The Strange Month

Bloodlines: Walkthrough

2009-08-20T03:04:00.001-07:00

General Instructions:

Press items to see the descriptions or collect. Use the oculus to "see" Jace's observations.

The Walkthrough:

Begin Session.
Press the eagle sign beneath the message.
Press the eagle sign on the monitor.
Pick up the appointment card in front of the door.
Open the refrigerator.
Open the bottom drawer and take out the ID card.
Open the freezer door and remove the Ice cube.
Press the faucet on the kitchen sink.
Drop the ice cube in the sink. Let the water fill the sink.
Touch the water and let the sink drain. Collect the sparkplug.
Collect the E card.
Press the cupboards above the sink.
Open the cupboards select the 3rd cupboard from the left. Collect the O card in the shadows.
Open the fourth cupboard from the left. Read the sticky note.
In the cupboard directly below the sticky note, open and collect the flashlight.
Open the silver door on the right. Enter the bathroom.
Collect the pill bottle.
Press the sink or toilet.
Touch the water in the sink. Let it drain. Collect the R card.
Open the silver door on the left. Enter the closet.
Collect the batteries.
Press the book on the floor to see its description of the book.
Combine the battery and the flashlight. Drag one onto the other.
Press the abstract portrait of Jimi Hendrix.
Use the ID card to enter the sleeping room. Go inside.
Collect the I card.
Examine the calendar for an important clue.
Read the note in the shadows.
Lift the pillow to collect the knife and an appointment card.
Use ID card to open panel opposite the calendar. Press the shadows.
Collect the N card.
Drop the flashlight into the shadows. Collect the ID card.
Press the flashlight to turn it off. Press again to collect.
Exit the bedroom.
Use the knife to sever the electrical plug next to the bookshelf and/or settee.
Combine the plug and the sparkplug.
Use the 2nd keycard to get to the access panel by the door.
Open the access panel. There's no power. Attach the sparkplug-plug combo to the panel keypad.
It requires a password. Use the letter cards.
Press the garbage bin to get closer.
Press garbage bin to look down at desk.
Collect J card.
Collect Appointment card on the floor.
Drop the pill bottle in the garbage bin.
Read the note.
Look at the settee.
Press between the couch and the lamp closest to the bamboo plant.
Collect the M card.
Navigate to the view of the back wall with the bamboo plant, gun, globe and image of Jimi.
Collect the appointment card in the shadows beneath the gun.
Navigate to the globe.
Press the globe. Collect the I card.
Drop the colored cards in the slots next to the globe/lamp to find the password. (JIREI)
Use the second keycard to open the door.
Explore the hallway to gain more insight into Jace and her interpersonal relationships. This is optional.
All that remains is to head to the Operations control center to exit the session.
Go to Church's office. Collect the gun from beneath the lamp-stand. Collect the ID card from the shadows on Church's desk.
Use the keycard to enter Operations.
Proceed to the monitor and read the conversation transcript. Follow instructions to exit the session.

Please complete the survey provided. Also, please take a moment to comment on this blog with your feedback.
Thanks so much.

Kayneisha

Version2.0

2009-06-08T19:13:00.001-07:00

So I decided that I would revamp the game…over two months ago. I started in March, started re-rendering my assets…Its amazing how different it looks once you have a little knowledge about lighting. I've finished re-integrating the flash files, just have to patch together the dialogue and we're all good.

Back to Work

2008-09-24T18:57:00.000-07:00

OK, here's how the story is going. I had to run over to London from Palm Beach in order to submit coursework for another module. One of my reasons for going to London was to complete my project and write the 6000 workd paper. Unfortunately I had a setback. A month or three of insomnia can sort of cause that. Strangely enough, it's only 3 weeks after my return that I finally feel like I've gotten over my jet lag. So now it's time to get back to work. I met with Che before leaving London, and determined some areas that need to be improved upon, after showing him what might have been my final project (aka my alpha version). I also solidified topics to be discussed in the paper.

I need to address my design choices, and also to think about how I can improve the interface for my game. I need to discuss the importance of community in this type of game.

So, like I said, back to work. I'm adding a few more of the rooms that I had originally intended. They were cut from the alpha version. I've created a template that will be used for the offices, medical, and laboratories. Other rooms, such as the lobbies, will be recycled from the title sequence. The Lobby, Grocery Store, Alley and Woods will be newly created.

My assembly process for the alpha version was pretty streamlined. I created the room and then set up the virtual cameras. The second time around, room creation should be easier and more like an assembly line production.

