Now I have finished my project, overall I am very pleased with my work and what I have achieved. I have learnt a lot from my research, both the art and academic side of my research. Both I have found very interesting and hope to research about this subject more.
I feel I have progressed as an artist and also as a person throughout this process, I feel I have also gained more confidence in my self, with not just my art but also in my presenting skills. Which I am proud of.
Although If I had more time I would have loved to have created more interactions for the player to chose and also I would have liked to have implemented more sounds throughout the game.
Thursday, 23 April 2015
Sound
If I had more time I would have like to have implemented a lot more sound into my project, helping to push the interactiveness of the game even more.
The only sound I have implemented is a click sound when clicking a button, I feel that even though this may seem like a small addition to the project it brings a lot too it. It really helps to make the game feel more cohesive and tied together.
The only sound I have implemented is a click sound when clicking a button, I feel that even though this may seem like a small addition to the project it brings a lot too it. It really helps to make the game feel more cohesive and tied together.
(Referencing the sound clip I used for the buttons in the game)
Soundjay.com [online] Available at: http://www.soundjay.com/button-sounds-3.html [Accessed 22 Apr. 2015].
Point and Click
The one of the first frames you come to, inside the garden centre I want it to be a small point and click type of game. Since there is a lot of assets in this room I thought it would be appropriate to make some interactive. Adding more interactive options for the player to chose and explore brings to project up a level in how interactive and how emerged the player can become in the game.
I had a look at some 'escape the room' type of games, just to get a feel of what they are like and how they are put together. Some of the art styles I looked at where also similar to mine, with similar shapes and outlines for each asset.
I had a look at some 'escape the room' type of games, just to get a feel of what they are like and how they are put together. Some of the art styles I looked at where also similar to mine, with similar shapes and outlines for each asset.
This is my 'point and click' version, implented into my story. I've only had time to implement two different puzzles you can find in the room, if I had more time I would love to create more.
The first puzzle is the cash register, where it brings you over to the desk. In this puzzle, it is all about identifying different coins and selecting the right ones.
The second puzzle is this painting on the wall, it is mu version of 'Sunflowers' by Van Gough. The painting has broken and it needs put together, so in other words it is a simple jigsaw. Then once the jigsaw is completed a few facts come up about the painting, who it was by and what year it was created. Subliminally teaching the children playing the puzzle a few facts.
The Characters
For Spike himself, I wanted him to be cute and likeable for the players and viewers of the game. I also wanted him to be slightly quirky, as I feel quirkiness is an underlying theme which runs throughout the project. Particularly within the art style. To help suggest this quirkiness, I made him a lot smaller than the other cacti and game him a plaster, which also could suggest a big about his personality. Such as being clumsy, which can further entice viewers into the game and who want to know and learn more about Spike.
Although I did not go further into Spikes personality as such, creating him to be slightly different than the other cacti and the players being curious about spike could leaves it open to possible opportunities to further develop the 'Spike' story.
This is final design of Spike I came up with, keeping him within the art style and colour scheme.
Although I did not go further into Spikes personality as such, creating him to be slightly different than the other cacti and the players being curious about spike could leaves it open to possible opportunities to further develop the 'Spike' story.
This is final design of Spike I came up with, keeping him within the art style and colour scheme.
Later on in the story, a human character gets introduced. I decided not to give this character a name as I wanted to keep this character androgynous. To help keep the game appealing to both genders from the children who play it. As young children can be quite picky and what character they chose to be when playing a game. If I had more time to develop this project, I would quite like to add in more options for the player to chose, such as chose between which character choses to take Spike home. I also feel this would add even more interaction with the game and make the player feel as if they have created the story themselves.
Below are some character designs of the character. I decided to give the character headwear, such as the bunny ears to again help contribute to the quirkiness of the overall feel to the game. I also think the character looks quite cute and perhaps close to the children's age who would be playing this game.
I decided to go for the top left character design.
The age bracket I am aiming this project towards would be about preschool age of around 3 to about 5/6. Since it is a very simply designed game, which extremely simple puzzles throughout. Any children older playing this game, I feel would quickly become bored. As they would have advanced past the simple puzzles and games by that stage in life.
Wednesday, 22 April 2015
Final Presentation - April 2015
I feel like I didn't manage to get exactly what I was aiming todo with the project, across in my presentation. As I feel the feedback I received wasn't completely cohesive with that I was trying to portray and create.
Although I felt a bit disappointed with the feedback and overall presentation it motivated to describe my aim of my project more thoroughly through my blog and my essay. Which I believe I have done better.
