Been there, Done that? Part V

I'm going over what I have at the moment and deciding which ideas work the best. Mockup images are coming when I find the time, until then use your imaginations.

Mythbusters
Scribblenauts style game
Narrative Type: Quest (for knowledge)
Adaption: Uses premise of the show, may use information presented on the show

Game Layout:
- Game is set out in levels that are based on complexity of myths. eg. 1 star to 6 star in difficulty.
- Each stage sets out a myth that the player must solve
- Solving myths earn player bigger budgets
- Game also has free-play mode where the player can create their own myths to solve
- Team members can be added to screen to suggest ideas or become test subjects
- Player can use money earned to buy additional objects to use in future experiments

Mechanics:
- Object engine, all generated objects have set properties but these can be changed by the player eg. object will explode when remote is pushed
- Additional onscreen menu can be used to program additional elements
- Player is given a budget for each myth(stage)
- Object library, keeps track of what player can use and what hasn't been unlocked
- Player can use money to buy additional objects


Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World
Sandbox game
Narrative Type: Quest and Rebirth (hard to tell, it's like an art house movie)
Adaptation: Set in world of novel, may use some plot elements in the story missions

Story:
Set in Japan, data unknown, the player starts out as a Calcutec(human encryption/data processor) but can choose to remain working for the System or the Factory. They will need to undergo training(tutorial) that will explain how the game works. The player starts at a low level Calcutec and must work their way up the ranks. At a high enough level, they can choose which jobs(missions) to take. Missions will award the player money and choices in the story they craft for their character.

Game Layout:
- Open sandbox game (3D?)
- Player has to make choices over jobs at later level
- Player also has choices over which faction to become
- Money can be earned and used to buy objects (Calcutecs need to pay rent too)

Mechanics:
- Open world (real world physics?)
- Encryption puzzles, player must solve to successfully store data into their brain
- Story Trees


Art/Sandbox Game
Narrative Type: Quest and Rebirth
Adaptation: Based off the novel, some things may have changed

Story:
Two parallel stories that ask questions about consciousness, the subconscious and identity. One set in modern day Japan and the other set in "the End of the World", an isolated walled town. Both stories have mysteries to solve but will they answer any questions?
Story 1 - Hard-Boiled Wonderland
Story 2 - the End of the World

Game Layout:
- 2D or 3D (Perhaps in the style of Kurayami)
- The player can switch between the stories by interacting with a unicorn skull
- The player explores the world to find answers to questions posed by the game

Mechanics:
- Story 1, the player can store data into their head via encryption puzzles
- Story 2, the player must work with their shadow to either escape the village or solve the mysteries behind the town
- Depending on the interactions, the questions asked by the game will be answered

Satirical Religion
Fighter
Narrative: Comedy or Overcome the Monster(that is your opponent!)
Adaption: Uses caricatures of figures associated with "religion" and philosophy
I know religion is a touchy subject but I'm posting this up as an exercise in design. I seriously doubt that this would actually become my assignment much less a game. If you're of a religion, I'm sorry but this is in the spirit of humor not maliciousness.

Game Layout:
- Game comes with story and PvP modes
- Story mode has the player's character fight to gain supremacy over the hearts of people
- PvP because you can't have a fighting game without multi player. People having fun while beating the shit out some polygons in the name of one-man-showmanship = money
- Players have two meters to fill, faith and divinity. Both meters determine amount of damage that can be done by players' super moves.
- If both meters are filled, the player can execute a "god" move(ultimate attack).

Mechanics:
- Press combination of buttons to bash
- Players also have a faith meter
- Faith meter will rise when the players pull off combos that look cool to the in game audience(belivers).
- Faith meter can also be boosted when the player taunts without being interrupted.
- Super moves/combos can be pulled off when the meters reaches full capacity.

