Game Development - Sound

Sounds needed to develop my game.

Helicopter: There will be a few sounds I'll need for the helicopter
- Blade nosies for flying
- A landing noise for the skids touching the ground
- Machine gun/missile woosh sounds for the helicopters weapons
- An explosion sound for when the helicopter gets destroyed

Other game sounds:
- A "bling" noise for when the people are picked up
- a noise to explain that the landing pad is ready to end a level.

Game Development - Target Audience

Computer/internet literacy – aimed towards a reasonably good computer user. Has had experience before in flash games and would understand the basic controls of a helicopter in a game environment.

Demographics, such as - people who like helicopter games and want a basic simulation game. Players who enjoy controlling the helicopter in a safe manner to simulate landing and flying. Probably aimed at young males, they would probably be the most interested.

Age – 14+

Gender – Most likely males

Education – N/A

Occupation – N/A

Cultural background N/A

Location N/A    

Hobbies/interests – Flying, helicopters, simulation type games.

Language, literacy and numeracy – Basic literacy to understand game information. The English language.

Game Development

My flash game is going to be a helicopter game where the player controls a helicopter and attempts of pick up targets. It is basically a rescue game to pick people up and then safely land on a heli-pad to finish the level.

Flash game reviews

Game: Carrot (http://www.ferryhalim.com/orisinal/g3/carrot.htm) 

Overview: The game is played with just the mouse. You control defend a rabbit as it moves forward along a trail of carrots. The enemies are dogs, they are constantly moving left and right across an area of the playing field. You can click on them and drag them back by a leash to prevent them crossing paths with your rabbit which removes health. There are many dogs and the speeds in which they move varies and increases gradually as you play the game.  The more carrots you collect the more points you get and when you run out of health the game is over.

Review: I liked the game at first but it quickly got boring, the actions are to repetitive and it wasn’t very difficult

Game: Sunny Day Sky (http://www.ferryhalim.com/orisinal/g3/sunny.htm)

Overview: This game is a flying game, you need to fly as far as you can to cover more vehicles to earn points and then have a safe landing on top of one of the vehicles.

Review: I really liked the game, it had a fun way of earning points and had a learning curb that was very enjoyable.

6 photos to tell a story re-done

6 photos to tell a story

8 Human Emotion photos

Jealousy

                                           Cheekyness

                                            Contemplation

                                             Apathy

                                            Surprise

                                           Happyness

                                            Anger

                                            Regret

The 12 Principles of Animation

1.       Squash and Stretch – This principle ads weight and flexibility to an object or character and makes the animation look realistic or if exaggerated comical.

2.       Anticipation – Anticipation is used to focus attention on something in the animation and make actions look realistic. The movement of an action generally has a build-up and also a slowdown period, e.g. running and then stopping.

3.       Staging – Is about the design of a scene and where objects and characters are and how it conveys a message to the audience, much like in film and theatre changing the angle or lighting creates different effects.

4.       Straight Ahead Action and Pose to Pose – Are two different styles of animation, straight ahead action is when an animator draws a scene frame by frame from start to finish. Pose to pose is where an animator draws a few keys frames and then fills in the intervals, this has also become more popular due to computers ability to fill in these frame automatically

5.       Follow Through and Overlapping Action – This principle helps make a character look like they follow the laws of physics, it is the technique of making the body look like its moving at different rates. E.g swinging your arms as you walk will create a character with multiple moving parts and at different speeds.

6.       Slow In and Slow Out – This principle is about movement, when a character begins to run it takes a few frames to build up the large movement of lunging forward and with speed. This means that there needs to be some frame that focus on the speeding up and slowing down of actions and movements.

7.       Arcs – Human and animal movement is similar because of our bone structures, this principle is based on the way limbs move and also the trajectory of an object due to speed and gravity.

8.       Secondary Action – Secondary action is things such as a character showing emotion with things like facial expressions or the way the walk. The key factor in secondary action is that it emphasizes something. E.g. a sad man walking will slump down and maybe look at the ground and show an audience that he is sad without directly telling you.

9.       Timing – This technique is important for the little details in animation such as a characters mood or emotion. It can be shown by timing a characters movement or reaction to something. E.g. a sigh after hearing bad news will show they are upset.

10.   Exaggeration – Exaggeration depends on if your animation is meant to be realistic or in a particular style, it can show an event in a more obvious style and more cartoon like form.

11.   Solid Drawing – This principle is focused on three-dimensional design, creating a character with weight, balance and shadow.

