October 26, 2004
On going proposal for a cloud-play game
Here is a rough idea about a game design for the EA grants coming next spring. I'm still working on the paper prototype and looking for potential teammates. If you are interested please drop me an email: xinghanc@usc.edu
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Jupiter - Cloud Mania
Introduction
You must have played enough sand & mud. It is time to play cloud!
In "Jupiter", you play as a refugee from the dying Jupiter and need to create a "homelike" environment on earth. Yes, your ultimate goal is to create an infinite storming climate "Red Spot" for your companies. However, to create your new homeland, you have to conquer the weather on earth as well as the creatures and aggressive human beings.
As a pioneer from Jupiter, you have enough techniques to deal with the atmosphere on earth and use them as your energy source. From basic creating and shaping cloud Gozzilas to forging a magnificent hurricane, you can create and learn all kinds of weathers on earth, such as rains, fogs, snows, hails, all kinds of lightening, storms, tornados and huge hurricanes beyond the memory of men.
You started from the South Pole with a small wind current,
and finally create a none-stop ground lifting hurricane above the
Game Feature
1. Ground breaking game-play object (Cloud & earth weather)
2. Educational content living with the game-play (Game rules based on earth science & meteorology)
3. Right hemisphere play + Left hemisphere play (Creativity + rational strategy)
4. New way for game interaction (Intuitive hand gesture input)
5. Challenging graphics and simulation programming (None reference in history)
6. Challenging art direction (Abstract but easy to project reality, destructive but low violence)
Game-play Architecture
Jupiter consists of three layers supporting different game-play.
Virtual Cloud-box
On top of the architecture is a sandbox. Sandbox is a widely used feature among the game developers. It is an environment which allows player to play and create almost anything they want in the border of media.
You must have played guessing clouds in your childhood. It is our instinct to imagine and create. In Jupiter, a virtual cloud-box offers players a spacious sky as their canvas and realizes the dream of shaping your own clouds. You can casually create funny looking clouds or use cloud to draw light and shadows. This promise the possibility for self-forgetting gaming experience which we called the right hemisphere play.
Besides creating, players can also play all kinds of weathers with the knowledge about meteorology gained from the game. They don¡¯t have to follow the goal in the game. Instead, they can be cold-blooded invaders or a friendly neighborhood protecting the earth¡¯s environment.
God-like Empowerment
Continuous Rewarding
Core Systems
The whole game runs upon a highly autonomous system which
simulates the basic meteorology phenomenon.
To be continued...
Concept for tornado
Cloud Types
More cloud reference...
A wonderful photo report of storms...
October 25, 2004
100 Bugs about cell phone
Physical Looking
Still too big to carry, not comfortable
Why antenna?
Why it's so hard? I want some soft material like rubber
I don't like flat square screen
I hate rectangular shape
They looks so fragile
When can cell become necklace?
Cell Skins
Why does each new type have a different looking? I like the old shell but the new funtion
Shell and chips should be compatable for newer or older version
Give us a universal format, so individuals can develop more personalized looking
Health
Bad for your health, cancer, brain cell killer
Why not get some healthy viboration instead?
I heard there is certain ring tone or viboration position can increase the size of women's breast.
My friend get illusion of cell's viboratoin even when he's naked!
Can't we move the antenna to somewhere farther from our body? Like underground?
Input
Why there is only 12 keys?
Why there are 12 keys on such small places?
I don't want to type alphabits with 12 key.
Handwriting input is cool, but it takes two hands, how could you write on a bus or driving?
Voice input makes people frustrated in public place.
Can we come out a whisper input?
Gesture input?
Output
Signal is poor
Headphone is cool, but you can't wear it 24/7!
When I'm listening to MP3, my cell ring, which ear phone should I use?
Why there is no teleconfrerence mode? Or hands free mode (no earphone)
Camera
Camera is still way too far from acceptable resolution
Sending picture between cell and PC or Mac is difficult
Need an external database of your photos instead of internal
I want to see the screen when I take photo of myself
Where is Zoom in and zoom out?
Still too offensive when you try to take picture of some stranger
Some one install a Photoshop on my cell plesae
What if my photography sucks? Aid, training?
Exposure and F-stop control?
Can I scan pages in the book with my cell?
Voice controlled camera?
Service
Should not charge users from both sides
Monthly charge? Waste stamps.
Besides longer limits and internet browser, what else can I get by paying extra money? Too little.
No stealling protection
Should have some GPS tracking to find the cell back
Game
Want more games
Where is Tetris!?
Bad input methods for game-play
Need a www server to support more than 2 users to play
Loading speed is extremely slow
We want downloadable games a lot
Allow personal modification to those games
Allow us upload independent cell games
What is the hottest cell phone game? I don't know, what is the marketing people doing?
Sound
Can I turn to silent automatically by entering certain area?
Can I force other cells into silent in a close range?
Why should I carry MP3 AND the cell
Isn't the ring tone too limited?
I want to download musci from my cell!
I want to record good quality sound not voice crap.
DJ?
DDR?
Can I have 5.1 or at least stereo?