RTS game
Narrative: Quest (for power)
Adaption: Parodies the rise and fame of satirical religions

Game Layout:
- Player chooses a faction(god) and must take over the internet(maps/scenarios)
- Fan Base and Reputation need to be maintained to win the scenario
- Number of units and buildings may also be part of win conditions
- Player can also perform "divine acts" that boost effects of buildings and units
- Enemies will attempt to take over your territory and you are required to defend against them

Game Mechanics:
- Reputation is built by how well a player maintains its status eg. maintance of buildings and units
- Units are created out of buildings
- Some units can convert enemy buildings and units
- Fan base is built up by constructing buildings(representations of computers & websites) and units(viral videos, memes)
- Buildings need to be maintained by player (aka upgrade)
- Units are maintained when buildings are upgraded but also when player performs "divine acts"

Been there, Done that? Part IV

If you haven't watched Mythbusters, you're education needs some intense fixing. It's a show about "using elements of the scientific method to test the validity of rumors, myths, movie scenes, adages, Internet videos and news stories". There are many explosions to satisfy the punter.

Mythbusters on the Discovery Channel website has a few (web)games. These are:
- Myth or Fact (True & False quizzes based on a theme)
- The Myth Game (True & False quiz but with hangman element)
- Photo puzzles
- How's your Memory (Memory match)

Sadly these are really more about how much have you watched this show and how much random trivia(or fact) have you managed to absorb. Let's take a look at what you can do with the show or perhaps these games to make them better.

Mythbusters contains:
- Science
- Explosions
- Debunking (of myths, rumors and the internet)
- Hilarity (eyebrow html tags are funny)
- Factual knowledge (depending on what level your knowledge is)
- Robert Lee (You'll know it when you hear him)
- Guns
- Explosions! (it's on there twice because once you've exploded non-dairy creamer, there's no going back. Don't try it home, you will burn places down.)

• Party Game
  Learning can be fun, but actually proving how smart you are against other people is better. Think Buzz but with much less stupid. Answer questions fast enough will earn more points


• Party Mini-Games
  Not keen on answering questions, well how about participating in some Mythbuster themed Mini-Games? Suitable for the Wii, you can challenge friends or the computer to see who can explode or solve things faster. Eg. Shake the Wiimote enough times to drop the crash test dummy, aim and fire to try and blow up the car


• Puzzle Action
  Scribblenauts style Mythbuster game where you solve myths by creating objects. The catch, you have a budget. If you can't afford the car for the dangerous stunt, what can you use instead?


• Educational game
  Get the kids(or grownups) involved with a virtual Mythbusters lab. Here Jamie and Adam will assign them myths and they need to figure out to debunk them. Inventory system required.


• Action
  If you're keen on explosions, how about a Mythbuster Explosion game. In the vein of Miami Shark, pick characters of the Mythbuster team to explode things in the pursuit of science!

Alternatively The Action Hero's Handbook is full of knowledge that can be put into a game.

Contains information on:
- How to perform a Vulcan neck grip
- Scoring with the ladies
- Jedi Mind tricks
- Communicating with aliens
- How to take bullets

You can also combine it with The Worse-Case Scenario Survival Handbook for added life lessons.

• Sandbox
  The main character is a hero-for-hire who needs to undergo training using the Handbook as his guide. You could also use the guide as tutorial material or perhaps as missions that your character can take.
  Bonus Commando Expansion pack - where you can put your hero in worse case scenarios and they need to get out of.


• Minesweeper
  A heroic clone of Minesweeper in a similar style to ClueSweeper where the player needs to find objects and methods to escape the "trap/situation"(board).

Ack, I'm running low on ideas. A regroup and assess is in order. Company fallout.

Been there, Done that? Part III

The longer I draw this search out, the harder it gets. Prepare yourself for some crazy treatments of works you'd never really consider. Your regular scheduled program will return at a later date.

Parody Religions
Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster
The Flying Spaghetti Monster (FSM) is the deity of the parody religion, the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster or Pastafarianism. It's become an internet phenomena and is part of a satirical protest against the teaching of Intelligent Design in schools.

You can read the story on the website or Wikipedia and you can substitute FSM with the Invisible Pink Unicorn or Russell's Teapot.