12.   Appeal – Is how a characters personality or charisma is shown, a more appealing character is more entertaining and enjoyable to watch. It can work for good guys or bad guys and everything in-between as long as the characters emotions can be easily read.

Photography with Luke

Here is the link to 5 cool depth of field photos I like 

http://harrydm.deviantart.com/favourites/45266143

Photography with Luke

After searching on deviantArt to find a bunch of photos I like because of the style and creativity I came up with this bunch. 

http://harrydm.deviantart.com/favourites/45165555

Digital Pitch Design

Extra Pitch Design

This is the current design i'm going with for my extra pitch, after talking with members of the class we decided to go with a green ad light green background rather then blue and light blue.

iPad concept screen

Real-estate App

My iPad app idea was designed for a real-estate agent. It can help an agent keep track of things and organize their work, however it is also made for and agent to give to a client. Basically it can show a client information, pictures, videos and virtual tours of a house they wish to buy or sell.

I used images and information from:

http://www.fitzpatricks.com.au/index.cfmpageCall=listings&firstSearch=true&menuItemID=82160

http://www.waggawaggaaustralia.com.au/_images/fitz_logo_425x120.jpg

http://www.gadgetfeature.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/ipad2.jpg

Initial concept feedback

Animation Concept - Closed version

 Animation Concept - Open version

- add drop shadow to make clickable things stand out
- possible human character
- keep a child like design and colours because it is appropriate
- create a slogan

Evaluate the nature of design in a specific industry context

1. In your opinion how important is it for mobile applications and devices to both look good and function properly? Comment on both the attractiveness of the software and the hardware. Functionality is the key in my opinion but attractiveness is also a big part of mobile applications and devices. Something has to do its job quickly and easily and the outcome needs to be exactly what the consumer wants. The look of an application is important to, a lot of people will look over something quickly and if it is eye catching then it has increased the chance of getting bought. The iPad and other Apple products have a certain look about them that makes them easily defined and the software and interface is also visually pleasing.

2. Who designed the iPad? Apple Inc.

1. Was it an individual or team? Team 
2. In your opinion, do people use this device because it looks good or because it functions well? Or does it do both? In my opinion people use is because of both, in terms of looks the iPad has its own image, for example if a building company displayed information and pictures of a house design to a potential customer the customer would most likely see that as a positive thing about the building company. In terms of functionality the iPad performs well in my opinion, it’s easy to use and understand and is also fast and responsive. These qualities are what customers look for in a product like the iPad. 

3. How has the iPad changed the way some businesses function? Can you find examples of where businesses have implemented the iPad into their day-to-day activities? The iPad is basically a digital clip board where workers can store, view, send and receive information. This is a huge advantage to business function, as well as the iPad’s basic applications there is countless apps made to help businesses. There are apps for office, finance, IT maintenance, organisation and healthcare to name a few.

4. Overall, what other major flaws of this type of technology? Can you think of anyways in the future that this hardware will be improved to the point where it will compete with desktop and laptop computers? Main flaws with the iPad would be battery life, hard drive space and performance. Laptops and especially desktops have a lot more battery life, hard drive space and performance compared to the iPad. However in the future when the iPad’s battery, hard drives and processors are much more advanced it could definitely compete with laptops and possibly desktops. However the desktop will always have specific advantages over an iPad or similar devices.

5. How do you think the iPad could help your day-to-day workflow? Are the answers straightforward? Is it more a case of combining this technology with others that already exist? The iPad can help you write things down easily, send and receive emails, take photos, download things. All of these can help your day-to-day workflow because it makes a lot of things more accessible.

6. Consider the following–has the iPad shaped the way we do business? Or has business and technology shaped the way Apple developed the iPad? I don’t think the iPad has shaped the way we do business because most of its main functions are built around things like e-mail and software that has been around for a while. I think the iPad is shaped around how it can help people and business.

7. Is the iPad and tablets in general a passing fad? Or do you think this type of technology is here to stay long-term? I think tablets will stay around for the long-term, they have some aspects that you only find in a tablet and that will give them a certain market that will help maintain consumers need for the iPad and other tablets.

8. Conduct a discussion with the whole class and determine based on the general consensus the pros and cons of tablet-based technology.

