Homework 9

Homework 9: Chapter 11: Balance
Assigned: Mon. Sept. 29, 2014
Due: Thur. Oct. 9, 2014

For this homework, you will lead the chapter on Balance, pp. 171-205. In this chapter, the author discusses 12 different types of balance.

Assignment:
In your blog,  discusses balance and how it relates to your game. Consider all 12 types of balance. Some will apply, some will not. Provide examples within your game.

This homework is individual.

I will  grade your homework taking into account the degree to which you analyzed this chapter and transposed the concepts to the team game.

Please make sure to include in a separate Blog your contributions to the team game for the week. 

Homework 8

Homework 8
Assigned: Fri. Sept. 26, 2014
Due: Thur. Oct. 2, 2014

In this homework, you will use objects that your team has already accumulated (you may exchange objects) and create one or more animations that will be useful in your game. You should animate at least two of the following: location, scale and rotation.

Place your blend file in one of the document files that Danial made available and provide a link to it in your blog.  Also send it to us by email.

Your blog should also contain a description of the animation(s) you have constructed including pictures and/or videos. Also describe how your team plans to use it in your game.

File: 60 pts.
Blog description: 30 points.
What have you done this week for the team (blog entry): 10 points.

Homework 7

Homework 7
Assigned: Monday Sept. 22, 2014
Due: Thursday, Oct. 2, 2014

After reading Chapter 10 (Game Mechanics), please answer the following questions as they relate to your team game. Answers are individual and posted to your blog. The answers should apply to your  team game, as discussed at your meetings. 

The answers can be brief, but must be to the point, and expressed as full sentences and paragraphs. Make sure that each question is answered individually. Some of the questions cannot be answered without reading the book chapter. 

You can skip subsections 2 and 6: State and Chance. 

1. Is the space in your game discrete or continuous?
2. How many dimensions does your space have? 
3. What are the boundaries of your space? 
4. How many verbs do your players (characters) have? What are they? 
5. How many objects can each verb act on? What are these objects? 
6. How many ways can players achieve their goals
7. How many subjects do the players control? What are these subjects? 
8. How do side effects change constraints. 
9. What are the operative actions in your game? 
10. What are the resultant actions in your game? 
11. What actions would you like your players to do that they cannot presently do? (based on your current knowledge of Blender)
12. What is the ultimate goal of your game? 
13. Are there short and long term goals? What are they? 
14. How do you plan to make the game goals known and understood by the player? 
15. What are the foundational rules of your game? 
16. How are these rules enforced? 
17. Does your game develop real skills? What are they? 
18. Does your game develop virtual skills? What are they? 

The homework must appear in your blog, together with a statement of what you have done for the team this week. Optional: add video/images to illustrate your points. Each question has equal weighing. 

Homework 6

Homework 6
Assigned: Wed Sept. 17, 2014
Due: Thur Sept. 25, 2014

In this homework, you will build on the results of homework 5. Download additional objects or construct your own through modifications of objects you and your team already have, and create a scene where you incorporate the following elements:

1) Collisions between two moving objects
2) Ability to add and delete objects from the scene
3) Demonstrate the use of the collision or near sensor

Describe how you would use your set up as a part of your team's game. This does not have to be very involved, but please be creative.

Homework 5

Assigned: Fri. Sept. 12, 2014
Due: Thu. Sept. 18, 2014

In this homework, each one of you will build on the previous homework. You will download (or construct) at least 2-3 more objects with which you will use collisions, gravity, force to create a simple toy or game.

Please describe how what you have done

1) relates to your game
2) generates elements of fun
3) how you could make use of an extended version of what you have done to create a simple game with rules (just with your own objects.)

Could each of you please create a sidebar in your blog, with links to the blogs of your other team members. This will help both you and us.

Homework 4

Homework 4
Assigned: Mon. Sept. 8, 2014
Due: Thur. Sept. 18, 2014

Please answer the following questions related to game experience and game objectives, based on Chapters two (The Designer Creates an Experience) and three (The Experience Rises out of Game). Use your blog.

Chapter 2

• Forgetting about the game, think about your player. What are the experience(s) you want your player to have. 
• What are the essential element(s) of that experience. 
• Suggest a few ways your game might capture those experiences. 

Chapter 3

• Discuss a few ways in which you might include surprise in your game
• How will your game be fun? 
• Discuss the goals of your game (as it stands now).
• State your thoughts on how you will make the player attached to your game, or motivated to play the game. 
• What problems do you expect the players to solve in your game? 

In your blog, state your contribution(s) to the team game for the period of Sept. 8 through Sept. 15th. 

Homework 3

Homework 3

Assigned: Thur. Sept. 5, 2014

Due: Friday Thur. 11, 2014

In this homework, you will use the Blender game engine to move objects around using the keyboard. Download at least (could be more) two objects from http://blendswap.com (please register. There is no cost.) You are limited to 200 Mbyte download per month, which is more than sufficient.)

You are not allowed to use the keys A/S/D/W. 

Please make sure that the objects used for this homework are relevant to your game. Explain how your team plans to make use of these objects within your game. 

You are free to use, or not use, physics on your objects. Keep in mind, that if you use physics, your object will fall, due to gravity, although gravity can be reset to zero or to a small value to slow down the fall. 

There is a lot of freedom, so please be creative. Blendswap has objects, floors, houses, landscapes. Shares objects among team members. Explore. This is all in support of your game. 

Make sure that each one of you states in his blog his/her contributions to the team game. 

Homework 2

Homework 2
Assigned: Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2014
Due: Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014

(All homeworks will be due on a Thursday night to be ready for next day class.)

Please read Chapters 23 and 24 of the Book of Lenses.

Answer the following questions:

1) When and where did you meet?
2) What did you discuss?
3) Did you take notes? Why? Why not?
4) Did you transfer the contents of the discuss to the computer?
5) Did you discuss the game document?
6) Did you pick a team leader. Why? Who is it?
7) Please describe briefly some initial ideas regarding the game you plan on developing.
8) State on your blog the contributions you, the individual, made towards the team game in the last week.