Suggestions for satirical religious games:

• RTS
  Where you pick a god and try to convert as many "heathens" and dominate the world by building websites, fan groups and viral videos. (satirical gods tend to be up to date with their technology)


• Fighter
  [Edit 25th July 2010: Clearly didn't research this enough since Molleindustria pulled this one off a few years ago.]
  Tired of arguing over who beats all? Duke it out with fellow geeks in this crazy fighting game. Includes Charles Darwin, ninjas and pirates as unlockable characters.


• Open World
  In the style of GTA or Destroy All Humans, consider getting FSM to possess a human host and convert(inform) as many people as possible. Or the FSM can go around and frighten as many people as possible. Any publicity is good publicity right? Points awarded for scaring hardcore religious and convincing people to be well informed


• Casual Game Puzzler
  Try some Bejewelled or Tetris clones where you've got to match up FSM(or other) symbols to clear the stage. (Pretty lame, maybe you can say the rapture is coming and your chosen god is collecting believers to save...)


• Art Game
  A game about what's it like to be an internet phenomena


• Educational(Serious) game
  A game more about why or why not Intelligent Design should be taught as an alternative to evolution theories.

Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management
Mrs Beeton Online
A Victorian classic, "a guide of reliable information about every aspect of running a house for the aspirant middle classes".

Consider:

• Cooking Mama: Victorian Style
  Points given if you've managed to prevent the children from upsetting the cook and have gotten the house ready should your mother-in-law come unannounced.


• Mrs Beeton for the Nintendo DS or as an IPhone Ap like this


• Casual Game
  Time management and cooking come together in a Victorian version of Cake Mania


• Sandbox Victorian House
  It's like playing with a virtual doll house except you've got to pay the bills wearing a full set of petticoats and a corset. Mrs Beeton serves as your help menu/tutorial guide


• Puzzle
  Perhaps a Mrs Beeton version of Record Tripping?

Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World
Wikipedia entry
The wiki will give you a decent overview of the book but it you like surrealism, give the book a try. It features two parallel narratives that may converge at the end. Yes, it's one of those things open to interpretation.

Hard-Boiled Wonderland contains:
- "Calcutec," a human data processor/encryption system who has been trained to use their subconscious as an encryption key.
- The System, a quasi-governmental organisation who protect data
- The Factory, a rogue organisation who steal data
- "Semiotics", fallen Calcutecs who work for the Factory
- Crazy scientist who's developed an imperfect method of recording images from the subconscious
- INKlings, a group of sewer-dwellers who are dangerous and worship fish and leeches. They eat humans.
- Thugs
- Love interests

The End of the World contains:
- Isolated town that is walled off
- Unicorns
- Group of people who have had their shadows (and their minds & memories) removed
- A protagonist who reads dreams from unicorn skulls and is losing his memory of his previous life
- His shadow who is trying not to die (and lose the protagonist's mind) He plans an escape and tries to get the protagonist to help.

Possible treatments:

• Third person sandbox
  Set in the world of Hard-Boiled Wonderland, the player's role is to be either a Calcutec or Semiotic and receives missions based on their role. Confrontations with the enemy and INKlings can be avoided if one is careful. Alternativly the player could be a agent for the System or the Factory and be trying to poach members from the other organisation.


• Art (or Puzzler) game
  Set in The End of the World, a stranger decides to stay and is given the village initiation. Experience the world by interacting with stuff or in the puzzle version, solve the myster of the town by working with your shadow.


• Puzzle game
  Train a Calcutec by getting them to encrypt data into their head via puzzles. More indepth data requires harder missions. When you've finished the character(you) is now a fully trained Calcutec

There maybe some ideas to come, we shall see.

Been there, Done that? Part II

What can you do with a BA in Arts? (Or English for those who are being a smart arse) What can you do with common household items? Do mullets give you super powers? This questions could be answered but why would you, when there is MacGyver?

That's right, I'm going to try to thunk out a MacGyver game in this entry.

