Games Studies - Project 1, 2, Final

01/09/2022 - 11/12/2022 / Week 1 - Week 14
Darren Liga / 0351480
Group: Troublemakers
Games Studies / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Project 1, 2, Final

---

INSTRUCTIONS

---

WEEK 1

[National Day]

This week is Malaysia national day, and the class will begin on week 2 onwards. 

Fig 1.1, national holiday announcement

WEEK 3

Ataka and I just joined the "troublemakers" group on week 3. We got to know each other and started brainstorming about our project 1. During the tutorial, our group started talking. Sir. Charles proposed using Far Cry 5's map customization features for FPG games, which we did. Far Cry 5 will have a trap-filled terrain and competitive gameplay utilizing the platform's weapons. Sir. After talking to him, Charles thought our suggestions took a lot of work to implement. First, the Far Cry 5 platform only enables custom maps in the existing gameplay. Thus, we cannot break through in the current gameplay if we use it for game development. Second, the far cry platform provides limited capabilities, and its more sophisticated procedures demand a lot of programming labor unless we are highly competent. Otherwise, it will only be possible for us with scripting. We changed the platform after analyzing our idea's practicality and restarting everything. Dr. Charles recommends Steam's Tabletop simulator, which has several capabilities for game creation. I had several ideas starting from card games to boardgame based games. I initially thought of developing the game "big 2" further. We chose Ying Hui's Who's the fastest to Taylor's after another discussion after school. Who's the fastest to Taylor's is a tabletop race to acquire transportation and reach Taylor's. Ying Hui created game rules and cards after brainstorming.

Fig 2.1: Complete Group

PDF 2.1: Initial Database

WEEK 4

Prototyping, 3D PRINT 

This week we prototyped our games physically. We used paper and pens to test the play card size and design. Since paper and hand drawings are fragile and confusing, we designed the game card digitally and printed it on a poker card. For our game's pawns, I recommended creating the transportation from 3D models and printing them using a 3D printer. Ataka and I developed the transportation pawns and cards, while the others designed the action card and map board. Qiao Hui, Chee Hong, and Xin Yu created the game action card, and Ying Hui developed the cardboard after being assigned the task. On September 27, we met to finish our work after completing it at home.

1st Prototyping

IMG 4.1: card prototype 1

2nd Prototyping, 3D Printing 

IMG 4.2: 3d model

IMG 4.3: complete 3d model

IMG 4.4: Printed 3d models

Since Ataka and I are from BDCM and the rest were IT students, we both were in charge of the whole design while they were the ones coming up with the ideas.

Here are my initial card designs:

PDF 3.1: Transportation Cards (light)

PDF 3.2: Transportation Cards (dark)

All Card Design:

PDF 3.3: cards

Fig 4.5: card prototype 1 (but better)

WEEK 5

Prototyping, 3D PRINT 

First, playtest this week. We test our game board in class. Our first playtest revealed that some game cards had too many cards and slowed the game. The traffic congestion and snipper cards were too many, mismatching flying and land vehicles. To balance game length and fairness, we reduced snipper and traffic jam cards and adjusted the rules. After the first adjustment, the game flowed better, and we could split the winners and losers into two cycles. 

Next, Sir. Charles gave us feedback on our games during reasonable time. 

Sir Charles: 

Goal: Taylor's? Race for what? 

Play again? (maybe...) 

How will the tabletop simulator use it? Any animation or effect for different vehicles? Such as hot air balloon and helicopter flying effects 

Besides particular talents, how can we recognize vehicles? For instance, game cards must show the route for each vehicle. 

I was pleased with our game's initial play. It's easy to feel bored and unmotivated during the game. I liked the game, but I hope we can make it more entertaining.

Fig 5.1: playtest 1, group photo

WEEK 6

Our class will be independent this week onwards, but we must make appointments with Sir. Charles to follow up on assignments and get feedback.

WEEK 7

Our team updated the game:

PDF 4.1: updated game

WEEK 9

After integrating the administrator and shop capabilities, we did our third playtest this week with other faculty students for feedback. Sir also gives us feedback in person. We started designing our final prototype this week as the gaming process went nicely.

Fig 8.1: playtest 3. group photo

Dr.Charles gave us feedback regarding the map and commented that it needs to be a proper map following the progress.

WEEK 10-13

After the feedback, I started making the map

Fig 10.1: Map starting

I then came up with this.

Fig 10.2: better map

I had problems regarding the background and decorations, such as trees, as this was the first time I had created a map.

Dr. Charles then commented the same thing and asked me to try inkarnate.com to design the map.

Fig 10.3: Feedback

After all the reviews and editing hours:

PDF 5.1: Finalized Map

WEEK 14

The production of a video, as well as the completion of the Trouble Makers website 

This week, we were on campus to film for the final prototype video, and everyone was working on their own e-portfolios to finish off our group website.

I have more experience with video editing, so I tasked myself with the final video playtest.

Fig 14.1: compiled video footage from final playtest

Fig 14.2: finalized playtest video

 

Vid 1.1: Video Playtest