3 Game Ideas:

My theme was the Dawn landing on Ceres. The point finding out about how planets form.
Dawn was unmanned so I need to remember this for my 3 ideas-

Dawn could bring something back to earth that starts either a widespread virus, causing zombies or mutations or perhaps the other way, causing us all to evolve into smarter beings, causing people to be able to get better at anything they want, or to create robots.

Dawn could bring back a stowaway alien. Then it could either be evil and could either take over human forms or it could spawn more or maybe it could be harmless but funny, like Roger from American Dad, or an ET/Super 8 like story?

Dawn could document alien life on the planet and send the information back causing a manned ship to go to the planet to check it out- This could lead to a horror game. Or maybe a light hearted game with a story more like Planet 51.

30thNov Update/Lesson:

Philosophy In Games:
The fist was thought to be Deus Ex, we looked at Flower and Journey by Thatgamecompany also and the philosophy behind them.
Flower - An escape for everyone, feeling free, pleasant to play.
Journey - Encourages goaless co op, not working against eachother like in COD. Not competing, nothing to lose, just enjoying the experience. The journey, like life, just getting to somewhere. Everyone experiences it differently, thatgamecompany use allot of philosophy behind their games.

 

Games I have Played Which are of a Philosophical Nature…

MGS4, SH2, ME2/3, Bioshock 1/2,

Bioshock 1 and 2:

A big idea meant with good intentions gone horribly wrong because of human nature, the dependence on ‘Adam’ meant to make life easier, exploited. Though this world is isolated because of this, (people dying, the city left to decay)with not many living people left and its way underwater, it still never stops, the sound of machines, remaining splicers and the ocean can always be heard. Much like our own world.

MGS4:

There is lots of subtle messages and not subtle at all messages in all the MGS games, there is always a big dialogue quite often that usually in some way can have meaning in our own world, war, right and wrong, how to live your life etc.

SH2:

I might be wrong but I think this is one because of the message behind the horror itself; the monsters are incarnations of James’ guilt over the death of his wife. What is in his head, what isn’t? It can be looked upon from how we live our own lives. The creatures are dependent on the individuals issues, if you are innocent, like the children often lost and seen in the series, then they see nothing, made obvious by the fact whenever you meet someone they certainly aren’t seeing what you’re seeing. The fog world is meant to be a neutral space where the individual can look upon their issues, the otherworld being the darkness within themselves when they come across information they cannot handle.

Mass Effect 2and 3:

As this game is all about morals, you could look at the philosophy behind the morals, behind what you choose to do, save something at a personal cost, or let it die etc so you’re all good.

Heavy rain:

Same as above.

Report Update:

Ive now finished it, i'm just over the word count and i'm really happy with it, the structure and everything, I decided to keep the NASa section small as i wanted the focus to be on the mission as thats what the essay is about as in class we thought NASA should have a larger section of the report but i thought it would make more sense to keep it small and only talk about what NASAs missions have achieved for us and the funding they get for it, I thought this was relevant to my subject and there was no need to talk about NASAs influence on pop culture etc.

Now I need to hand it in to get feedback on it then I can put it into Photoshop to get it looking like a magazine article.

Friday 16th Lesson

Yesterday we spoke about each others reports and where we're up to. I got my essay back with Joe's notes on and I also decided to read through it myself to se what needs changing, adding to and so on. Printing it out and reading through it actually helps to see the blaring grammar errors and accidental wrong spelling. - I'm a good speller!
I actually learnt allot listening to what people are writing about.
Now I can begin the last part of my report now I am happy with the first part.

11 Nov 2012

Today we looked at sustainability.

First of was hybrid cars-

What is a hybrid car?

The hybrid car is able to monitor driving conditions, and decide if it’s best to run on electricity, petrol or both.
This helps it to be economical with its petrol usage meaning less fumes being let out into the atmosphere.
It also means less fuel needs to be bought meaning less drilling for oil which is very bad for the environment.
It is also quieter because of the electricity.
All this leads to less environmental impact.
What were the factors that drove its intention?
It was designed because of a world with scarce oil and too much greenhouse gases.
What innovations have come about with the hybrid car?
More manufacturers making hybrid cars as the Prius took off.

The Triple Bottom Line:

People, planet, profit. The triple bottom line is made up of "social, economic and environmental" factors.

We then looked at sustainability in games:

We decided games that are brought out-usually in a digital format, that then create revenue continually after release are sustainable, such as WoW and Moshi Monsters.

Games you download, like on PSN or Steam seem to be eco friendly but the usage of electricity these games take up, such as servers can prove otherwise.

 

2 Nov Lesson

Today we:
• Looked at culture, exploring all aspects such as traditions, food, dance and popular culture.
•We looked at events, significant ones such as Halloween and the Jubilee,
• We then chose one to explore and present, my group chose Bonfire Night.
• Using what we learnt, we came up with a game idea. We chose an educational kids point and click game. Using a timeline to unlock events and change the game from black and white to colour.

Next week we must bring in a first draft essay of our chosen subject.

A really handy website im putting here so I don't forget.

http://dawn.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/

unknown, http://www.faulkes-telescope.com/schools/2299

Ceres animation.

unknown, http://dawn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/images/anim_ceres.gif

Ceres seen through the hubble spacecraft.

