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March 31, 2005
Julie's Mini Schedule
BY March 31st
Post this schedule(done!)
Email Potential Thesis Advisors
BY April 7th
Meet with potential advisors
Research and choose greek myths
Rewrite/modernize greek myths, create characters
Contact VEIL-get pricing info
Email Ben
Write Abstract Rough draft
Write Text outline
BY April 14th
Decide on topic for presentation to first-years
Start Filling in excel sheet for budget/schedule
Revise and finalize budget and schedule categories
Create questions for Scott
Start project notes/pilot episode outline
Finalize thesis advisors
Write text rough draft
BY April 21st
Create presentation
Finalize budget and schedule
Write treatment/elevator pitch/one-liner
Practice pres
Pitch Thesis!
Posted by jdillon at 11:18 AM | Comments (0)
April-May Timeline
March 31st: (Perry leads class)
Timeline of the next 4/5 weeks
Continue creating Bibliography/Priors/Inspiration and conducting Research
Continue pursuing contacts: possible advisors and consultants
April 7th:
Continue pursuing contacts
Post questions for Scott Fisher
First draft of Abstract
First draft of Text Outline
First draft of Budget (Categories, Materials, Costs)
First draft of Timeline/Schedules
(April 12th: If possible, visit CTWR518 [Zemeckis RM119 10-1pm] for advisement and brainstorming)
April 14th:
Scott Fisher visits and addresses the post's questions
Second drafts of: Abstract, Text Outline, Budget, Timeline/Schedule, Bibliography
First draft of Visuals
List of possible presentation Venues
Confirm one/two Advisors - present for April 28th presentation
Continue pursuing other contacts
April 21st: Thesis Presentations #1:
Julie, Andrew, Ashley, Erin
Assemble presentation: 'presentation versions' of Abstract, Text, Budget, Timeline/Schedule, Bibliography, Visuals, Venues
April 28th: Thesis Presentation #2:
Michael, Kellee, SUSANA, Brad, Jenova
May 5th:
Submission of Final Version
Posted by susana at 10:57 AM | Comments (0)
March 28, 2005
Jenova's Schedule
Mar 31
- Continue research on bibliography
- Finish Reading "Flow: the Optimal Experience"
Apr 7
- Continue research on bibliography
- post abstract and outline
- Find potential research game objects
- More advisor communication
Apr 14
- Continue research on bibliography
- Looking at detail focusing, what kind of game I will make in the end
- Keep contact with faculties
Apr 21
- Present thesis to faculty/staff
May 5
- Final thesis proposal
Posted by Jenova at 06:06 PM | Comments (1)
The Pink Elephant
"Think of pink elephants dancing on the top of a tower block.
You can do that, Locke says, because all the (relatively) simple elements that you compose the image of, actually exist.
Pink exists
Elephants exist
Dancing exists
Tower blocks exist
You have had some experience of each, which provides the material in your mind from which you build the fantasy of pink elephants dancing on a tower block. The way that these elements are joined together in your fantasy, however, does not correspond to any real joining together of those elements outside your mind."
The Reality of the Virtual
What is Science? What is Reality? What is Truth?
Experts from Lockes "An Essay Conerning Human Understanding"
Posted by edinehart at 11:27 AM | Comments (0)
March 27, 2005
"12s2Hc" Milestones
March 31st, 2005 (Perry leads class):
- Continue advisory discussions
- Post questions for Scott Fisher
- Continue bibliography & research
April 7th, 2005:
- Finish & post abstract and text outline
- Write potential script AV descriptions
- Begin sketches for presentation
April 12th, 2005 (workshop with 1st year students).
- Incorporate workshop & advisory input
April 14th, 2005 (Scott visits class to answer questions):
- Begin photo journal / documentation
- Continue looking into venue options and prices
- Identify experts and potential interviewees
April 21st, 2005:
- Present thesis to faculty/staff
- Begin final proposal document
May 5th, 2005:
- Complete and submit final thesis proposal
Posted by andrew at 11:29 PM | Comments (0)
March 25, 2005
calendar countdown
This week and generally:
Post your schedule listing milestones and dates completed for the rest of this semester by March 31st.
