Homework 12: Task assignments

Homework 12: Task assignments.
Assigned: October 17, 2013
Due: October 24, 2013

I would like each member of each team to put in his/her blog what they plan to do between today and one week from now on their team. This is to ensure smooth functioning of the team and that everybody contributes. The assignments should be specific and have a deliverable. Please do this by the weekend. Next Thursday, I will check that the assignments have been accomplished. We will do this every week between now and the end of class.

Not satisfying the assignment given decreases your grade at the end of this class.

Homework 11, Chapter 15 and 16

Homework 11: Story and Indirect Control
Assigned: Tue. Oct. 15, 2013
Due: Tue. Oct. 22, 2013

Please read chapters 15 (One kind of experience is the story), and 16 (Story and game structures are artfully merged with indirect control). Answer the following questions (the homework is individual):

Yes/no answers are not valid. One must expand somewhat on each answer.

Chapter 15

1. A goal with no obstacles is not worth pursuing. 
2. What is the relationship between the main character and the goal? Why does the character care about it? 
3. What are the obstacles between the character and the goal? 
4. Do the obstacles gradually increase in difficulty? If yes, how? 
5. Great stories often involve the protagonist transforming to overcome the obstacle. Does your protagonist transform? 
6. How is the game world simpler than the real world? 
7. What kind of transcendent power do you give to the player? 
8. What is the weirdest element in the game story? 
9. How do you ensure that the weirdest thing does not confuse or alienate the player? 
10. Will the players be interested in the game story? Why? 

Chapter 16

1. In what sense does the player have freedom of action? Does the player "feel" free at these times? 
2. What are the constraints imposed on the players? Do they feel constrained? 
3. Ideally, what would you like your players to do (lens #72)
4. Can you set constraints to "kind of" force the player to do it? 
5. Can you design your interface to "force" the player to do what you (the designer) wish him/her to do? 

Oct. 8, 2013: Update your game document

No graded homework for next Tuesday. However, I expect your game documents to all be updated with the latest information regarding your game. Your game document must include:

- Experience
- Objective
- Rules, mechanics
- Characters
- Story
- Objects + actions
- any puzzles and their solutions
- pictures of all elements of your game and snapshots of your game.

Of course, you might not have all these elements yet, but your game document should be updated.

Homework 10: team homework

Homework 10: game presentation
Assigned: Thur. Oct. 3, 2013
Presentations: Thur. Oct. 10, 2013

Each team will give a 10 min presentation of their game, using the web, powerpoint, etc.
You must describe the objective, experience, ideas behind it and show a few snapshots. Do not use Blender. Maximum number of slides: 10.

Students who are absent next Thursday will get a grade of zero, unless there is a written justification for the absence, and the student's contribution to the presentation is stated.

Homework 9: Balance

Homework 9
Assigned: October 1, 2013
Due: October 8, 2013

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, write up 1-2 pages that 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.

No Homework assigned this Thursday!

No homework assigned on September 26, 2013!!!
Enjoy the weekend!

Homework 8: Chapter 10

Homework 8: Chapter 10
Assigned: September 24, 2013
Due: October 1, 2013

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? 

Homework 7, Blender Animation in the Game Engine

Homework 7
Assigned: September 19, 2013
Due: September 26, 2013

In this homework, you are required to use the game engine to enhance your game.
You must use the following elements:

• Parenting
• Animation
• Linking from another file
• Materials

As usual, you must discuss what you did in your blog and, 

• Provide one or more images or a video
• Provide a written description of what you have done
• Explain how what you have done fits into the larger picture of your game

Please provide your game through a link or a dropbox. No need to send the file in an email.