Each type of room will have a set amount of furniture and props that will be rearranged and will have different colors in order to create variation. A list will be provided.

More, later.

Hints, Hints, Hints

2008-09-20T05:04:00.000-07:00

Hi. Some have said that the game is a little, hard. The nature of Escape Room Games is difficult puzzles. Another aspect of this online game, is the community. Players help each other out and share hints, clues, piece locations, and walkthroughs. To that end, I'm including a few hints that should bevery helpful.

Hint # 1 Numbers are very important in this game. They are hidden and implied in both the story and in the items as they are examined.
Hint # 2 The Lamp - Try turning the lamp on and off a certain number of times.
Hint # 3 Codes - Numbers, numbers, numbers.
Hint # 4 Find the Letters - Some letters can only be accessed after other items are found and secret compartments opened.

Players, please feel free to post any clues that you find. Can you make it out the front door? Is there anything after the door? More rooms are in progress.

Testing, Testing. Testing..,

2008-09-01T01:10:00.001-07:00

Bloodlines is ready for testing (It's late, but in a playable stage). There are some obvious changes that need to be made, such as adding a preloader, and cleaning up some of the action script. But here it is at my site .

Please take a few minutes to give some feedback on the game by posting a comment.
For record, please list your first name, last initial, gender and age, nationality and highest level of education completed (i.e. Kay W., F 29 , USA, BA)

The Query:

Did you find the game playable? (Yes) (No) (I didn't understand it)
Was it enjoyable? (Yes) (No)

Please list any issues you had with gameplay:
Were you able to discern a the story?
Were there any major annoyances?
Do you have any questions about the game?

Thanks,

Kayneisha

2008-08-30T01:31:00.000-07:00

All,

I've been diligently, and sleeplessly working on getting this project out. I realized some time ago, that in planning anything in general, I have a problem with scale and scope. I think big. Luckily for me, I also have a problem with obsessively making contingency plans and with making component parts during preproduction. All that's left is the final assembly and testing. I scaled back to the basic escape room game with strong narrative elements. The Demo is a portion of Day 1 in the game's 28 day cycle, and gives a idea of navigation and play for the game. If you have no idea what an escape room game is, check out Jayisgames.com. If you have no idea what a visual novel is (the other influence on my project) check out Renpy, or the wikipedia entry on Visual Novel adventure games.

Best,

K

Bloodlines Title Sequence

2008-08-15T04:49:00.000-07:00

OK, Here's the title sequence I created for Bloodlines. This looks very rough, and is. It was created to fulfill course requirements for Digital Video Production. I'm not satisfied with it, and may revamp it for the final version (of the MA project) or not use it at all. Please note that I'd attributed the title theme to Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails in my bibliography and on the original video. This is incorrect. The music is actually sampled from the track "Lucky You" by the Deftones. Both versions will be uploaded.

The New

The Old

There were to have been more dialogue and more intricate video transitions to this piece. The project brief was to create a sequence of video footage that exemplified Lev Manovich's ideas of the avant-garde and special effects, as well as Bolter and Grusin's ideas of the dual logic of remediation. Unfortunately because of the insanity that is insomnia combined with jetlag (I hopped a transatlantic flight to deliver the work in person), many of the details got flushed away. The sequence was initially designed to be a narrative journey through Alberti's window, as the story for Bloodlines was visually introduced. In someways it succeeds, in others it fails. However, in essence, I do believe the video does follow the brief through the use of digital compositing and editing techniques, cutting, and the use of montage/collage effects, which are all examples of remediation of the techniques of earlier art forms(painting/graphic design, esp. the avant-garde of the 1920's).

Maps

2008-07-18T07:00:00.000-07:00

I forgot to load these the other day.
Center:

HappyMart

Science Complex:

Woods Puzzle:

These are the maps (rough) of the project. I'm using these to help me organize my action script, and any puzzles/content that may be added. Right now I'm using Visio to lay this baby out, showing what links to what. My next step is mapping the content location. Really, my next step should be rendering the content, but creating and perfecting this framework is way more important right now.

Eureka

2008-07-16T21:15:00.000-07:00

I've finally found some sample code that will help me build what I want to build. I've found an inventory system that should work perfectly. It's at:
http://www.gotoandplay.it/_forums/viewtopic.php?p=9922&sid=80a00985f43595c786d610214c129ea4. Now comes the integration. I also have to work on my organization. I need to set up a chart in Visio mapping the actions of each object. It's like they say, a stitch in time saves nine. Doing the plan (again) now should make things easier later.