Work on your abstract and the outline of your text - posting both by April 7th.
Continue contacting and meeting with potential advisors. Document your meetings.
Collect images.
March 31st - Perry Hoberman will lead the class.
April 7th
We'll discuss your abstracts, outlines, schedules and progress.
TUESDAY APRIL 12th: VISIT TO CTWR518
RM119, 10am-1pm
April 14th
Scott will visit the class to discuss topics in the previous post.
April 21st - 1st Group Presentation 11:30 - 2:30
Julie
Andrew
Ashley
Erin
April 28th - 2nd Group Presentation 11:30 - 2:30
Michael
Kellee
Susana
Brad
Jenova
05/05/05
FINAL SUBMISSION OF PROPOSAL
Posted by pweil at 10:57 AM | Comments (0)
March 18, 2005
GDC/SpringBreak Rethink
New ideas, new conditions:
-polymorphic IP
-the story of a hero and his multiplicity
-a story of transformation
-dynamic interacitve narrative structure
-Fun
-Abstract
-playful
-HD
-Mobile
-Flash
-Real Time Strategy/Side Scroller
-Designed with an surreal urban theme
-interfaced via console controller
Posted by edinehart at 12:47 AM | Comments (1)
March 10, 2005
Week 9 Recap and Assignment:
Wow, Andrew has a DV with nine mid-term presentations! Congratulations!
Those of you who missed Julie’s and Susana’s can supply Andrew with a blank DVD and he will burn you a copy (when he can.)
Your assignment is:
1) Read the notes I gave you on your presentation, as well as the suggestions you received from your meetings, and start to follow any advice you’ve received.
2) Continue to seek out faculty or professional resources and advisors. You may find that it is helpful to locate informal advisors, someone you can consult occasionally during office hours – it’s always good to have places to go to for feedback when you find yourself “stuck.”
3) You will need to start a preliminary budget and schedule. For this week, don’t worry about the actual expense or potential income, worry about categories and format.
What are you going to need? Make a detailed list (due on March 24th ) with items specific to your project’s budget and schedule.
Budget: Materials/Equipment, Labor/Personnel, Space
Schedule: Forming a team, procuring resources, creating, revising and finalizing content, designing prototypes, playtesting or equivalent, etc.
You are responsible for figuring out your list. (Hint: You can use your faculty advisor meetings to assist in this task).
Posted by pweil at 08:47 PM | Comments (0)
What's Ahead: Read Carefully
Next week = VACATION
Have fun, relax because next spring, you won’t have time for vacation. With that in mind, you will be motivated to think, even during THIS vacation, about defining a realistic scope for your project. While you're relaxing, try and come up with a one-line description.
Week 10 March 24th
The task this week will be to face up to the next month. You will have exactly one month from now to create your Spring Thesis Proposal. This will be delivered sometime during week 14 and 15, most likely during two class periods: April 20th and 27th.
(If you are in the first group, you will have the advantage of a longer period to integrate comments and make revisions.) Final revisions (per the syllabus) are due noon May 5th.
Your Spring Presentation (and Final) will include:
I. Title
II. Abstract
III. Images
IV. Text
V. Timeline
VI. Budget
VII. Advisors
VIII. Possible Venues
IX. Resources & Prior Art / Bibliography
We will go over each of these sections in detail so that you know what is expected.
Week 11 March 31st
Guest Speaker (tentative) Scott Fisher
Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about Department resources, IP policy and whatever else you may want to ask. A good chance to try out your one-liners.
Posted by pweil at 08:46 PM | Comments (0)
Thesis Proposal
I'm posting this here too, for Peggy to have easy access
High Risk: an interactive television mystery
The winning formula:
Rat Race + Greedy + Lost * Greek Mythology = High Risk
Premise: There is some upheaval on Mt Olympus: Zeus has decided to retire as head of the Gods. Many are vying for the new title but none more then Poseidon, Hades and Hera. Zeus has challenged each god to control a mortal on Earth. They must lead their mortal to find Zeus's crown hidden on earth in an old inn. But the inn has a secret, a hidden past. Only by uncovering the secrets of the past can the mortals find the treasure and the god reaps the reward.