MacGyverisms:
MacGyver Online

For those not in the know (or simply too "cool" to have ever watched it), MacGyver was a TV show about a secret agent, who preaches non-violence and carries a Swiss Army knife instead of a gun. Apparently having a science degree and the ability to turn junk into inventions will save the world.

A MacGyverism is a word used to describe the "ingenious" use of items by MacGyver to solve problems. Like blow open doors or escape off mountains. A MacGyverism will have some basis in scientific principles but have been adjusted for entertainment (anti-terrorist) purposes.

In the 1st episode, MacGyver uses 12 MacGyverisms to save the day:

- Disarmed missile with a paper clip
- Matches, string & rifle made timed diversion
- Smashed flare-launcher barrel used as rocket thruster
- Lit cigarette with hidden laser
- Used Cigarette smoke to see laser
- Mirror from binoculars reflected laser to 'sting' itself
- Raised fallen I-beam with knotted fire hose filled with water
- Tested heat on door with a stick (it caught fire)
- Pulled wires out of control panel and joined together to start fans in gas chamber.
- Milk chocolate bars stopped sulfuric acid leak
- Sodium metal & cold capsule made explosive
- Signaled status by blinking light system in Morse code

Let's pretend that Mac-daddy doesn't have any copyright and licensing issues that would prevent us from making a game. What kind of games can we make out of this TV show? Why would we even make games out of something so implausible?

MacGyver's main gimmick is, a secret agent that can unleash world-saving powers but these powers work best when he's got to improvise. That's right, this show is all about implausible stuff but making it look cool and exciting. Nothing says cool than turning a casket into a jet ski.

The show can be a video game, the main question is what kind of game would you make?
[These are questions, I'm sure there are games that do all this kind of stuff with no problems but I'm going off the top of my head here]

• Action/Adventure is a pretty easy choice, the player can control MacGyver on missions but how would you factor in the improv item creation? Can you make an inventory that works to combine items without in the way of the action?
  - 2D platformer where Mac fights enemies and collects required items along the way (Boring)
  - 3D platformer like Uncharted
  - Point&Click Adventure offers a way of inventory but you're going to have more fun dodging the enemy and karating chopping them into unconsciousness. (can't remember if Mac has karate skills)
  


• Puzzlers, do MacGyver puzzles involve combining items or do you collect items? Or solving actual puzzles?
  - Would a mini-game like Bioshock's hacking system work in MacGyver-land?
  - How about collection of mini-games? Anyone up to see how fast you can solve a problem? eg. How fast can you collect helpful items or how fast can you rig up that cement mixer?
  - It's tempting to see how fast can MacGyver escape like Kiss Kiss Bang Bangalore (It's a Simpsons gag)
  - Or even Mythbuster style
  


• FPS... Mac's got a no-gun policy but maybe you can go FP on gadgets?
  - Maybe Mac can swap tools to get past guards and save some hostages
  - Of course you could always TPS if you prefer looking at Mac from afar
  - Maybe Mac inspired Die Hard clone or Arkham Asylum?


• Things you shouldn't even think about:
  - A sidekick (It's a safety precaution against fans)
  - Rythm game
  - Sports.. ?

Been there, Done that? Part I

How do you make a game out of something that has never been made into a game? First you have look for some source material. One of the hardest things to do is to look for a subject, because you will keep looking and looking. This list will make you cry as will asking a well-read games lecturer. Avoid this, it is misleading and dumb.

Here's where I'm at with finding topics for the essay.

Der Ring des Nibelungen:
More info at Wikipedia

It's very tempting to do this one. It's got a lot dramatic elements and it falls neatly in the narrative structure, it's a story about heroes, gods, tragedy (bursts at the scenes) and love. It also has the added bonus of Viking Helmets, the big ladies who sing are bit of a downer, especially when you realise that interval is four hours away...

The biggest downer to this is - Odin Sphere. The more I remember the game, the more I realise that the Ring Saga has been made into a video game.

