Final Project – Reflection & Conclusion

Working on the final project was a tremendous learning experience.  Ultimately, I wasn’t able to get the Unity game to my satisfaction (good thing I had a contingency plan).  I am not sure how to post the game because DropBox no longer lets users render HTML content.  I would like to share so my peers can view my progress and provide feedback, however, I feel like it is somewhat glitchy as a standalone export.  I worked on this roughly 2 weeks and worked solo on it.   With additional time I can make a solid mobile game using the Unity engine.

I worked on an Interactive HTML Narrative with partner Chris Rivera and we developed “Last Call.”  The most important factor was ensuring functionality, appropriate images, and a story line that is easy to follow, and relatable to our target audience.  In this HTML story, the user makes selections to help the character Ariel Combs get to class on time.  It was hard figuring out what things did at first, but once I got in the pattern and learned how to navigate using the Wix platform, it was easy and straight-forward.

Final Project – Progress & Challenges

I am going through the process of creating the road, environment and character.  The final product should have one button play to start.  I am trying to develop a basic game.  I am still toying with ideas for a name.

This process is actually harder than I thought.  It’s very time consuming and challenging, especially in a time crunch.  Some developers work on projects for months, even years before publishing.  I have been reading articles, watching videos and spending hours trying to configure what will ultimately be a quite basic game.  I will figure out how to publish on a website, since I won’t be able to display a mobile interface to the class.

Unity 3D: Final Project Proposal & Game Idea

I started to develop a game in Unity 3D.  I wasn’t familiar with the game development engine prior to doing research for this class, but I was astonished to learn about half of the existing mobile games were developed using this platform.  I’ll admit I am still toying with the idea of doing a narrative, and possibly even finding a partner. However, as of right now … I am moving forward solo with my game idea.

I will have a lot of work over the next couple weeks familiarizing myself with the interface and developing a functional game.  I am working on creating am arcade-type, endless racing (or infinite runner) game.  This will feature simple gameplay and one motive: to keep going.  I’d like to make it colorful and fun.  I am still trying to figure out to how implement a character and so forth. There are several apps that are comparable, such as Minion Rush, Temple Run and Subway Surfers.  Nonetheless, I am looking forward to gaining proficiency in this platform and can imagine loads of future uses.

Project Snapshot:

  • Working Solo
  • Using Unity
  • Infinite Runner model
  • Building visual design elements in Photoshop

Feel free to share insight with how you feel about my idea.  I am reading through peer blogs and can see quite a few interesting proposals.  Best of luck to you all, I am eager to see what you all come up with.

HW – Research Review – Unity3D

Unity is the creator of the world’s most widely used real-time 3D development platform.  Over the week, I looked into the various ways Unity3D has been used in the industry.  The first version of Unity was created in Denmark and launched in 2005.  The creators were determined to generate an affordable game engine for amateur game developers.  Several major versions of Unity have been released since its launch, the engine can be used to create simulations, as well as 2D and 3D games.  The platform gives developers around the world technology working with the likes of Facebook, Google, and Microsoft for the latest releases.  It offers an easy workflow, simple asset pipeline, and drag-and-drop interface of Apple’s Final Cut Pro product.

One of the things I find most appealing and interesting about the possibilities and uses of this platform is mobile technology.  Unity3D accounts for 50% of mobile games – Source: https://unity3d.com/public-relations.  There are hundreds of games, and some of the ones I recognized include Angry Birds 2, Angry Birds Epic, Sonic Dash and Pokemon Go.

Basketball Bust -About Me [Scratch MIT]

Check out one of the animated interactive story I created on Scratch.  On the attached link, click on the green flag to start the script.  Or, you can view it in action by clicking PLAY on the video below.  I’ll be sure to share some other creations and provide feedback on the Scratch creations from my peers.

https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/260476214/

Brainstorm – Scratch Ideas

For my scratch project, I’d like to expand on the “About Me” exercise.  I am thinking about creating a character on a city background on perhaps a basketball court.  When I was in elementary school and junior high, I was on a basketball team.  I started in Playworks based in Newark, NJ under Coach Wynn.  I wasn’t that great of a player, and mostly enjoyed the teamwork and travel aspects.  I may incorporate some humor, and perhaps some additional details about my food preferences and such.

Be sure to follow up on my progress to see how the project comes along.

Animated Character – Jade Critch – Fuse CC x Mixamo

Check out this brief animation clip where Jade Critch, the character I created in Adobe Fuse CC comes to life in Mixamo.  Feel free to share your thoughts!

Character Design – Jade Critch – Adobe Fuse CC Character – 360 Visual Display

Meet Jade Critch! This is the character I created using Adobe Fuse CC (Beta).   I designed this character to be a bad-ass, similar to the types of characters you’d find in first-person shooter video games.  She is tough, and has lots of personality.   The outfit is a blend of casual wear and tactical gear.  I decided to give her a brown complexion, and silver braids … similar to mine.  I also designed her with a slightly heavy, curvy figure.

Feel free to share your thoughts!

 

Rowan University RTF Media Fest ’18

I am pleased to announce I will be serving as a Media Festival Associate at Rowan University’s 2018 RTF Media Fest.  Over the last month I reviewed and judged high school submissions (scripts, narratives, new media) and at event, I will be responsible for Photography.  I am proud to be included in this event which features audio production, documentary, film, new media and screenwriting from both current students, and high school students.  Be sure to come support the event which takes place on November 2nd (college) and 3rd (high school).

RTF media fest

The event will be live streamed as well.  Learn more about the award ceremony. 

HW WK 4 | Reading Response 1 – Visual Storyteller Guide

For this week’s reading assignment, I read the supplied UXPin PDF entitled The Visual Storyteller’s Guide to Web UI Design. What I gathered from the first two chapters is that visuals provide an immediate and longer lasting impression than other modes of communication. For instance, when a person reads, it makes a moment to process and things are left to interpretation. However with visuals, you can improve retention, evoke instant emotions, and ensure the information is processed faster overall. A picture is said to be worth a thousand words. Likely, videos and animations are worth even more words.

An important message I learned from this reading is “knowing your audience” and the importance of user research. This relates to some other lessons I learned in other communications classes. You have to factor in the message, audience and channel in order to develop a story. I also learned about iconic images, which are images that are immediately recognizable and you’d know what it means whether or not it’s been explained to you. These vary from symbolic images where there is an abstract representation, but it isn’t a direct interpretation.