Presentation!!!

Just incase you haven't seen John Hayes has posted some stuff on the intergrated project part of blackboard saying what needs to be in the presentation, basically sumed up as 3 points:

- An overview of the project (group idea/theme).
- Role each member had and what they did.
- A demo of the final work (web, games, video etc.)

Mostly okay as it goes with what we've got but the final demo might be problematic. I think we could just copy the game maker file and videos to the presentation computer desktop and change the gamemaker code for the vids to C:/desktop/filename. Hopefully that will work but we'll need to make sure tomorrow.

BTW: WE'RE 1st AT 2:00

after after after after effects

Sup!

Looks like a version of .avi I used in After Effects when rendering the first (3d) intro movie works nicely in powerpoint without loss or ridiculous file sizes.

If you guys have any movie/video files you want, just send them my way and let me know. I'll see what I can do with them for tomorrow.

Otherwise, the YouTube option proves successful enough, though we lose out on a little bit of quality.

OM NOM NOM

MOAR POWAH POINT.

Good sesh today, good sesh good sesh. Anyway... Notes from what we sorted out today~

Intro-ME:
Playing the first video of our product, while i start talking over it.
learning application for the gallery.
created a simple game based on the gallery, with it's core being about the collection of turtle pieces through interaction and educational mini-games.
Also used research from my primary school teaching sister for the purpose of making sure the games were educational and applicable to schools.
EDUCATIONAL VALUEzzz

CHRIS:
Main museum shizzle.
Dotted the NPCs around and used them as the initiators of mini-games and interactive features.
Creating the walking movements of the hero.

ME:
Comic book style.
Cut-scenes. Play the turtle smashing cut-scene to demonstrate it.
Little bit on character designs. mention age demographic etc for designs?

BEN:
The 16-bit look and sound of the game.
Design of the main museum.
Mention of other influences/games like pokemon, final fantasy, yada yada.

SIMON:
mini-GEEEEEEYYYYYYYYYMMMMMMZZZZZZ. Basically run through some videos or screen shots of whichever mini-games.
Maybe mention stuff like the turtle counter?

Conclusion-ME:
Teamwork fo shizzle my nizzle in the bizzle.
Play the finale video, would be nice if the dancing part just looped so maybe look into making it longer just for that.
Assigned a leader and feel it worked well.
Figured out our strengths and weaknesses and used that to assign tasks.
Generally listed all the tasks we needed done and divided them accordingly.
Everyone had free reign to discuss or change things as we went along.
Always tried to meet at least once a week to show progress and move things forward.
Team agree that assigned an ACTION PLAN once a week gave good motivation and targets for us all to aim for each week.
Posted meetings on the blog every week.

AND that's all I've got in my notes. Just add your own to it in another post if I've got anything wrong though :}

OH! and meeting tomorrow again at 11am to sort the rest out.
Ben is putting together the base template Powerpoint for us.
I'm looking into putting videos in Powerpoint, plus Chris noticed that we can link directly to YouTube videos in a Powerpoint which might be a valid option for us.

Otherwise, everyone is gathering their video and images they'd like in their part of the presentation.

Done (huzzah)

Sup guys,

Figured I'll post up just to say congrats and good job everyone, managed to get the project handed in "technically" on time. We had to skimp a little bit on the spoons mini-game and re-rendered videos for the game as we learned .mov isn't liked, but .avi (at least while render in uni) ignores some things about Flash which was ghey.

But anywho! Done. Awesome.

So if we can meet up at 10am Monday (and I mean 10am... not half past or an hour later :/) then we can properly finish off our game and sort out the presentation :).

Ureka!

I found a way to keep the score in the top corner of the view but there's a tiny downer on it. Will show you guys tomorrow.

What's goin down in Text Box town

Here are a few examples of the text boxes that I made up from John's template (I know everyone's seen them I just wanted to post them on the blog). They've all been put into the game and all work fine, there are just a couple that need repositioning as they go outside the level but I'll fix that tomorrow.

The new and improved TURTLE COUNTER! has been implemented into the top right corner of the game; I'm unsure how to lock it to the view port so it looks like we're just having it at the top next to the security guard.

Finale with SOUND!

Just wanted to show you guys the music and sound effects I've put in the finale. Personally it's not the initial music I imagine, but I think it fits pretty nicely =).

Oh and, added the swoosh noises and other sound effects plus Ben's music to the 3D plate intro video now too so that's sorted for tomorrow's meeting and finalization as well. Huzzah!