Ring Saga contains:
- Wotan (Odin)
- Valkyries
- Nibelungen (Magic Ring)
- Fighting over Magic Ring
- Dragon
- Orphaned hero in love with Valkyrie (who is also daughter of Wotan)
- Treachery
- Tragedy (Death)
- Götterdämmerung (Ragnarök - The Nordic End of the World)

Odin Sphere contains:
- Odin
- Valkyries
- Titrel (A magic ring)
- Fighting over magic ring
- Dragons (Bonus points if you find Wagner the Dragon an in-joke)
- Orphaned hero in love with Valkyrie (yes, who is the daughter of Odin)
- Treachery
- Tragedy (Death)
- Armageddon (End of the World)

How's that for derailment? I'm going to have to find me a new topic.

Flights of Fantasy

While we're still stumbling around and trying to find something to write about, here's some more ideas for the 2nd essay. For the fantasy inclined fan, here's some works that you could turn into video games.

Phantasmagorical and Strange Happenings

• The Redwall series by Brain Jacques:
  anthropomorphic animals, swords and protecting their castle from the enemy are the main points of this series. Do I sense an RTS?


• Diana Wynne Jones' novels:
  Did you know Howl's Moving Castle had a sequel? Or you could try the Chrestomanci series featuring a enchanter with nine lives.


• The works of Raymond E. Feist:
  Try to to focus on one book or one of the smaller series. Yes, there have been some games but you could make Magician: The Game or how about political intrigue Tsurani style in Daughter of the Empire.


• Arcorna by Anne McCaffrey


• Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea's series


• The Black Jewels by Anne Bishop:
  'Bad fantasy' but does have some elements appropriate for games that have units or characters that level up via hierarchy.


• David Eddings:
  Perhaps try The Elenium or The Tamuli.


• Promethea by Alan Moore (Alan Moore may screw your head in this one. Copies of this comic are floating around in the Brisbane City Council library system)


• Novels by Haruki Murakami (Challenging and intense reading)


• Tomorrow series by John Marsden (Die hard fans may kill you for destroying the spirit of the book


• The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood (intense reading, if you're female you might think it's shit)


• American Gods by Neil Gaiman


• Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer:
  Contains a child who's an evil genius, fairy police force with lasers and a ninja butler.


• Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke


• Thursday Next by Jasper Fforde


• Abarat series by Clive Baker:
  If you're going to tackle this one, perhaps concentrate on the world of Abarat.

Hurtling through the Galaxy

Like the last post, this one is going to about looking for ideas for the essay topic: Why this work has not been converted into a videogame before and discuss.

[4:50 pm I've just realised some of these ideas are not actual "works", they are more concepts so you'll either need to find a source material(text/video) based around these concepts. I'll be changing some of these so they are based off actual texts or films.]

TV, Science Fiction and Oddballs:

• MacGuyver:
  I can't see why a game that uses MacGyverisms to solve problems, escape cells and kills bad guys hasn't been made. It could just be the mullet.


• The A-Team:
  Explosions, guns, escapes and Mr T.


• Mythbusters:
  Teaching kids or grownups, the hows and whys of the universe. You could make it into a learning game, give your player a problem, give them free run of some labs and see if they can busts some myths. Alternatively you could turn in into a trivia game to see how much stuff you know.


• The Action Hero's Handbook


• Phillip K Dick


• Snow Crash:
  Hacker/Sword Fighter/Secret Agent turned pizza delivery guy who's broke has discovers plot to destroy humanity. The story world features the Metaverse, a fictional virtual reality that was spawned from the Internet. It's been described as an MMO.


• Comic book heroes:
  Flash Gordon, Tom Strong or find a hero like Hungry Beast did.


• 2001: A Space Odyssey:
  If you were trapped in space with HAL, what would you do?
  Alternatively you could look at Moon. (Beware, die hard fans may stop you from killing the movies)


• Brainship series


• Culture Jamming:
  - Steal This Book
  - Flash Mobs (Improv Everywhere)
  - Anonymous
  - The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster
  - Scientology(insert appropriate level of sarcasm here).