- Pro’s 
 - Looks good

 - Easy to operate

 - Performs well

 - Small and light

- Con’s 

 - No USB port

 - Short battery life

 - Fragile

 - Compatibility issues

9. Many people say that the iPad is an unnecessary piece of hardware caught in limbo between a laptop and mobile phone. Do you think this consensus is accurate? Do you think that your answer could be different in five years’ time? At the moment I see the point the question is raising, however I do not think it is unnecessary. In my opinion the iPad does things a laptop and a mobile could do but not in the same way. One main aspect of the iPad is its ability to display information to a client. Doing the same thing with a mobile or laptop will still work but not as well. I think the iPad has many features that make it stand out from the mobile and laptop, and I’m sure in 5 years it will be even more defined.

Magazine Layout Exercise

Writing Content - Weight Loss Program

Want Change?

Tired of that excess weight, wanting to be fit and active? Now it’s your turn. With our amazing weight loss plan you can achieve whatever level of fitness you desire. By following our program and keeping track of your food and exercise along with weekly weigh in’s you will be on track to your goal weight or fitness.

The program

Our program is custom made to meet your requirements, based on the information you provide us with our trainers will build a weekly program that will help you lose weight and gain back control of your life. To help you along with the program, we also offer you motivational videos from our trainers and also from people who have used our program.

The difference

Our program isn’t just straight forward directions we explain how your body works, the balance between exercise and energy intake. This way you will learn how to fuel your body effectively and not just how to lift weights. We aim to make you leave with a better standard of life and the knowledge to continue living your life with the fitness you want.

It’s all about you

Our program is built for you and is made to be easy to follow and use effectively, the best idea in the world is useless if no one can get to it. So our program is easily accessible online, this means you can access it anytime, anywhere. You can also record your daily results and weekly weigh in’s. And no-one will know your even using our program because your information is kept safe with us.

Term 2 Week 2 - ARMY copy, my version

This is my version of the ARMY copy found here: http://www.army.gov.au/artc/recruit.cfm

THE ARMY – THERES NO JOB LIKE IT

If you’re interested in join the Australian ARMY then there is a lot to take into account. The ARMY is a challenging career but also has a large number of benefits. In the ARMY you will experience adventure, teamwork, skill building and a lot more, and along with that you will get paid to do it and be looked after with free health care. The ARMY is like no other job, you will get trained to become a soldier and you will experience a lot more then you could in an ordinary job.

Your Training
The training is tough and will push you to become your best and at the end you will leave Kapooka a soldier with a great sense of achievement. After Kapooka there is even more to do in the ARMY as you will be trained in your core, you will learn specialist skills that you will use in your roll in the ARMY. After your training you will become a deployable soldier in the Australian Defence Force and the adventure will continue. 

Term 2 Week 2 Animation - ARMY copy critique

Critique of the ARMY recruitment page found here http://www.army.gov.au/artc/recruit.cfm

·                     Does the copy get to the point quickly? I think it does get to the point quickly but it does not explain anything in detail. When the copy explains the lifestyle and difficulties involved it does not explain the change from a normal lifestyle to one in the ARMY.

·                     Is the copy shy about the offer or incentive? I think it is shy about the offer because there is almost nothing there explaining what life in the ARMY would be like or what you might do. And the copy does not explain what incentives there are to joining the ARMY

·                     Is it easy to respond to? Not really as the page does not offer much to go on with, and you are also left with not much extra knowledge then what you would have had before reading the copy.

·                     Does the copy overcome every objection to replying, leaving the reader with no choice but to act? No it doesn’t make the ARMY seem more appealing to me and I don’t feel that it gives you much information. I think the average person would assume the army would be different and unlike any other job, as well as that everyone knows the army would be strange hours and harder then an average job.

·                     Does the copy use simple words? Yes

·                     Does the copy use active language (does it address the site visitor as ‘you’)? The copy does address the visitor as “you” and the language is fairly active.

·                     Is the copy broken down into simple sections and bullet points? No 

Blog issues

I have been informed by Phil that my blog's start up splash screen is not working and making it difficult to view this blog, I'm not 100% about the problem but what I do know is I use google chrome and it runs properly there. However on Internet Explorer and Firefox a black screen comes up and does not go away, if you get this problem try clicking on the screen and it should fade away. I think the problem is that a bit of code doesn't work properly on some browsers, I'm not sure why but when I first made it it did work but that's no longer the case. I'll try and fix it up anyway :)

Term 2 Week 1

Today we made a panorama photo in Photoshop by merging five photos into one. To do this we extended our original photo to five times the width so we could fit in the other photos. We then brought each photo in one at a time and put the layer opacity of each photo down to 50% so we could see the photos overlapping. After aligning them enough we used layer masks to help clean the images up and make it look real. This is the outcome