Flash introduction.... ness

Well, after 6 or so hours and a number more beers the introduction is all finished, and looks pretty good! I'll catch you guys bright and early tomorrow to show you exactly how great the bastard is looking!

intro...

Just thought I'd post an image of the intro vid, I used the "key box" as the box for text in it, and as a result looks quite good. Let me know what you think guys, and if you want it changed :)

Extra NPCs

Hi guys,

Some NPC recolours that you asked for etc. I redid Ben's little girl design for the sake of keeping style of them all the same (though obviously not as nice as the original).

I did a recolour of the youth that we can maybe use as another NPC too, but that's up for debate. I just didn't want to recolour the little girl or have a third copy of any of the other characters.

Shlomp

Just a reminder for us all.

Meeting again 11am outside Harmer 2303 tomorrow (Thursday) to hopefully fully complete our project.

Turtle Counter

I hope these are ok for the turtle counter. If not, just let me know and I'll change them. Wasn't sure how many pieces we need (i.e. if we give 2 pieces at certain points or just leave it be as one piece per game).

Security Guard Shizzle

Hey guys,

Here's the revamped security guard. Hope it's alright.

Also I remember you guys talking about how awful Photoshop is for animating purposes. You should try Adobe Fireworks, it's specifically catered to gifs and animation etc. it's really useful.

Monday Marble Maximizing

Okay, gonna try and keep this post short for once. We went through all the things we're still missing and need done for our project before hand-in, then tried to split them as tasks between the group.

Ben, you didn't make it in today so can you give us a quick update please? If you've got enough time this week we could really do with your skills :).

MEETING THIS WEDNESDAY: 11AM HARMER 2303
We're meeting and watching Steve's guide on the presentation, then working together on the project as much as possible till 4pm when Chris and Simon (and the rest of you?) have another class. If you can't make it, please please let me know early on.

ACTION PLAN:
Chris-

• Play-testing all features of the product for glitches, bugs etc.
• Finishing the spoons mini-game with Ben's images (needs background image separate still).

Simon-

• Finishing off the text boxes/bubbles for all the NPCs.
• Putting the images in the NPC Quiz for the last question about hallmarks.

Ben-

• Have you had any joy with sound Ben? Let us know please.
• We agreed today that it'll probably be best if the last part of the intro video is done in Flash, similar to the one you made for the presentation which was really good. If you use the NPC images you currently have and the museum etc. You can maybe ask Chris for a screen-shot of the frame the action takes place in (as the camera is zoomed in more now). Meanwhile I'm gonna tweak your security guard NPC (as we need him to walk so need 3 views. Front, side and back.), I hope you don't mind. If there are any problems just let me know though.

John-

• Tweaking the security guard NPC so he an be animated to walk around for the intro sequence.
• Turtle counter images.
• Rendering plate intro with the little bit of animation on the end of it.
• Music and sound effects of any kind that I can muster up for Wednesday.

We decided we don't have time for those transition images we initially wanted, and I don't think you've got time for the comic book style transitions we talked about either. If you have then shoot for the stars though! =).

Quiz NPC reference

Hey hey Simon,

Here's the photos you need for that last NPC question about the hallmark etc.

Do the turtle!

C'mon now! Huh! Yeah!

I have the dance with half the frames (which was the original) and it has a nice feel to it for some reason, so I can't decide if that version or this one is better really.

Opinions and suggestions more than welcome, I think it could have something more to it but not sure what for now. Hope you guys like it.

Final Spoons images

Sorry about the delay Chris, but here are the final spoon images and key boxes

Let me know if you need better quality etc.

Intro Update

Hi guys,

Thought I better post some progress, though there isn't a lot to show visually. I've pretty much finished the rest of the intro video depicting our hero entering the metalworks gallery, and I've made a start on the ending animation. I might get some more done tonight on the ending animation, or get those speech/text bubble/boxes sorted out.

For now here's a screen of the intro section:

Candlesticks and more...

Here's a screen from the candlestick game, all works, just need to add a back button after you win the Tommy piece.


Chris, if you haven't fixed the issue with playing games multiple times I think I've got a way. In the object properties where you set depth ect you can check a box 'persistant', this keeps the object in all rooms. With this you can have the back button create a persistant object which is then checked for when you click on an NPC, if it is there you can change the NPC for the dud version.

Alternatively you could have the mini game itself check for the persistant object when it's about to give you +1 score, if the object is there it won't give you extra score. That way you could have the ability to replay games without ruining the game.

Confusing, I know.

sorted...

Upload wasnt having any of it... but here she is.

Again, still looks faded and not the same style as the others... make of it what you will though.