Getting there

2008-07-09T06:48:00.000-07:00

OK. Here we go. I've been working, working, working on this and the project is progressing well. I've got a massive flash file (50 MB) that have the essence of the framework. One of the problems I've been having lately is with the inventory system. In that I don't have an inventory system. I've found several different methods of completion including the creation of an array that notes when an item is accessed/added and causes the movieclip's alpha to be 0.

I think my best course of action is to put in words and images exactly what I want to happen, rather than wasting time building samples that I won't use. My modules and research have all espoused the concept of doing this sort of planning. Maybe it might help if I describe exactly what I'm doing for the project and how I envision its execution.

1. What on earth am I creating?

The Strange Month/"Bloodlines" is a hybrid visual novel/room escape adventure game. It's a point and click adventure (typically found on the web for casual gamers).

2. What is the mechanism?
A. Think Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney but more narrative, some puzzles and a little mystery. Find pieces of information bits of the puzzle(s) in order to navigate the game (escape rooms, deal with characters). The objective is to find out who is the potential victim that the hero must save.

Right now I have some incomplete flash files. The scripting is incomplete with a few errors/missing links. The images are for the most part placeholders taken from the net. The text is obviously not in the final form, but set to give a possible idea about the transitions. Over the next day or so, I'll be finishing up the scripting, so all I'll have to do is add the updated/rendered images.

One of the issues I'm having is with setting the variables in the action script. I need to be able to track when areas/items have been accessed. Whatever script I'm using just doesn't work. I'll send a sample .fla later, but essentially in the first frame I set the variable button =0
Later a button will be pressed that changes the value. This script ,or a variation, is in the time line in a different frame.
Ex. ButtonA.onPress = function (){
button = 1
};

or

ButtonA.onPress = function (){
button = 1
};

I have a handful of area maps that should help in navigation, but I need to transcribe them into a legible form. I've attached them anyway.

Pretty versions will be included in the appendix of my report. They are very rough. I've also attached thumbnails of the characters. They are all derived from morphs of the Daz3d Victoria 3 base model (http://www.daz3d.com/i.x/shop/itemdetails/-/?item=1098&_m=d).

There are also some samples of the style of images that I will use. Composites based on 3d renders.

Right now the Flash file is a mess. I've been consolidating the various files, adding the interactivity, scripts and sets.
Here are the links to the flash/swf files:

50MB flash file ---http://www.zshare.net/download/148691747c735a9e/
10MB swf ---http://www.zshare.net/flash/1486937173671ccc/

Kayneisha

The Original Proposal

2008-07-08T19:23:00.000-07:00

This is the original proposal that I submitted for the project. The title listed here is "Bloodlines". Pretty much, my topic has stayed the same. The creation of a visual novel/adventure game hybrid. What has changed has been the timeline. My alpha testing should have been done by January according to my proposed schedule. Now i'm trying to be ready for my alpha testing by August. On top of that, I have to start writing the 6000 word report. This should be interesting.

One thing that concerns me, is that I had intended to make a commercially viable project. That is difficult because other than a few exceptions, visual novels (VN), though popular in Japan and east Asia, are not especially marketable in America (I need to research the viability in the UK and Europe). There are some exceptions of narrative heavy video games, but the visual novel form seems to be a niche phenomenon. I've found hundreds of English fan translations of Japanese VN, but very few original English VN. I'll eventually have to describe and define a visual novel, and differentiate it from the western perception (dating simulation games or choose your own adventure clones). As I start doing my research this week, I'll post more on that subject.

ciao,

K

The Proposal
1. Student/Group:

05039514 Kayneisha Williams

2. Provisional Project Title:

Bloodlines: Exploring Immersive Non-linear Narrative
Game Design

3. Topic/ area of research:

The topic of my research is immersive story-telling in
games. This will be achieved through the creation of a
Flash-based interactive game environment based on a
short mystery story called “Bloodlines”.

My intent is to do research by design, focusing on
interactivity and game/multimedia narratology,
especially non-linear storytelling, and techniques of
successfully imparting drama and emotion into games.
As a part of this research I will also touch the areas
of usability and accessibility, character creation and
development, as well as game design theory and Flash
game development. The target audience includes women
and men aged 18 – 37 who have an affinity for
fantasy/horror/mystery stories, and computer gaming.

4. Aims of Project:

The aims of this project is to create an immersive
gaming experience that successfully lends to the
suspension of disbelief in the players, and creates an
emotional connection with them as well. Through
benchmarking and critical analysis of game design
theory and practice, I will create a prototype for a
visually stunning Adventure Game/Interactive Narrative
hybrid. My ultimate goal is to create something that
is commercially viable and has appeal with both the
hardcore gamer, and the neophyte.

