels in place on top of each other.... phew.

Can now start to break this down into separate images for the level walkthough..

workin 9 to 5......what a way to make a livin....

And now with added player path for added excitement :oO

and just for your entertainment, a quick, sneaky peak snapshot view of how the 3D sketch up version is coming along

Ponies are for girls...

So here is my lovely written up, all neat like, 2d level.

You obviously can't tell the height of stuff here, which is really important, but that's what the 3d design in sketch up is for I suppose.

I have also left of the player path, which I am going to annotate over the top using Photoshop.

As designed by Gus Gorman

Look, I know it looks like the design for the supercomputer from Superman III but trust me, all will become crystal clear....

Now why does Vera look weird ???

Ezio.......your dinners on the table....

Sooooo as part of our assignment 2 we have been using bubbl.us to export the ideas for our level out of our heads and into something tangible (please can we just use the term brain storm again..) and here is the result.

I was thinking of the game mechanics and how they would relate to the user, environment and enemies and during this found some interesting crossovers. For instance, as ultrasound is the main coool toool in my game, how about some of the silicon creatures can also use ultrasound weapons and the player has a glass visor to protect him that could be shattered by some of the bigger enemies, thus he need to avoid direct eye contact with them and has to find an alternative way of getting passed them. I've got lots of ideas now but everytime I look at a piece of paper to sketch down the map - brain freeze !!!! - really annoying..... I will to resort to playing games to try and get inspiration... That is the worst excuse I have heard for turning the PS3 on again for a long time...

Oi, stop shouting at that dragon !!!!...

Right then, now I've finally turned the console off and stepped away from Skyrim......

Been thinking about my level and have started to do some sketches, or more like doodles, with ideas about it using this elegant mood board for inspiration.

My main thinking is that the environment should be glass based, but this also got me thinking about ice and crystal structures too that I can incorporate into it.

I am also trying to think how to include the game mechanics, stamp and ultrasound shatter, into the level design. Main thinking is that early on in the level you will have to use stamp on the smaller enemies (beetley and rodenty ones) as this will be the only weapon you have have. Am thinking that although you have your ultrasound gun, it is out of power and later on in the level you can get some kind of crystal powerey thing to power it. Thought this was a good way to build the player up and give them there first task to do.

Once they get the ultrasound working they can use this to firstly, attack the enemies but more importantly interact with the environment, to blast through certain walls and floors to get hidden treasures or just even find a path through the level.

Gonna keep with the vertical theme and have them work their way up the level of this particular glass crystal mountain structure thingy to find one the key crystal elements that they are going to need to power their spacescooterey rocket contraption working again so they can get off this god damn planet.

Going to have puzzle rooms along the way to navigate and solve to be find the exit so they can move onwards and upwards.

So off again to draw some puzzle rooms me thinks.........AND THAT DOES NOT MEAN PICK UP THE PS3 CONTROLLER MR MATTHEWS...........

....OH FUS RO DAH OFF...

I'm not moody....

Progressing at an adequate tempo and building up the tension for assignment 2 ;o)

In Tuesdays lecture we were learning about pacing in games. There were lots of tricks and tips of how to speed up and slow the progression of the levels in games. Some of them quite subliminal. Now will obviously be looking out for them in other games.

We also continued with our own level assignments and I started to put together a mood board for my game. Also trying to find different aspects and textures of glass to use, although this time the assignment is about the describing of the level and using Google sketch up, rather than the pretty Photoshop pictures from last time. The mood board is a good idea though. Also introduced to bubbl.us to do brainstorming on (or whatever the PC version of that is...Mindsplat...Lobotomy...I can't remember...) Didn't really get what it does but I'll have a further look in to it.

Found this interesting concept for my level which is based on a vertical layout, rather than a horizontal one. Ben said he would show me some of his vertical level designs in GSU which will be helpful.

Anyway, onwards and upwards...

Crystalline Polymorphs...

And so to Assignment 2

I'm looking forward to doing this design and I found my inspiration.

As my last assignment was based on reality, I wanted to get as far removed from that as possible so I had a look back on some of the sci-fi novels I've read over the years and found the perfect one.

The book I've chosen is Sentenced to Prism by Alan Dean Foster.

The story is about a guy who ends up stranded on a distant planet where all life there, instead of being carbon based, is silicon based. Therefore everything is made from glass, in some form or another.

This is going to make for an interesting concept me thinks.

Now, lets find a suitable shard...

Phew, another one bites the dust

We did the presentation of our Oil Tanker Disaster Madness game to the group. Who I think took to our Frenchy kitchen hand, Francois quite well. Cheers to Ben for giving us the Tsunami idea ;o) Max went on about it for hours.

I thought it went rather well. The three of us should be proud.

We had a jolly spiffing powerpoint and fabulous paper level designs as well the excellent interactive photoshop design, with added sound effects from Phil ;o)

I was also impressed with the standard of the other groups designs as well. Adams powerpoint animation was very particularly impressive. I must get him to show me how to do that...

Oh well, no more group tasks this module, just the second individual assignment to go - 3D level design !!!! Can't wait :o)

Oil Tanker Disaster Madness (Not at all inspired by any vessels named Poseidon)

Level Design - Group Task
Max, Phil, Darren

Story – There’s been an undisclosed accident at sea involving an oil tanker (not one on a motorway !!)