Gave this one a white background, as upon publishing the post, I didnt realise how appalling it looked against a dark background as of now.... ha

nuh puh cuh's

Inked Officer truncheon. It doesn't really look right though...

The other won't upload for some reason... Good times.

Sound Stuff

Focusing on "loops" for the whole concept of the overlay.... ive made a fair few so ill let u sound them out n pick me personally i think either "cop show 1" or "Funky thing" or "Collins Avenue" been busy doing these over easter... but like i say its up to all of you to choose. im also recording my friend play guitar seeing if he can make any nice suttle loops... etc etc

i made 12..... but for some reason i cant put them on here... not even as a video so ill put them on megaupload

RAR FILE - http://www.megaupload.com/?d=GXD4IAMJ

enjoy tell me which ones u prefer... and if i need to do more... im happy with doing more.. x

Monday Maniacal Moobs

Sorry guys, little late on today's action plan and meeting notes compared to usual.

Today we showed Annie our semi-complete project and she seemed pretty pleased with what we had to show. Our main concern is becoming sound as we haven't got any yet, along with putting a nice ending animation/video to the whole thing, as missing this off would let down the high standard of everything else we've achieved.

Simon managed to sort out the candlesticks game and it looks like it's working a treat, along with the rest of the mini-games we've got implemented. Just finishing off the spoons game and the Quiz/Info NPC game then onto fine tuning. Anthony also emailed the dialogue for the Quiz/Info NPCs today.

We noticed a small issue with our current design. This is that, after completing a mini-game and collecting a piece of Tommy the Turtle, you're still able to redo the mini-game and see the collection of the turtle piece all over again, though I think Chris and Simon have already got that sorted during today's meeting.

We went through a list of things we're still missing or need to finish off, and out of these a couple of us felt the redesign of the speech bubbles/text boxes was a larger priority along with music and the finale/outro animation. The rest were things like the transition images, the comic book style transition to apply to the flash video and a second set of content images for a second interactive drawer. Others were things already in progress.

Anyway, not much else besides the ACTION PLAN:


Ben:

• I think you're just about finished with NPC and Spoons work? If you've got plenty still to do just let me know please and I'll leap on some stuff if I've time.
• Can you change the transitions on my original Flash cut-scene to have the comic book style transitions.
• If you've time, anything you've produced or can produce on sound would be a great help.

Chris:

• Still some more work on the implementation of mini-games and NPCs etc. for the final product. Just keep up the good work and keep us posted on the "repeating mini-games" issue we came across.

Simon:

• Still a little left to do on the candlesticks mini-game if I remember correctly, and you were assisting Chris with the above task, so just keep going with that please.
• Can you let me know what you need image-wise for the speech/text boxes please?

John:

• Finishing the segment of intro animation depicting Timmeh (the hero) entering the museum.
• Creating the final animated cut-scene of Tommy the Turtle completed and Timmeh dancing together (or whatever suggestions anyone has :/ )
• Designing the speech bubbles/text boxes we want to replace the default Game Maker ones with.
• I have some sound software, so if at all possible I'll be jumping on the sound bandwagon too, but I think I'll have to leave that till next meeting.

Anthony:

• Can you show us what you have for sound please Anthony, the sooner the better.

Also MEETING: Friday this week. We want an extra meeting before Monday at this crucial stage. I vote Friday 11am. Can you guys please text me ASAP if you can't make that?

Lastly, I've obviously got more things on my to-do list above, so feel free to get in touch with me and get on with any of those, I'll do what I can in the mean time. Ben just give me a shout if you want :).

Npc Script...

it wont let me paste it into this so ill give you the file tomorrow as its to lengthy to type out in this. also sound ill give tomorrow sorry for all issues but it is the holidays and i do have other priorities aswell.

just so you know im alive

been really busy with home and work for easter... not had chance to do much on sound but will post all tomorrow/better yet later on 2day...

Key Boxes...

Some of the information needs finishing off, (there was bad resolution in some of the photos, don't know why I didn't take notes whilst I was there... :/ ), but this is all of them.

Chris, I'll get you the Illustrator files/seperate images on monday.

The most fun you'll ever have in your entire life!

I'm thinking this is how the final spoon game will look. Thoughts guys?

There's a tiny bit of tweaking to be done, but this is the kind of thing we're going for.

ITS ALIVE!

Finally got candlestick stuff to work after alot of tinkering and cursing the people who made gamemaker : ) Should have something working to show on monday.

Clue game, finished...