• Alternate Sports *Concepts:
  - Roller Derby(Whip It)
  - Unicycle Hockey or Boxer Hockey
  - BASEketball
  - Dodgeball (links to international rule book in pdf form) or the movie
  - Speed Dating (I jest)


• Advergame *Concepts:
  If you don't mind capitalising on a current product or you like seeing where extreme commercialisation is headed, why not try making a game to help advertise a product or company?
  - Kids MMO where weapons use brand name candy as ammo. Sour Warhead anyone?
  - This, obviously copyright and the corporation may scare you off buy you know it would awesome if it where made.


• Internet Social Phenomena *Concepts:
  Why not see what you can come up with based around stuff like: Twitter, Facebook or even YouTube. Maybe you could use these sites as part of the plot or game mechanic.
  - A Private Investigator searching for missing people via Facebook
  - The FBI trailing drug consignments via coded Twitter messages
  - A wannabe trying to become popular via YouTube

Fragging the Classics

The goal for assignment 2: "this work has not been converted into a videogame before: discuss".

That is a big rabbit hole to go down into, there are a lot of works that you can choose from and a lot of works you should not look at. Stuck for an idea, join the queue, but here's some places you can check out:

Project Gutenberg: One of the best places to get public domain(no copyright) works by authors who've long been in the grave.

Wikipedia: An entertaining place where you can check if a work has been made into a film or video game. Alternatively you could use it to find something that hasn't been done before, like Canning or Mensa.

'Classic' works to turn into games:
I've stuck in some example works that may have used the original as an inspiration or are something in a similar vein. I'm not going to go into what classic is, this is just something to generate ideas.

• The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer:
  Stories within a story of a group of pilgrims (it's the 14th century) travelling from Southwark to Canterbury Cathedral. They tell each other stories to pass the time and provides a framework for Chaucer to use all sorts of literary devices like self insertion, parables and a set of characters who represent a cross section of society. It's really tempting to do a American McGee's Grimm on it..
  


• Genji Monogatari by Murasaki Shikibu:
  Early 11th century Japan's 'Casanova', The Tale of Genji tracks the (romantic) life and times of the illegitimate prince Genji. There are a few ways to go about it, but try to avoid making a erotic visual novel/game, that's the easy way out.)
  


• The works of Alexandre Dumas, père:
  Best known for works of high adventure such as The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo, have a lot elements that could make them into video games. Revenge, politics and swords are awesome. Gankutsuou is Monte Cristo in space. [I've been told a lot of Dumas' books have been made into games so you may have to tread carefully.]
  


• The Bard, William Shakespeare:
  Zounds, these works have gallons of inspiration in them. Hamlet and The Tempest have already been video games but you could try King Lear (lots of dying) or A Midsummer Night's Dream (happy endings). (I know some of these link to wiki but as if you're going to read the whole play at this stage)


• Jane Austen:
  No.. I hear you cry? Well how about mixing it up some? How about Pride and Prejudice and Zombies or Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters? Guts, gore and killing strange monsters in Regency England, why hasn't this been made before?


• Swan Lake by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky:
  Why not, young man finds an enchanted lady who's cursed and decides to free her. There's an evil magician and some drama, sure it's a ballet but you could rewrite it to fit in a video game. LucasArts did with Loom.


• Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelun) by Wilhelm Richard Wagner:
  You're probably more familiar with What's Opera, Doc? (Kill the Wabbit) The Ring saga could be made into a game, who doesn't love Norse gods and viking helmets? Odin Sphere is almost like the opera but without the big ladies breaking glasses or ears.


• The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy:
  Set during the Reign of Terror (start of the French Revolution), the series follows the exploits of Sir Percy Blakeney, a man with a secret identity. When he's not being a fop(the 17th C 'man of fashion'), he's off saving innocent French nobles from getting the chop. How easy would it be to convert it into a action/adventure with swashbuckling rescue missions?


• The Ingenious Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes:
  Maybe you can actually create a video game out of the story of an old man obsessed with chivalry who decides that he will become a knight. Don Quixote is beset by problems, he's clearly delusional, people make fun of him and his family are trying to stop him from acting so crazy. What's a man to do when giants (windmills) are all over La Mancha? See if you have better luck than Terry Gilliam in adapting this work.