The Oil Tanker has capsized and our hero (insert name here) is a kitchen hand that just happened to be in the walk in freezer, at the time of the capsize, and has now found himself upside down at the bottom of the oil tanker (That obviously was once at the top). He escapes the freezer to find him self in the kitchen, also upside down and now has to fight his way to safety by reaching the hull of the ship which it at sea level.

• The boat is slowly sinking and the water level is rising.
• As the ship is slowly sinking, the water level is rising and the oxygen level is running out.
• He has luckily found a fire hose in the kitchen which he has fashioned into a cunning lasso
• He has (or has to find) a meat cleaver as a weapon.

There are creatures of the deep in the water that are trying to attack him
1. Small – Eel
2. Medium – Blue Ring Octopus
3. Large – Box Jellyfish

As the oxygen is running out he has to find air tanks to keep the oxygen level up – these are found in 2 sizes
1. Small
2. Large

Using the game mechanic rules set in the task guidelines - we now can start designing the level.

Same level – One EASY difficulty and One HARD difficulty.

Let’s go……..

Not going mad after all...

Here you go Mr Rusty Robot. It was Riven and not Myst as I first thought. The chair of doom !!!

Newsnight

Just watched the BBC Newsnight report on the lack of computer science being taught in schools and how it's affecting the game industry. Used to 3rd in the world, now 6th apparently.

It's atrocious behaviour. I'm so glad I was one of the lucky ones who got to study computer science and chose to make a career in it.

Let's hope at the end of these 3 years by studying games, I can take us back up to the ladder ;o)

Go on then, if I must....

Picked up a cheap copy of BIOSHOCK, lets she what all the fuss is about then.

Playing games purely for research purposes..... Love it.....

Serendipity

Just been out to take some reference images for my Rampage MCR game design and it just so happens there are shed loads of cops around cos of the Tory conference and some political march thing going on.

Marvellous.

It's so hard not being nice

Really finding it hard to find a character that I dislike !!!!
I have a million I do like but have finally decided on just the one. Easy peasy.
Have dug out my game character books to find some inspiration. Also trying to think of film and cartoon characters but my problem is I like all them too. Arrrghhh :-/

No no no no no

THEATRHYTHM:Final Fantasy !!!!! Oh god no !!! Please SquareEnix don't do this to me - I beg u :-/

Lots to read....

Actually found time to start reading, one of the many books off the reading list 'Rules of play'.

Only read a couple of chapters but I think it's sinking in.... Don't know how I'm get through the entire list in 14 weeks though !!!! Wouldn't it be handy to have one of those Matrix styli neural plug-ins..... "I now know game design" Mwahahahaaaaaa :o)

Morality - A sliding scale...

Have expanded my thoughts on the Manchester game theme I dreamt and came up with controversial idea of including the recent riots that took place here, kinda old school GTA styli. Talked it through with Ben, who gave me good feedback and things to think about , but mainly for this to be a goer I have to try to get rid of the controversialist theme or no-one ain't gonna touch it with a barge pole !!!!

Been thinking this through, during the monotonous drives to and from work and think I've have come up with the solution, which I think I'll call the Morality Meter !!

Think I'm gonna introduce different kinds of characters and, from thugs, cops right through to grannies and mums with pushchairs - throw em all in the mix and see what happens.

Right, I'm having so many ideas about this now...... Going to stop waffling on here now and get em down on the GDP.

Can't wait for ur guys feedback after the presentations tomorrow.

Raaaaaa !!!!

and so to the task at hand

So now that I'm getting over being rudely interrupted by my own clumsy trip down the stairs walk down the street. I best get on with finding my inspiration for the game proposal.

When I first heard of what we had to do I knew straight away that the setting I wanted would have to be place I know the best - The fascinating streets of Manchester city centre.

I've lived here, in the city, for years and have not only have I been inspired by the amazing and ever changing architecture but also of the some of the incredible art that crops up when you least expect it. I've found a blog that conveys some of the amazing artwork around the city, which I've already signed up to and there is also another site that a good friend of mine has been putting together for while. Both can be found as links at the bottom of this post.

As for the concept, I've thought of using (controversially) the recent riots that took place here although I've not yet decided whether to take the moral low (or high) ground as to whether you're the the law enforcement or the rioters themselves, kind of GTA styli. Maybe, as the gamer, you have to make that choice yourself ???



My friends amazing Manchester photo collection (courtesy of fussy onion)

Some more Manchester street art


Let's see how this idea evolves eh :o)

Not a great start.....

Is this what is meant to happen after your second lecture ??? Didn't realise being a student was going to be so painful !!!!

First Thoughts

I can safely say I'm gonna enjoy this course.


First impressions have been exceptional and it's great to be in room of people who all think about games the way I do, instead of most of my friends just smiling and nodding with uninterest as I rant on about the latest upcoming PS3 releases.


After trying to decide which track to follow all summer, I had initially thought game art. Coming from a programming background, I think the game programming track will be like doing what I do now at work, just in a different arena and one of my goals is to be more creative. I hadn't really thought about the game design track although first lecture definitely got my interest. Anyway, we have a whole year to decide which way to go I suppose and I'm not dismissing any of them just yet. Let's just wait and see ;o)

Oooooo clever

Have now installed blogger app on my iPhone and am blatantly going to do this at work instead of calculating ill health benefits for deferred members.

and we're off.........

Well, just had first lecture on my new Game Development course......  I am soooo excited at what's to come in the next 3 years, which takes me away from the mundane world of SD55 cyclic updates and 2008 pension scheme calculations..................... yawn.  I have so made the right decision.  Bring it on ;o)