5. Literature review and product research:

The closest model to what I will try to achieve is
developer Aaron Griffiths’ RPG Storyteller (RPGS),
which is hosted at Eduforge (2005), an open source
project host. Storyteller is a Macromedia Flash game
engine used to deliver a role-playing game based
story. On of the demos offered is a text based RPG
with a few visual elements. It’s similarity is based
mostly on the design of the engine. RPG The player
navigates the story by making choices, and the
outcomes duffer based on the choices made. The
difference between “Bloodlines” and RPGS is the nature
of the story. Choice affects the outcome. This is
similar to the gaming scenario presented in Indigo
Prophecy (2005). Every time that you play the game,
make a different choice, the game is changed based on
that decision. “Bloodlines” is intended to be an
experience. The story will remain the same, but the
experience will vary based on which elements the
player/reader chooses to explore.

6. Technologies employed and Resources:

The technology that will be employed for this project
will naturally vary depending on its purpose. In
terms of hardware, I will utilize both Mac and PC
computers. The uses that I will have for them, and
their availability to me for the duration of the
project make them interchangeable. I will also use
the following hardware: A scanner, a Wacom Graphire3
Tablet, a digital camera, and a digital video camera,
all of which I own or have ready access to.
Additionally, I may need to use an MP3 audio recorder.

My software requirements range from word processing to
3D imaging software. I will be using Microsoft Word
2003 (PC) and 2004 (Mac) for word processing, along
with Notebook and Text edit for creating ASCII text
files. For project management/workflow I will be
using Microsoft Project and Entourage. My design
software will include the following painting and
illustration software: Adobe Photoshop, Painter
Classic, Adobe Fireworks, Illustrator, CorelDraw,
Macromedia Freehand. I have access to all of this
software and will interchange them depending on which
aspect of illustration/image creation that I wish to
use. In some aspects some of this software is
interchangeable, but having the freedom to choose the
variety of effects and tools appeals to me in spite of
this.

I will use Macromedia Shockwave (Director), and Adobe
Flash to create the interactivity and some animation
for this multimedia project. I have had over five
years working with Flash, but my experience with
Director is extremely limited. I will have to engage
in self-directed study with Director and its Lingo
programming language over the 2007 summer.

There will also be some 3D assets and animation that
will be created using Blender and Maya. These assets
will be either imported as 3D objects into Director,
or imported as video clips and still images into
Flash. Any animation to be used as imported movie
clips will be edited in Premiere, which I will learn
through self-directed study, summer 2007. For any
voiceovers or sound editing, Adobe Audition or
Audacity will be used.

My research and evaluation tools/resources will
include paper surveys (to be given to 5 game testers),
spreadsheets to quantify data, the library at London
Metropolitan University, as well as the library’s
online collection.

There are eleven months to completion of the project.
Time must be a balanced resource. There will be
periods of class work, and employment that have to be
taken into account, as well as periods of no
commitment. I will give myself a required working
schedule of twenty hours a week, no matter the
circumstance, to be divided based on whatever other
time constraints affect my days and evenings.

My additional resources include tutorials with
instructors, and interviews with industry
professionals (as available). I will also need 5
testers for this project. I anticipate creating a
small network of my fellow graduate students, in which
we help each other test our projects and give each
other feedback on our Evaluation Reports and
Dissertations.

7. Project plan

Preproduction:
The initial research and project note taking commenced
in March 2007 and the research will continue through
March 2008. The basic Flash framework will be
completed 1 June 2007, as its development is an
ongoing, integral part of my final project for
Responsive Environments.

Production:
Content Adaptation of the “Bloodlines” short story
began April 2007, and will continue through July.
June 2007 will be devoted to configuring and
finalizing the framework/game engine. Asset creation
began in May of this year. It will continue through
August 2007. Authoring will take place between June
and November 2007. Tutorials will be scheduled
between September 2007 and March 2008. It is my
intention to arrange interviews with game developers
and writers during the summer and fall of 2007. Alpha
Testing will commence January 2008, after the
Christmas holiday, followed by revision. Surveys will
be provided to my game testers. Alpha Testing should
be completed by early February. February 2008 will be
a revision period, followed by Beta testing in during
the first week of March, and then revision .

Post Production:
Between March and May 2008, the Evaluation Report will
be written and finalized. The project will be
submitted by the end of term deadline, late May, 2008.