• A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain:
  A smart talking man with a knowledge of firearms and machinery is transported to the year 528 after being hit on the head. He eventually realises that his 19th C knowledge makes him the smartest man on Earth(Middle Aged version). Hijinks ensure. You could turn this into a several different games, think action/adventure, puzzle or click and point.


• The Ramayana:
  An ancient Sanskrit epic about the prince Rama(an avatar of Vishnu) and his wife Sita who is kidnapped by Ravana the demon King. Don't go "God of War" or "Dante's Inferno" on this despite the similarities. A comic book adaptation is being made into a MMO.

Still stuck?

• Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith


• The Amazing Screw-On Head by Mike Mignola


• Oscar Wilde's stories


• Works by L. Frank Baum (The guy who wrote The Wizard of Oz)


• The Pilgram's Progress by John Bunyan (Heavy Reading)


• The Illiad by Homer (The Trojan War)


• Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift


• Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe


• The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan


• Moby Dick by Herman Melville
  

Games in Animation History

Animation has a long and varied history with many differing attitudes and styles, from art house to slapstick comedy. This semester, I'm supposed to take a class (Animation, Auteurs and Digital environments) that is all about analysing and critiquing Animation(and games) in it's historical context and comparing it with the precedent.

The gamers in the class are outraged, this doesn't have much to do with our degree, much less our preferred subject matter. Not to mention that the animators already have a leg up with having done a history course. (we think) Persevere we must.

So what's a gamer to do when the BIG assignment is all about, taking a film, game, studio, series of work and discussing how it fits into the context of Animation History? Try and work something out with as little information that you have.

(9/3/10) : I think my lack of understanding these categories is hindering the kind of essay ideas I am coming up with. I hope the lecturer will clear this up instead of leaving us in the dust.

Here's a great big list of the categories for the subject with some of my ideas on what I can do with it.

Animation as Optical Toy:
I'm pretty sure all games can be considered an optical toy or a use of optical illusions. Being digital in nature, there is a fine line between a game being an actual object and the experience of playing the game. The main question would be, is a game really just an elaborate optical toy?

Game products based on traditional optical toys:
- Eye Toy
- Project Natal
- XBox Live Vision

Animation as Comic:
My initial understanding of this was the use of comedy but instead it refers to the transition of comic books or strips to animation. I'm thinking of using it to compare or contrast on the following topics:
- how narrative is used
- influence on how story is told
- graphic styles
- influence on culture (comics on games or games on comics)

Find a franchise and see if a game has been made of it, there are just too many to name.

Here's some examples:
- Spiderman
- Batman
- Gundam
- Visual Novels

Animation as Theatre:
According to my course guide this is where the history of comedy is referenced. Not sure if it also refers to theatrical arts. Likely topics to cover would be the use of comedy in games, methods of characterisation (how characters are expressing themselves) or use of theatrical elements. Not sure of the exact requirements, hopefully it will cleared up soon.

Here's something that reads like work:
- how character animation impacts/enhance user response to either story or gameplay
- development of comedy in games
- use of comedy in game eg. in dialogue, character interaction

Some games to look at:
- Sam & Max
- Monkey Island Series
- Toonstruck
- Newgrounds

Animation as Live Action:
TV sitcoms, Disney and Games are all listed under this topic, so I guess an essay about the gameplay mechanics eg. immediate response of controller to screen. Not too sure, it's hard working in the dark.

Though Live Action Gaming does turn up LARP if you look. I don't think that's what the assignment is asking for.

Animation as Fine Art:
The most obvious choice is art games, the hardest task is finding enough examples and reference material to talk effectively about this genre.
Essay topics would include:
- How the art game (auteur game) is impacting on the gaming scene
- Why there is an increase of art games
- What is the role of an art game / How does a game without game play work

Games to look at:
- flOw
- Flower
- Today I Die
- Aether
- Braid
- Heavy Rain

Animation as Puppet:
Digital puppetry is the subject matter here, so things like machinima or avatars are a crucial element to crafting an essay.

