The Parsons Scholastic collab was a great lesson in large group design. The professors, Isaac Souweine and David Langendoen, brought a rough concept for a monster battling RPG for children 8 to 12 years of age to the class. During the first several weeks we spent time in small groups refining the concept and coming up with different manifestations. Some ended up in the final document others missed the mark, but as a whole all helped to steer the direction of our game. During this phase I first worked with Scott Hartman and Cicek Neftci. We came up with several variations on concepts we felt would make good additions to the games core design. These themes included duel identities, monster collection, and player taking the role of a monster. I than worked with Karim Carreia. Our goal was to take some of the concepts garnered from the first concept round and develop a holistic game concept. Our concept centered around a players moral choices. This concept missed the mark, it was geared towards an older crowd than our target demographic, though it was a valuable exercise and helped solidify the concepts of customization and player choosing there game experience for me moving into the next phase.
Our professors took all of the concepts from the previous rounds and funneled them into one cohesive concept. From this point forward we would be split into groups with specific functions: Art, Interface and Game Design. My request to be put into the game design group was granted. I worked with Nancy Wei on further developing the presented concept. Nancy and I had a lot of fun developing the concept and creating our design presentation.
For the final phase of the project our goal was to come up with a game brief. Here individuals focuses narrowed on flushing out specific aspects of the design. I spent most of my time developing the branching quest structure.
Overall this class was worth taking and I am satisfied with the output.
From the begining
Scholastic hiku
for explaining what I did
game design monster
Monday, December 17, 2007
Matt's Work Haiku
Interface design?
Map illustrations? Quest view?
The catalogue? Yes.
* I worked on the interface design with Scott. We came up with the solution of map access and the final functionality of the nodal quest view. I also completed the illustrations for the map, designed the interface background/frame, the catalogue design, and was the lead presenter for the project.
Map illustrations? Quest view?
The catalogue? Yes.
* I worked on the interface design with Scott. We came up with the solution of map access and the final functionality of the nodal quest view. I also completed the illustrations for the map, designed the interface background/frame, the catalogue design, and was the lead presenter for the project.
Cicek and Carolina (continue)
The fun part of the process was the interpretation of Phillip’s story. Cicek and I tried to stick to the narrative as possible and imagine spaces, colors, shapes, and objects that will help bring the story to life. The design choices were always influenced by how the characters occupy and interact with the space. Our design process was a constant sketch iteration process, based on 2D space views and perspectives, which gave the illusion of 3D spaces.
We think that at the end the biggest learning experience we gain was working as a “little team” inside a huge team. Decisions sometimes were difficult to make, and keeping a unify visual language was as well. Not all the work was produced as a team and a lot was “lost in translation”.
At the end, all that is left to say is THANKS ALL!!!
Carolina and Cicek
As a part of the visual design group we were mostly responsible in coloring the overall game and designing the worlds. Carolina made the raw designs for the world and I destroyed her artwork with color :)
Next to that Carolina also designed the moodboards for the game, which carried different color palettes for different elements (character, world etc) of the game. And finally I messed around with a small animation of the transition of the mirror.
Next to that Carolina also designed the moodboards for the game, which carried different color palettes for different elements (character, world etc) of the game. And finally I messed around with a small animation of the transition of the mirror.