Here's a screen from gamemaker of the clue game which is basically finished. All it needs is for chris to finish the room links on the back button (including the dark blue flap back button in final room) and to add the turtle piece to the final room. Then it's finished : ) I've been trying to get the candlestick game working but gamemaker is being a nightmare! I don't know whether I'm gunna be able to get it working so I might have to hand it off to Chris hopefully he can figure it out.

Wednesday Wobbly Waldo Whackers (meeting notes)

Good sesh today guys, personally I think things are coming together nicely now. We just need the spoons and candlestick mini-games finished off and the quiz/info NPC dialogue, and the last coupla NPC designs really.

We made some changes to the 3D plate intro video a-la my After Effects skills being shot down :)... :(... :/.
We also played around a little with game maker for things like speech bubbles/boxes and buttons, so we might design some new ones before the project is finished.

The camera zoomed in on our hero and following him around works nicely, allowing us to show off a little more detail on characters and the environment and I'd say everyone is pretty pleased with that and the walking animation remedy, so good job on that Chris.

Anywho, ACTION PLAN:


Ben-

• Final spoon mini-game images, including the information/dates for each spoon.
• Finishing off NPC designs of security guard and little girl.

Simon

• Candlesticks mini-game and finishing touches on other mini-games i.e. a back button.
• Whatever else he feels like working on. :D

Chris

• Implementing the videos and finished mini-games into our final game, along with adding in the NPCs we've designed etc.

John

• Larger version of Tommy Turtle pieces to be sent to Simon.
• Rendering new version of 3D plate video (which may have added "swoosh"), then sending this and the Flash video to Chris.
• Animating the last bit of intro video, which is the hero walking by the museum and being interested enough to walk in.

Anthony

• Uploading the Quiz/Info NPC dialogue (which was requested last week also).
• We haven't really got anything else for you as we haven't seen anything in a fair while Anthony, can you upload your work on sound as well please.

If we get these things sorted for Monday, then afterward we can focus on finer details such as those "transition images" we want for when you speak to an NPC that takes you into a mini-game, and altering the speech bubble/boxes. Oh and the second set of images for another interactive drawer.

Also, for now, anyone is more than welcome to play around with music and sound effects as I know several of us have a library of sound effects and we've all got some ideas, so go nuts.

See you all Monday in class, and hopefully Annie will like what we have to show for our efforts.

Plate & Text

Hi guys,

Been playing around a little with After Effects for the updated video produced by Simon. I checked back to the original storyboard for this, and if we're still having the scissors and ribbon part I think it should go BEFORE this as opposed to after.

Also I think you had some bigger ideas for the titles etc. Simon? For now I'm not sure what they are so we can sort that out tomorrow hopefully. For now I hope this will do, I'm still working on it and may add some 'whoosh' sounds or something but thought it'd be nice for you guys to see regardless.

Oh and I was thinking about how it's going to be implemented? Can it be put into the Game Maker game and force-play at the beginning or after the user clicks a button? You guys will have to let me know how that works I guess.

New kid on the block

Ta-dah, the third NPC. Just let me know which you need to use more than once etc. and I'll do some re-colours.

Key Mania...

This is the "keybox".

I realise it would overlap some spoons, especially if there were 5 or 6.

So Perhaps if I make it this way.....

So that there are only 4 spoons in the final game, but everything is visable.

Let me know what you guys think.

Spoons Background

This is the start of the spoons background. To be honest it's almost there, I'm just working on the "key" book now. Debating on whether or not to make it an actual book like the prototype or just a gameboy-esque pop up box. I'll post what I mean in a bit. Feel free to comment guys.

NPCs

Hi guys, I've done a couple of the NPCs in colour and from three angles etc. I figured we'll be able to use them more than once with some recolours and all that jazz. Just need to colour and shade the third one which I'll maybe get done tonight or tomorrow. I did a naff job of colouring the lady, tried a different technique slightly. I'll maybe redo that. lemme know what you think anyway.

Game Maker

Hi all just letting you know i got my hands on the pro copy of game maker 8 today, its really good loads of extra features what could really help.

Number of Spoons

Hi the model that i have been working with at the minute is 5 spoons so i think it would be cool if we stayed with that.

Odd Cutlery Clues Q&A Images

Okay, been sorting out the questions/clues and answers images for this mini-game.

I'm not sure if they're quite right, and they might be a b*tch to animate so if they are, just let me know Simon. I'll change them in a flash to make them more user friendly. If you're not sure which clues belong to which items just ask or use the old blog post full of photographs :).

I also wasn't sure if you preferred them as a whole image, of if it'll be easier for you if the panel part is a separate image. Feel free to instruct me and I'll cater them to your needs. I'll email you the original .ai (illustrator) files too.