8. If group work, outline of group members
contribution

9.Methodology for evaluation

Evaluation will be apart of the Alpha and Beta testing
in January and March. The methodology for evaluation
will include usability surveys for the testers, as
well as their responses to follow-up questions, so
that I can get a personalized response. I also would
like to get the project evaluated by a random sampling
of university students and the public (10-20).
As this project is designated research by design, the
extensive notes (journal) that I will maintain on the
projects development and process will serve as
evaluative data.

10. Bibliography
Works Consulted
Atari. (2005) Indigo Prophecy. [online]
http://www.atari.com/indigo/ [Accessed: 28/04/2007]
Berger, A. (2002) Video games : a popular culture
phenomenon. London, Transaction
Capcom. (2005) Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
http://www.capcom.com/phoenixwright/ [Accessed:
28/04/2007]
Castronova, E. (2006) Synthetic worlds : the business
and culture of online games. Chicago, University of
Chicago Press
David, M. (2002)- Building Great Flash MX games.
Chichester, Wiley
Eduforge: Innovation For Education. (2005) Flash Based
RPG Game Engine [online] Available from:
https://eduforge.org/projects/gameflashobjs/
[Accessed: 28/04/2007]
England,E, and Finney, A. (2002) Managing multimedia
: project management for Web and convergent media.
Bk.2, Technical issues. 3rd ed., Harlow,
Addison-Wesley
England,E, and Finney, A. (2002) Managing multimedia
: project management for Web and convergent media.
Bk.1, People and processes 3rd ed, Harlow :
Addison-Wesley
Griffin, H. (2001) The animator's guide to 2d
computer animation. Oxford : Focal Press
HotelDusk (2007) HotelDusk Room 215
http://www.hoteldusk.com/[Accessed: 28/04/2007]
Jackson, R. (1981) Fantasy : the literature of
subversion. London, Methuen
Krawczyk, M. and Novak, J. (2006) Game development
essentials: game story and character development.
[CD-ROM] Clifton Park, NY, Thompson Delmar Learning
Kuperberg, M. (2002) A guide to computer animation:
for TV, games, multimedia web. Oxford, Focal Press
Onega, S. and García Landa, J.A. (1996) Narratology:
an introduction. London, Longman
Pedersen, R.E. (2003) Game design foundations.
[CD-ROM] Lancaster, Gazelle
Pedersen, R.E. (2003) Game design foundations.
Lancaster, Gazelle
Rhodes, G. (2006) Macromedia Flash professional 8
game developmen.t Boston, Mass., Charles River Media
Rhodes, G. (2006) Macromedia Flash professional 8
game. development [CD-ROM] / Glen Rhodes, Boston, Mass
: Charles River Media
Salen, K. and Zimmerman, E. eds. (2006)The game
design reader : a rules of play anthology. Cambridge,
Mass., MIT Press
Wardrip-Fruin, N. and Harrigan, P. eds. (2004)
First person : new media as story, performance, and
game Cambridge, Mass.; London : MIT Press
Wiedemann, J. (2002) Digital beauties : 2D & 3D
computer generated digital models, virtual idols and
characters. London, Taschen

To Be Consulted
Adams, E. (2003) 'In the beginning was the word'.
Gamasutra.com, [online]. Available from:
http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20010615/luban_01.shtml
. [
Baggaley, S. T. (2002) 'Show and tell: Applying
screenwriting techniques to computer games'. In
Laramée, F. D. (Ed.) Game design perspectives.
Hingham, Mass.: Charles River Media.
Cage, D. (2006) 'Postmortem: Indigo prophecy”.
Gamasutra.com, [online]. Available from:
http://gamasutra.com/features/20061004/chandler_01.shtml
.
Chandler, R. (2006) 'Screen/play: Technical narrative
design '. Gamasutra.com, [online]. Available from:
http://gamasutra.com/features/20061004/chandler_01.shtml
.
Crawford, C. (2003) 'Interactive storytelling'. In
Wolf, M. J. P. & Perron, B. (Eds.) The video game
theory reader. New York ; London: Routledge.
Felluga, D. 'An introduction to narratology'.[online].
Available from:
http://www.cla.purdue.edu/academic/engl/theory/narratology/modules/introduction.html.