There are two parts to the television show, taped segments and a live improved portion. The show will switch between the two sections, with the taped segments sending information and messages to the audience, and the live portions working for the gods to react to the audience feedback. The god part will be live, with them gathered around a risk-like board studying their mortals’ movements and deciding how to influence them next. The taped portions will be the mortals in the inn.
Technically, this will work via the VEIL technology, which encodes infrared light onto the television program and its sends it out where it is received by a physical device. The audience that is interacting with the show has a palm-pilot like device which gives them additional content, choices. What they choose is sent via the internet to the controller at the television station indicating which taped segment next to put on the air, and also gets sent to the actors who get cue cards with information that allows them to improv and react to the audience.
The physical devices are God specific, so different devices will receive different inputs based on different infrared codes.
Additionally, to interact with the television show, the PA has to 'earn' a physical device. I think this will be accomplished via some marketing promotion and internet search and support for a certain god, which will lead to getting a device. This also creates the option in these television programs, to interact or not. Only someone who actively wants to interact with their TV, enough so they will do extra work for it, will be able to. Everyone else can just enjoy the show.
I am targeting college students (based partially on logistics), fans of shows like Lost, Veronica Mars, audience members who are active in online discussions, forums, polls about their favorite shows and show a desire to learn more, solve the mystery, interact with the show past its hour time slot.
Motivation/Background
This thesis follows my interest in interactive television. I have been excited about the prospect since I first heard about it 7 years ago. Also I am inspired by my strong interest in television and enjoying narratives, and getting immersed into a world so much that there is need to interact with it.
While there are thousands of interactive television ventures out there, mostly failed, I am looking for those who try to tackle drama and narrative with interaction. I haven’t found many, so I am turning to the basic idea, but a different format, while still analyzing other interactive television programs.
I am trying to solve what interactivity can add to the television experience, make it an option for those who have no desire to interact and make a more compelling and interesting experience.
Scope
The scope of my project at this time is HUGE. I am planning 2-5 30 minute episodes. Each episode will need approximately 5-8 5 minute taped segments, representing the branching possibilities, as well as live portions. In addition I need to develop the physical interface and the stories and concepts for everything.
Posted by jdillon at 12:01 PM | Comments (0)
March 06, 2005
Recording Video (next week) & copies
I've captured/digitized last week's presentations and plan to ad this week's (Susana & Julie) content. Please bring a blank "Apple 4x DVD" to class on March 10th if you want to make a copy and/or DVD. Note that the first mini DV tape is full and that this week's cinematographer needs to bring a new tape; PLEASE record at least 5 seconds of color bars and time code at the start of the tape this time.
Posted by andrew at 10:56 AM | Comments (0)
March 05, 2005
topic search
courtesy Andrew Sacher
Posted by pweil at 01:35 PM | Comments (0)
March 01, 2005
"12 Steps to Healthy Convergence" - Thesis Concept Proposal
Human life has always been shaped by technology and our passion for a utopian future continues. Yet in recent years technology has infiltrated our daily lives, and influenced our behavior, in ways society has not had time to properly consider. Societal dynamics and interpersonal relationships are changing at such a rapid pace that the casualties of change have begun to emerge.
"12s2Hc" is a live performance piece that will raise the awareness of how technology may or may not enhance our daily lives. An ensemble cast will tell their personal stories including battles with technology addiction, the "turning point event", necessary steps to recovery, and how they currently balance technology use in their own lives.
Ironically, technology will play an important part in this immersive live performance. Interactive media systems will amplify/enhance the performances, embellish story and back-story elements, provide a media-rich experience, and encourage viewer/audience participation.
Avoid the technologically driven societal Armageddon and embrace the "12 Steps to Healthy Convergence!"
Posted by andrew at 12:16 AM | Comments (0)