Mobile Sculpting
This is a great product for the 532 assignment:
Super Sculpey
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October 28, 2004
October 26, 2004
Mobile Gripes
October 23, 2004
532-Project #3b
The second half of the game assignment, for those that don’t know, was to change some aspects of the classic werewolf game. Tracy Fullerton provided us with the details of this assignment that included enhancing game concepts like “meaningful choice”, “information structure”, “growing/changing consequences”, etc. We divided into four teams, of two people each, with Kellee Santiago and I forming a team. The most difficult part of this assignment was brainstorming and implementing the notion of “meaningful choice.” Kellee and my first brainstorming session was a bit frustrating, as we both felt a bit stumped. After a little warm up, and applying Bolas’ breathing exercises (or was it venting exercises?), we started getting more productive.
One of the directions we took had to do with a player’s emotional relationship to story. Making the narrative more immersive felt like a good direction. I personally find story and characters a good way to help visualize game play and players’ experiences. Adding “Ghosts” and “Mystics” as new game characters/roles seemed to create a rich and appropriate context. I found myself getting more interested in the game itself as we embellished narrative. It also helped us invent/modify the game rules and mechanics.
The original Werewolf game ends quickly for many players as they are killed off. I suggested to Kellee that we give the “dead” players a ghostly afterlife and the ability to be summoned in a townsperson séance. This could keep everyone more engaged throughout the game and, in theory, make the experience more meaningful. We decided that it would be best to limit the ghosts to non-verbal communication and the townspeople to one séance per game.
Balancing the game mechanic and/or "leveling the playing field” was also important. We eventually decided to give the wolves the opportunity to kill those noisy ghosts one time through the course of a game. The consequences of killing or having the séance too early, or late in the game, could help improve the consequences of these actions.
Bolas arranged for us to use the (now famous) Game Lab for the first time. Chris Swain joined the “play test” session and had some good questions and observations. Like the “Clue Game Mod", assigned in Peggy’s class, everyone came up with different solutions to the assignment. However, most of us felt that modifying the narrative was important. The far more challenging aspect of the assignment was evidenced by the varied game mechanics of each project.
October 19, 2004
Mac G4-$ale:
October 18, 2004
Motion Graphics LA
MGLA Tuesday, October 19th @ LA Film School 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (FREE)
LINEUP: motion capture & character animation for MTV2's Video Mods / Allegorithmic MaP | Time /
Discreet's 3ds max 7 / Door Prizes.
Character animation is the theme that runs through this month's MGLA meeting. Join MGLA for the last meeting at the LA Film School - they plan to end the run there in "boffo fashion" (including giving away over $3700 in prizes, plus a pizza bash during the break).
Memories, Death Memorials, & Trailers
Could future USC thesis projects help solve murders? Final Cut Movie Trailer
It looks like Ashley and Tripp may want to watch their backs!
October 16, 2004
Kerry & Bush Discord
October 13, 2004
Boe-Bot Robot Kit
"Kit has easy-to-use instructions and project ideas included with time and difficulty ratings
• Over 40 activities that you can customize to perform additional functions
• Programmable—a fun way to combine programming & robotics
• Upgradeable—modify it for use with your controller with a PS/2 connection"
October 11, 2004
South Park's Puppet Regime
WIRED MAGAZINE:
While the rest of Hollywood obsesses over the next CG blockbuster, the creators of South Park are playing with puppets. For their latest film, Team America: World Police, Matt Stone and Trey Parker eschew computer graphics for wooden dummies and WYSIWYG garage geekery. "I hate what CG has done to movies," says Stone. "Filmmakers too often substitute technology for a good story. There's something so much more exhilarating about watching stuff that's real."
532 Trailer
"Team America World Police" hits the comedy bull's-eye!