Midterm Thesis Presentation
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February 22, 2007
February 15, 2007
548 Madlib part 2
Since I should zoom in on one topic, let's assume it's...
Original: I am making a serious game in which the user plays a wildlife photographer who has decided to cross the globe to take photos of endangered species before they die off because I want to show the animals in their habitat with information about why they are in danger of extinction in order to help the player understand what is happening and, hopefully, get them to want to get involved.
New: I am making a serious game in which the user plays a wildlife photographer because I want to show the player what is happening with endangered species and, hopefully, get them to want to get involved.
2) Name THREE potential outside advisors.
I feel that, for this, I should really shoot for the stars. Thus, the following people are potentials for my project:
Jane Goodall - primatologist/ethologist/anthropologist
World Wildlife Fund - while they are an entire organization, someone with them might be able to work as an advisor
Makers of Dead Rising - ya ya ya, I know... a zombie game. But part of it is about a photojournalist taking photos of a riot that turns out to be a zombie attack. It might be interesting to speak with people who worked on it o find out how to make a game that rates and scores photos the player takes.
3) Define your audience(s).
I hope that my game would be attractive to gamers and non-gamers, with a fun and easy game mechanic. It seems to me that, typically, the audience of a serious game is the people who already feel the same way as the game's creator, i.e., "preaching to the choir." Thus, I believe that the people that would play my game would be the same people that already want to do what they can to help save endangered species. My challenge, then, is to make the game a fun one that would bring others to the cause.
useful links:
February 2, 2007
548 Madlibs
I am researching alternate control schemes and possible alternate uses for existing control schemes because I want to find out whether there are new and compelling ways to make video games accessible to nongamers as well as to people with disabilities that keep them from being able to enjoy playing games in order to help my players enjoy video games.
OR
I am designing an immersive driving simulator because I want to demonstrate how simulators can be used to train drivers in accident and normal driving situations in order to provide the user better training.
OR
I am making a serious game in which the user plays a wildlife photographer who has decided to cross the globe to take photos of endangered species before they die off because I want to show the animals in their habitat with information about why they are in danger of extinction in order to help the player understand what is happening and, hopefully, get them to want to get involved.
OR
I am designing an immersive elevator thrill ride because I want to demonstrate how movement can be faked using panoramic moving pictures and other tricks in order to provide the user a more thrilling thrill ride.
February 1, 2007
Last Rhapsody
From one of the three makers of the smash hit SUPER KARATE MONKEY DEATH CAR comes Last Rhapsody, the stirring tale of a man who is destined to die, yet is struggling against it.
Starring Jesus Christ and featuring the musical talent of Freddie Mercury!
I created the video as a proof of concept for an installation art piece.
A projector would be set up to project onto the painting, masking out certain parts and highlighting certain parts choreographed with the music. A row of lights would be above (starting from the left, red, yellow, green, cyan, and blue), also choreographed to change intensity and focal point (preferably using a computer, but possibly manually altered).
USC Gamers' Network Friday Night Lan
The USC Gamers' Network is throwing a Friday Night Lan (FNL) event at the Interactive Media Lab in the Harold Lloyd Sound Stage building (CCSG142). There will be Super Smash Bros: Melee, Gears of War, Rainbow 6 Vegas, and FIFA for the xBox 360 on a large projector screen, Guitar Hero 1&2, as well as 25 PC's for any kind of PC gaming you desire! Also, the USC Counter-Strike: Source clan, the Trojan Army (TrA) will be recruiting for the new season of CAL (www.caleague.com).
So, Feel free to stop by, bring any other game/console you want to play, and have a nice, relaxing, gaming night!
For future events from the USC Gamers' Network, join the Facebook group (search for "USC Gamers' Network") to get future updates, or check back here!
Hope to See you there!