Info Management
No ASCII input, No (*^&^%$
No easy address export, what if my cell die
Search people in a two hundred name lists is not that easy
Who is Jenova Chen? I forget, what if there is a photo for the contact
What if there are two people sharing the same number, will I figure it out eventually?
Can I compress Info?
Exchange address book?
Can I get a digital Yellow Book Package?
Misc
I want to use my cell as remote controller, TV, Car, Garage...
Cell is a self-defense weapon, charge!
I need to take care of my flower or fish with my cell and the webcam in home
Dog wistle?
My wallet is a cellphone?
Key? All my door needs passcode, ha.
What if you can mate your cell to other people's cell?
Cell is my pet.
Artificial secretary?
I need some thing help me to arrange work out schedule
Google Cell?
AIM Cell?
Alarm when people I don't want to meet gets close?
Remind when friends are close
Show me how many girls under 22 around
Instant cell, throw after use?
Can I project things from my cell to paper or white board?
Perfume carrier!
Barcode scanner, Beep!
Scope for elder?
Telescope for peeper?
Weapon sensor for police?
Credit Card?
GPS guild?
Where is dictionary?
Name card exchange
Wireless mouse!!!
Torch light
Where is the fancy laser light?
Mirror, make up inventory
DNA sampler
October 13, 2004
CTIN 534 Assignment News Related Stuff
Click mouse, make your choice.
October 12, 2004
CTIN 532 Trailor Target--Lord of the Ring: The Battle for Middle Earth
http://www.eagames.com/official/lordoftherings/thebattleformiddleearth/us/videos.jsp
October 11, 2004
Try out my CTIN 488 Project, Gold Rush Gang
Download & make your Game Map and Play!!?
Title: Gold Rush Gangs
Authors: Jenova Chen & Charles Mallison
Target Age: 10-18
Target Audience: Enjoyers of soft strategy
Number of players: 3
Time required: about 15-25 minutes
Equipment: One Hex grid board (9 grids radius)
One deck of cards
3 Nickels, decorated to represent Professional Thieves
6 dimes, decorated to represent Amateur Thieves
13 pieces of paper, decorated to represent gold
RULES
OBJECTIVE:
You control one of three rival gangs of thieves. Your goal is to achieve dominance in the illicit gold market by being the first to steal 8 sacks of gold from the board.
UNITS:
To steal gold, you have three units to control, two Amateur Thieves and one Professional Thieves. Amateur Thieves move faster than Professional Thieves, but Professional Thieves are much stronger in combat.
ACTION POINTS:
§ In order to move your thieves, you have to spend Action Points (AP). Amateur Thieves cost one AP to move one space while Professional Thieves cost two AP to move. All units take two AP to move once they pick up any amount of gold.
§ At the beginning of the game, each player gets five AP per turn. Use your AP wisely between your units. It won’t last to the next turn.
§ Once you bring X sacks of gold back to your base, the AP you can spend in each round will instantly increase X.
STORE & BANK:
§ Gold is the only resource and the objective for the players. There are three neutral stores at the border of the map where you can find one sack of gold.
§ A heavily guarded bank is in the center of the map holding three sacks of gold. In order to steal the gold from there, you have to use at least seven AP to break the defense. Once the defense is broken, there is no need for other player to break it again. If the gold from bank drops on your way back, it will return to where the bank is.
GOLD:
§ Every gang has a total of seven sacks of gold. Each Amateur Thieves guard two sacks of gold while Professional Thieves guard three sacks of gold.
§ Before the game starts, all the players have to deploy their thieves with gold on the map. They have to be deployed in their own territories. There has to be at least three grids in between your units at the beginning.
GOLD RUSH:
§ You have to protect your gold from being stolen and steal enough gold (at least eight) from store, bank or your opponents in order to win.
§ You can only carry one piece of gold a time.
§ You can not pass through gold with gold in your hand.
COMBAT:
§ During movement on the board, when multiple opposing units are in adjacent grids the combat will start. The player who starts the combat will be attacker.
§ Outcome of combat is decided by drawing cards. The player who draws the highest card wins. In the event of a tie, the attacker wins. The Ace card is the lowest card. The King card is the highest.
§ Amateur Thieves can draw one card in the combat while Professional Thieves are able to draw two. When friendly units are adjacent to each other, you can draw more cards. For example, if a Professional Thief and an Amateur Thief are next to each other, they can draw three cards when combat occurs.
§ At the end of combat, the losing unit is returned to his home base and must remain there for one turn. This only applies to the one unit which either attacked or defended. While the unit is incapacitated, leave it on the color grid in the base.
§ Any gold the losing unit was carrying remains in the space the unit was except the gold from the bank.
PROCEDURE
1) At the start of the game, players will draw one card each to determine who will have the first move.
2) On the first turn, each player places his stores and deploys his thieves.
3) Players will then alternate turns until one satisfies the requirements
for winning. Game ends.
October 8, 2004
Cool Animation, political content?
http://www.analoglove.com/DJ_Chris_Grant/what_barry_says.mov
Some friend show me this animtaion today. I really like the motion and the tense of it. I've seen so many anti-Bush stuff on the web, this is just one of them that is well done.