Frasca, G. (1999) 'Ludology meets narratology:
Similitude and differences between (video)games and
narrative.' Ludology.org, [online]. Available from:
http://www.ludology.org/articles/ludology.htm .
Graham Nelson (July 2001). “A short history of
interactive fiction”. The Inform Designer's Manual.
[online]. Available from:
http://www.inform-fiction.org/manual/html/s46.html
Jenkins, H. (2006) 'Game design as narrative
architecture'. In Salen, K. & Zimmerman, E. (Eds.) The
game design reader : A rules of play anthology.
Cambridge, Mass. ; London: MIT.
Juul, J. (2005) 'Games telling stories?' Game Studies,
[online]. Available from:
http://www.gamestudies.org/0101/juul-gts/ .
Laurel, B. (1993) Computers as theatre. Reading, Mass.
; Wokingham: Addison-Wesley Pub. Co.
Luban, P. & Meziane, J. (2001 ) 'Turning a linear
story into a game: The missing link between fiction
and interactive entertainment'. Gamasutra.com,
[online]. Available from:
http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20010615/luban_01.shtml
.
Mateas, M. & Stern, A. (2006) 'Interaction and
narrative'. In Salen, K. & Zimmerman, E. (Eds.) The
game design reader : A rules of play anthology.
Cambridge, Mass. ; London: MIT.
Murray, J. (1998) Hamlet on the holodeck : The future
of narrative in cyberspace. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT
Press.
Neitzel, B. (2005) 'Narrativity in computer games'. In
Raessens, J. & Goldstein, J. H. (Eds.) Handbook of
computer game studies. Cambridge, Mass. ; London: MIT
Press.
Noyle, J. (2006, April 26) 'Techniques of written
storytelling applied to game design'. Gamasutra.com,
[online]. Available from:
http://gamasutra.com/features/20061004/chandler_01.shtml
.
Raessens, J. & Goldstein, J. H. (2005) Handbook of
computer game studies. Cambridge, Mass. ; London: MIT
Press.
Rawlings, T. (2006) 'Narrative and interactivity'.
Game research, [online]. Available from:
http://game-research.com/?page_id=65 .
The Brass Lantern. “The adventure game website,
history on interactive fiction”. [online]. Available
from: http://brasslantern.org/community/history/

The Proposal
1. Student/Group:
05039514 Kayneisha Willians
2. Provisional Project Title
The Vault: Exploring the Heroine and Non-linear
Narrative Game Design
3. Topic/ area of research
An Interactive Mystery Story-Game
Areas of research:
• Gender Inclusive Game Design
o The Heroine in Video Games
o The female gamer
• Game Design Theory
o Flash Game Development
o Immersive Game Experiences
o Usability and Accessibility
o Alternatives to zero-sum game models
o Adventure and Role Playing Games
o Character Creation
o Research by Design
• Interactive Narratives
o Narratology and Ludology
o Non-linear Storytelling
o The Hero and Heroine Archetypes and Iconography
o Game Story Development
The target audience includes women and men aged 18 –
37
4. Aims of Project
• Create a gender inclusive interactive story-game
prototype that is challenging to play and experience
• An immersive gaming experience that successfully
lends to the suspension of disbelief in the players by
bringing the game outside of the screen
• Target a largely untapped market
• Create a commercially viable project
Through benchmarking and critical analysis of game
design theory and practice, I will create a hybrid RPG
or Adventure Game (as yet to be
determined)/Interactive Narrative that is inclusive of
both male and female players in terms of the
usability, character and story design.
5. Literature review and product research (this
paragraph must be at least 1,000/1,500 words)
The Literature Review is currently ongoing. See
Bibliography for list of works being consulted.

6. Technologies employed and Resources
* - current skills/tools available
!! - further skills/tools acquisition needed (when and
if and how)
Hardware requirements:
• Mac/PC*
• Scanner*
• Wacom Tablet*
• Digital Camera*
• Digital Video Camera*
• MP3 audio Recorder !!
• Phidgets *
Software requirements:
• Word processors
o Microsoft Word*
o Text Edit*
• Database
o Microsoft Access*
• Spreadsheets
o Microsoft Excel*
• Project Management/Workflow
o Microsoft Project/Entourage*
• Design software:
o Paint and image editing
• Adobe Photoshop*
• Painter Classic*
• Fireworks*
• Adobe Illustrator*
• CorelDraw! *
• Macromedia Free Hand*
• Macromedia Fireworks*
o Animation/Interaction
• Macromedia Shockwave (Director)
• Macromedia Flash*
o 3d Assets and Animation
• Maya*
• Movie editing (To be determined & Self-Taught Summer
2007) !!
o Adobe Premiere
o Adobe After Effects
o Adobe Final Cut Studio
• Sound editing (To be determined & Self-Taught Summer
2007) !!
o SoundEdit
o SoundForge
research and evaluation tools and resources
• Paper Surveys
• Spreadsheet to quantify data
Time
• 11 Months to completion
Other Resources:
• Tutorials !!
• interviews!!
• Self-directed Study!!