A Plastic Knitted Dawn Spacecraft...

Emily Lakdawalla, 17/01/2012, the dawn spacecraft modeled in an unlikely medium, http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily-lakdawalla/2012/3332.html

This is a lady who said she always wished she had model spacecrafts handy (?) So she has made Dawn and plans to make more!

Ceres Images

unknown,13/02/2009, see a dwarf planet in binoculars, http://astrobob.areavoices.com/2009/02/13/see-a-dwarf-planet-in-binoculars/

unknown, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceres_(dwarf_planet)

An animation of Dawn leaving Vesta and arriving at Ceres.

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html?media_id=104364751

Ceres: The Facts

• Discovered: January 1,1801 by Giuseppe Piazzi of Italy (first asteroid/dwarf planet discovered)
• Size: 975 by 909 kilometers (606 by 565 miles)
• Shape: Spheroid
• Rotation: Once every 9 hours, 4.5 minutes

unknown,http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/dawn/launch/index.html

Above, Dawn taking off.

An artilcle on NASA's website discussing Dawns targets.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/dawn/ceresvesta/

unknown, unknown, Dawns Targets Vest and Ceres, http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/dawn/ceresvesta/

Above is the planet Ceres from Keck Observatory.

19th Oct Lesson 5

Thinking about the experience in games, that in life, no two are the same, even with the same event, say a game you and a friend have played. You've done the exact same things but you will have felt differently to your friend.
We drew from our own experiences, good and bad to think of our own examples of this.
We touched upon the psycology behind the money making schemes of 'free to play' games, wherein they create neccesity over pretend in game objects so people give up their money. Same as Facebook games, text based, but with the advertising and the bringing of friends together in a simple way they create millions.
We then looked at technology that is soon to be released, such as the Google Glasses. This kind of technology will utilise gamification, which has been tried before but sometimes technology is a little too early and people arent ready, with it being an ongoing project it may one day be part of everyday gaming. Looking at technology such as seen in Star Trek, making it seem possible one day.

Martin Lamonica, 4/4/2012, Google X Labs First Project Glass next elevators, http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-57409402-76/google-x-labs-first-project-glass-next-space-elevators/

How I'd like my essay to look:

New Scientist Magazine

5/10/2010/New Scientist: Cover and Feature Art,http://mwmgraphics.blogspot.co.uk/2010/05/new-scientist-cover-feature-art.html

5/10/2010/New Scientist: Cover and Feature Art,http://mwmgraphics.blogspot.co.uk/2010/05/new-scientist-cover-feature-art.html

Sky At Night

Mike,21/03/2012,second picture in bbc sky at night magazine,http://www.mikewilson.cc/2012/03/21/second-picture-in-bbc-sky-at-night-magazine/

It makes the article so much nicer to read when its as visually pleasing as these.

Initial Ideas

With a theme of looking at culturally, scientific or historically significant events in 2013 to 2015, I must choose an event to research in detail and learn every thing about as a cataclysm for ideas to create a game idea not seen before. With the idea being this will help think outside the box and stay away from looking at existing games which is easy and tempting to do. But this will really push ideas out there and hopefully I will come up with a game thats innovative and interesting. I would need to look at what these events have influenced, say in pop culture like books, TV, games and film.
To begin this process I will look at notable events between those years then whittle down my favourites and then write up an essay detailing this event and from there I will go on to create a game inspired from this.

Events I liked the look of in 2013:

Unknown,8/6/12,All About 2012,greatdreams.com

• On March 31st The last day of the last Tzolk'in calendar begins before the end of the current calendar 13th B'ak'tun. This date is possinly more significant than the Mayan calanders famous date December 21, 2012, because both calendar cycles will be complete.

Events I chose from 2014:

Marjorie Haun,05/06/2011,The Turning Point in WWII,technorati.com

• The Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
• FIFA World Cup.
• Winter Olympics.
• Withdrawing the troops from Afghanistan.
• Anniversary of D Day.

Events I chose from 2015:

Tariq Malik,17/07/2011,
NASA Space Craft Enters Orbit
Around Asteroid Vesta,
www.space.com

• NASA's 'Dawn' spacecraft arrives at dwarf planet Ceres.
• Solar Eclipse.
• July 1st Earth, Venus and Jupiter align.
• NASA's 'New Horizons' flys by Pluto and Choron.
• The Rugby World Cup.
• New World Trade Centre Complete. 
• Anniversary of the Battle Of Waterloo.
• 800th Anniversary of the Magna Carta.

The best from this list I thought was:

• NASA's 'Dawn' spacecraft arrives at dwarf planet Ceres.

I liked this as not only is there many mediums NASA have influenced but anyone can imagine what they will possibly achieve one day such like which has been shown in films and books etc for a long time. It would be an expansive choice and a fascinating one to research.

• Anniversary of D Day

War is a huge one to research and for this one it'd be the World Wars I would look at and all they've influenced. It'd be an interesting one but thinking ahead at when I have to make a game from it, creating a unique game would be hard.

• New World Trade Centre Complete

This has influenced allot in film and TV and would be an interesting one to research, but perhaps not as expansive as the previous two.