Game Design - Phase 3 Process Documentation (Nancy)
Week 1
- Went over new game document, discussed what to keep, what not to keep, and decided on monster suit classes and general story direction
- Listed out Player Room specs and brainstormed on Realm Map navigation (first stage realm map navigation)
- This was when Philip's 42pg document was created :) went back to edit game documents and incorporate story (ex. mirror/closet)
Week 2
- Further discussed the gameplay as it relates to narrative with discussion or feedback from class
- Created a document on the social aspect of game, and worked with Philip to tie narrative to game
Week 3
- Listed out all important game specs for PowerPoint (preparation)
- Revised social aspect of game through class feedback and critique (evoked more questions)
Week 4
- Listed out PowerPoint slide orders, key points and necessary arts for visual design team (group discussion)
Final Weeks
- Worked on putting together presentation PowerPoint
- Helped with Graphic Design team (3 graphics with references to Philip's sketch)
Philip's Sketch
- Went over new game document, discussed what to keep, what not to keep, and decided on monster suit classes and general story direction
- Listed out Player Room specs and brainstormed on Realm Map navigation (first stage realm map navigation)
- This was when Philip's 42pg document was created :) went back to edit game documents and incorporate story (ex. mirror/closet)
Week 2
- Further discussed the gameplay as it relates to narrative with discussion or feedback from class
- Created a document on the social aspect of game, and worked with Philip to tie narrative to game
Week 3
- Listed out all important game specs for PowerPoint (preparation)
- Revised social aspect of game through class feedback and critique (evoked more questions)
Week 4
- Listed out PowerPoint slide orders, key points and necessary arts for visual design team (group discussion)
Final Weeks
- Worked on putting together presentation PowerPoint
- Helped with Graphic Design team (3 graphics with references to Philip's sketch)
Philip's Sketch
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Course Summary - Phase 2
The very first post on this blog recaps the first main phase of our Scholastic Collab Studio Fall 07. The narrative ends with the submission of five different creative briefs that present full-fledged interpretations of what a Monster Quest game could look like.
Phase II of the Collab Studio was kicked off with a new Monster Quest creative brief that was created by the instructors based on the content in the student creative briefs. The new brief was entitled Mail Order Monsters. The core vision for the game was as follows:
As the possessor of a mysterious (and magic) catalog of monster costumes, the player buys fantastical outfits that, when worn, transport him to a dreamlike realm where he is transformed into a powerful creature c.f. Ben Ten.
The core elements that made up the brief included:
The Mail Order Monster brief was presented to the class and a lively discussion ensued. The class was then broken into four teams -- two to work on visual design and two to work on game design. The efforts of the teams were meant to be complimentary but also overlapping and competitive in a friendly sort of way. The goal was for each team to attack a set of well-defined design problems and then present those solutions to the larger group, including outside visitors from the Scholastic Lab for Informal Learning.
Below you can read posts from three of the four teams describing their efforts in Phase II. With the completion of their work, we have moved into phase III, with all members of the class cohering around a single design vision, team roles and execution plan in preparation for presenting a final conceptual prototype on December 12.
Phase II of the Collab Studio was kicked off with a new Monster Quest creative brief that was created by the instructors based on the content in the student creative briefs. The new brief was entitled Mail Order Monsters. The core vision for the game was as follows:
As the possessor of a mysterious (and magic) catalog of monster costumes, the player buys fantastical outfits that, when worn, transport him to a dreamlike realm where he is transformed into a powerful creature c.f. Ben Ten.
The core elements that made up the brief included:
- Collecting - The player has an avatar that can collect, improve and level up multiple magical monster suits/costumes.
- User generated content - The player can craft her own suits and customize pre-crafted suits/costumes.
- Mini-gaming - Part of the game experience involves playing mini-games.
- Questing - Part of the game experience involves questing and RPG style gaming.
- Community - Players can show off their collections to each other and in massively multi-player environments.
The Mail Order Monster brief was presented to the class and a lively discussion ensued. The class was then broken into four teams -- two to work on visual design and two to work on game design. The efforts of the teams were meant to be complimentary but also overlapping and competitive in a friendly sort of way. The goal was for each team to attack a set of well-defined design problems and then present those solutions to the larger group, including outside visitors from the Scholastic Lab for Informal Learning.
Below you can read posts from three of the four teams describing their efforts in Phase II. With the completion of their work, we have moved into phase III, with all members of the class cohering around a single design vision, team roles and execution plan in preparation for presenting a final conceptual prototype on December 12.
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