7. Project plan (In Development)
Research: March 2007 – March 2008 (Initial Framework
completed 1 May 2007)
Project Notes: March 2007 – March 2008
Content Adaptation: April – May 2007
Framework/Game Engine Design – June 2007
Asset Origination: May – June 2007
Integration: June – November 2007
Tutorials: September 2007 – March 2008
Interviews: Summer/Fall 2007
Alpha Testing: January 2008
Surveys: March 2008
Beta Testing: March 2008
Submission: May 2008
8. If group work, outline of group members
contribution
9.Methodology for evaluation
Usability surveys for game testers
Comments on game evaluation
Questionnaires from a random sampling of university
students and the public (50-100)
• Show the surveyed a trailer for the game outlining
gameplay and instructions, plot and design.
• Ask individuals to rate interest in the game
(Quantitative research)
• Follow up with questions to get personalized
responses
Negotiate within class groups, for 5-6 project alpha
and beta testers. If possible, if interest comes
about from the interest evaluative questionnaires,
invite members of the surveyed to have a chance to
beta test the game as well.
Alpha Testing – January
Beta Testing – March
10. Bibliography
Armitt, Lucie “Fantasy, Phantasy and the Realm of the
Uncanny” Chapter 2 in Theorizing the Fantastic.
London: Arnold Press, ©1995. 39-63. 21 April 2002
<http://ebbs.english.vt. edu/cf/locked/index.html>
Armitt, Lucie. “Structuralism, Genre and the beyond.”
Ch. 1 Theorizing The Fantastic. London; Arnold press.
©1995.17-38. 21 April 2002
<http://ebbs.english.vt.edu/cf/locked/ index.html>
Auden, W.H. Secondary Worlds ©1968.
Berger, Arthur Asa, 1933-Video games : a popular
culture phenomenon New Brunswick, N.J ; London :
Transaction, c2002
Castronova, Edward, Synthetic worlds : the business
and culture of online games / Edward Castronova Pbk.
ed Chicago : University of Chicago Press, 2006
David, Matthew, 1971- Building Great Flash MX games /
David Matthew New York : Hungry Minds ; Chichester :
Wiley, 2002
Dictionary Entry “Fantasy”. World Book Multimedia
Encyclopedia © 2001 World Book, Inc.
England, Elaine, and Andy Finney, Managing multimedia
: project management for Web and convergent media.
Bk.2, Technical issues 3rd ed., Harlow :
Addison-Wesley, 2002
England, Elaine, and Andy Finney,Managing multimedia :
project management for Web and convergent media. Bk.1,
People and processes 3rd ed, Harlow : Addison-Wesley,
2002
First person : new media as story, performance, and
game / edited by Noah Wardrip-Fruin and Pat Harrigan ;
designed by Michael Crumpton Cambridge, Mass.; London
: MIT Press, 2004
Graner Ray, Sheri Gender inclusive game design :
expanding the market / Sheri Graner Ray Hingham,
Mass. : Charles River Media, c2004
Griffin, Hedley, The animator's guide to 2d computer
animation / Hedley Griffin Oxford : Focal Press, 2001
Hume, Kathryn. Chapter 1 in Fantasy and Mimesis:
Responses to Reality in Western Literature. NY:
Methuen Press, 1984. 5-28. 21 April 2002
<http://ebbs.english.vt.edu/cf/locked/index.html>
Jackson, Rosemary Fantasy : the literature of
subversion / Rosemary Jackson London : Methuen, 1981
Jackson, Rosemary. “The Fantastic as a Mode” Chapter 2
in Fantasy: The Literature of Subversion. NY: Methuen
Press, ©1981. 13-60. 21 April 2002
<http://ebbs.english.vt.edu/cf / locked/index.html>
Kafai, Yasmin Bettina, Minds in play : computer game
designs as a context for children's learning / Yasmin
Bettina Kafai Erlbaum, 1995
Krawczyk, Marianne Game development essentials
[CD-ROM] : game story and character development /
Marianne Krawczyk, Jeannie Novak Clifton Park, NY :
Thompson Delmar Learning, 2006
Kuperberg, Marcia A guide to computer animation : for
TV, games, multimedia web / Marcia Kuperberg. Oxford :
Focal Press, 2002
Lewis, C.S. The Problem of Pain © 1996 C.S. Lewis Pte.
Ltd.
Martinez, Michael. “A long time ago, in a Middle-earth
far, far away...” © March 3, 2001. 21 April 2002
<http://www.suite101.com/article. cfm/tolkien/62031>
Narratology : an introduction / edited by Susana Onega
and José Angel García Landa London : Longman, 1996
Pedersen, Roger E. Game design foundations / Roger E.
Pederson, Plano, Tex. : Wordware ; Lancaster :
Gazelle, 2003
Pedersen, Roger E. Game design foundations [CD-ROM]
Plano, Tex. : Wordware ; Lancaster : Gazelle, 2003
Rabkin, Eric S. “Fantastic Worlds: Myths, Tales, and
Stories.” Ed. Eric S. Rabkin. NY: Oxford UP, ©1979.
27-39. 21 April 2002
<http://ebbs.english.vt.edu/cf/locked/index.html>
Rhodes, Glen Macromedia Flash professional 8 game
development [CD-ROM] / Glen Rhodes, Boston, Mass :
Charles River Media, 2007 [i.e. 2006]
Rhodes, Glen Macromedia Flash professional 8 game
development Boston, Mass : Charles River Media, 2007
[i.e. 2006]
The game design reader : a rules of play anthology /
[edited by] Katie Salen and Eric Zimmerman Cambridge,
Mass. : MIT Press, 2006
Tolkien, J.R.R. The Tolkien Reader, “On
Fairy-Stories.” ©1947. 21 April 2002
<http://ebbs.english.vt.edu/cf/locked/index.html>
Wiedemann, Julius, Digital beauties : 2D & 3D
computer generated digital models, virtual idols and
characters / Julius Wiedemann Köln ; London : Taschen, 2002