Although I felt a bit disappointed with the feedback and overall presentation it motivated to describe my aim of my project more thoroughly through my blog and my essay. Which I believe I have done better.
Photos
These are pictures I have taken and used in my art, to add interest and texture. As previously discussed to achieve my final art style.
I'm a huge fan of mixed media as I think it takes all kinds of art, to a higher level, with extra added interest. Which is what I aim todo with my own art!
Final Art Style
After playing around with different art styles for a while, I finally chose one and worked on it. I decided to go for a simple art style, with easy to read shapes and colours. Since this project is aimed at young children, preschool age. I didn't want to create anything to complicated or difficult for the children to understand.
I used straight lines to create each shape and assets through out the game and stuck to a strict colour palette. I chose a soft pastel colour palette, since I wanted to convey a non intimidating style to the game, which would attract the children to want to play it. The colours are still bright however, so they will stand out and look interesting to look at.
I also use real images I have taken, like I previously discussed and implemented them onto the art. I chose not to add textures onto every assets as I feel it is more interesting when they are added onto just a few. Which is what I have done.
I also repeat certain assets throughout the game, to help tie the whole project together and keep it cohesive. Such as the continue buttons and backgrounds within the option screens.
I used straight lines to create each shape and assets through out the game and stuck to a strict colour palette. I chose a soft pastel colour palette, since I wanted to convey a non intimidating style to the game, which would attract the children to want to play it. The colours are still bright however, so they will stand out and look interesting to look at.
I also use real images I have taken, like I previously discussed and implemented them onto the art. I chose not to add textures onto every assets as I feel it is more interesting when they are added onto just a few. Which is what I have done.
I also repeat certain assets throughout the game, to help tie the whole project together and keep it cohesive. Such as the continue buttons and backgrounds within the option screens.
Monday, 13 April 2015
Change in plan
I've decided to concentrate on creating an interactive story, rather than a physical book. Although I plan to lay out each page in a PDF document as if it was ready for printing.
I thought creating an interactive story would perhaps be more appropriate for this day and age, children are much more familiar with technology. Also spending a lot more time on computers/tablets/phones. I also thought an interactive story would be more engaging to the child, so I hope to include a few puzzles the child can take part in, along with it being a story with a meaning. Something the child can learn from!
I have also created some quick story boards, just to make things easier as I progress in creating the actual art for the interactive story.
I thought creating an interactive story would perhaps be more appropriate for this day and age, children are much more familiar with technology. Also spending a lot more time on computers/tablets/phones. I also thought an interactive story would be more engaging to the child, so I hope to include a few puzzles the child can take part in, along with it being a story with a meaning. Something the child can learn from!
I have also created some quick story boards, just to make things easier as I progress in creating the actual art for the interactive story.
Monday, 16 February 2015
TREES!
I decided to play around with styles and using real images incorporated in the art created in photoshop. I really like how they have come out and want to push the development further for the final images!
Change in story idea...
I've had a huge change around in ideas for my final story/book.
I now want to create a story, surrounding a cactus called spike. He is the smallest, most spiky cactus available in the garden centre and no customers seem to fond of him. Eventually he is the only cactus left on the shelf, even after being reduced price.
Eventually one young girl comes along and makes it a point that spike is perfect and she buys him, to take him home and join him in with the rest of her cacti.
I've drawn up a few ideas of what spike will look like, in different styles.
I now want to create a story, surrounding a cactus called spike. He is the smallest, most spiky cactus available in the garden centre and no customers seem to fond of him. Eventually he is the only cactus left on the shelf, even after being reduced price.
Eventually one young girl comes along and makes it a point that spike is perfect and she buys him, to take him home and join him in with the rest of her cacti.
I've drawn up a few ideas of what spike will look like, in different styles.
Interactive Story
Aswell as creating a book, I also want to make an interactive story with different options/endings for the viewer to chose. With also perhaps some tasks the reader has to take part in, in order to continue viewing the story.
I had a look on the cbeebies website page, where they have a whole range of online childrens stories. A lot of them are also interactive. I've gathered a few of my favourite from the website.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/stories/old-jacks-boat-tigerfishs-party
I had a look on the cbeebies website page, where they have a whole range of online childrens stories. A lot of them are also interactive. I've gathered a few of my favourite from the website.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/stories/old-jacks-boat-tigerfishs-party
I also really like the art style of these stories, something I want to take forward into my own work. I really enjoy the flat, simple shapes used to create each asset. I also enjoy the different textures used throughout which helps add a lot of interest. Something I have mentioned before and want to continue using.
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