union of the amalgamation

2008-06-25T05:57:00.000-07:00

Aloha mes amies,

I am now in the process of putting together all of the little pieces. Or should I wait until I have a few more elements together? OK, I'm at the stage when I have a set of mock up images (scoured from the net) and all of my text (which may get re-edited)...

WIP MA Project

2008-06-22T20:03:00.000-07:00

http://kaenna1.deviantart.com/art/MA-project-WIP1-89481156
http://kaenna1.deviantart.com/art/WIP-conversation-model-89481618

there they are. the conversation system needs to be re-assessed and redesigned. I'm currently reworking my assets, a conversation inventory system based on a finite state engine, and the interface in general.

I finally feel like this thing is progressing, cause I have my base 3d Models designed, I just need to get them clothed. Thank God for Daz3d's morph pack for Victoria 3. I've created about 20 characters from one model, and various textures I've adapted. These characters will play a small part in the production. At least on this end. I'm integrating a title sequence for my Digital Video Production module into this project.

Also, very big deal. I've been writing the narrative for this thing for months. I finished the narrative about a month ago, but who'd have thought that it would take so long to type 7000+ words. I've imported the text into Flash, and will start formatting it immediately.

Way back in February I created this branch model of the narrative.

There is a flash mock up of this branch narrative, but that file is still on my old PC. That model will be intrinsic to my next stage...adding the narrative.

ciao

Bad, bad K

2008-06-22T19:21:00.000-07:00

Hey, it's been 4 months since I last posted. But no, it hasn't been 4 months since I last did work on my project. It's been steadily going on. I've spent the last few months prototyping and writing, and 3d modeling. The Strange Month is a 2D hybrid visual novel/game that will be made using 3d models.

I really need to get a project summary uploaded. Here's the question that has been plaguing me. Should I post what I've got, or in cohesive units?

This is my problem. I'm supposed to be doing this thing as a part of a MA program whose requirements include having a production plan. I have a production plan. But I think I based it on models for team projects, rather than for an individual person's project.

Ok, I've made a decision. I'll just start posting what I've been doing, and where I'm currently at. as in now.

I'll also post some of my project updates to Che as well. Also, as blogger doesn't seem to support SWFs, I'll add the swfs to my deviant art page.

aloha,

Kayneisha

The Strange Month

2008-02-25T10:00:00.000-08:00

Hello All,

Hopefully if you're reading this you know who I am. In case you have no clue, I'm Kayneisha Williams, a writer/designer/imaginator. This is the blog I've set up primarily to document the progress of my MA in Digital Media Project and research. The plan is for me to design a game that explores non-linear narrative and gameplay. That's the simple description. Eventually (next week I think) I'll go into further detail. I think it should be fun.

I'm attending London Metropolitan University, where my course finishes in September 2008. Che-Guevara John is my Project Supervisor, and Elena Moschini is my Course Leader.

In later posts I'll note the details of my project plan, the game design, the story, and my process.

Anyhow, this is just the beginning. After you read the next post, this title will make sense.

Until next time,

K