Games/Items to look at:
- The Sims
- Second Life
- Red vs Blue
- World of Warcraft

Simular products:
- Populus
- Black & White

These are looking at using computer generated "people" and manlipulating them as their God.
Essay Topics:
- Use of video games as a film making technology
- Social factors in digital environments
- Use of avatar in playing games

Animation as Music:
Something about music videos so I guess music games may be covered in this section. Perhaps writing about the multiplayer/social group of these games.

Modern Music Games:
- Dance Dance Revolution
- Guitar Hero
- PaRappa the Rapper
- Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan or Elite Beat Agents
- Electroplankton

Animation as Science:
Early computer experimentation, edu-tainment (serious games) and virutal simulations are all linked in this topic. The obvious thing is to find a product and blab on about it, though I'm not sure how well you can link military simulations to the history of animation...

Topics to look at:
- Early computer programs eg. graphic user interfaces
- Virtual simulations eg. military training simulations, Sim City
- Educational games
- AI, Real Time Strategy units

Games to look at:
- Sim City
- Spore
- The Sims
- VBS1 & VBS2 (Training tool for the British Military and the USMC and other military forces around the world)

Non Games:
- Ghost in the Shell
- The Matrix
- Tron

The problem with this is I think I would keep going back to how graphics are needed to make this user friendly... I think I am missing the point of this essay.

Animation as Documentary:
Virtual realities, multi-player and games with ethical/political messages are the call here.

Stuff to look at:
- The Sims eg. Alice & Kev
- World of Warcraft
- Second Life
- Harpooned
- Dafur is Dying
- Escape from Woomera

Animation as Play:
I have no idea as to what this topic will be, I'm tossing up between stage play and "I'm going to play". If it's the later, there will be way too many things to think about since nearly all games are about play.

(11/3/10): Out lecturer doesn't even know what this is going to be. I think it is heading towards "gameplay" which will be a tricky path indeed.

Heroes of Video Gaming - Part I

Students will research and write a 500 word essay responding to the question “Who or What has had the greatest influence over modern games (and why)?” Students are expected to prepare a succinct, well articulated opinion piece. They will be graded on the cogency of their argument, research material found to back up their claims and to a lesser extent, writing / referencing skills.

Who or what do you come up with when faced with an assignment like this? That is the challenge I am currently dealing with, so here's an early run down of potential subjects.

Inventions

• Cathode Ray Tube: Without it television and computers would not be what they are today. One of the major pieces of technology that lead to advancements in visual entertainment and interfaces. You can't play a video game without a screen.
  


• Joy Sticks: You can't fly planes, wage war or save the universe without some influence from this baby. Traversing the X, Y and Z dimensions has never been easier. Also comes in Arcade and Thumb(Analog) flavours.
  


• Game Controller: The Joy Stick's more advanced brothers, comes with more technological advances than the last. Until humans can play using their minds, we're all going to settle for hand-eye coordination and Gamer's Thumb for a while yet.
  


• Computer: Responsible for the making and playing of games, the computer has continued to inspire people to stretch limits and break some molds.
  


• Lasers: An invention that lead to the invention of CDS and Science Fiction weapons. You can't have a light saber without lasers.
  


• CD-ROM: When Floppy Discs are not large enough, this shiny and slim disc entered our hearts and still lives on. Indispensable for installing and storing games.
  

Organisations

• The US Military: Arguably one of the most influential organisations out there that have influenced the development of video games. From computers, AI, virtual reality and the Internet, this organisation has had a big hand in making technology for war and civilian use.
  


• NASA: Boldly going where you can't and inspiring generations of boffins, nerds and geeks to create technologies for space travel, physics and Space Nazis. For us earth-bound creatures, we still may not be piloting Star Fighters without these egg heads.
  


• MIT: Boffins need an education and at this fine institution many of the world's computing and networking technologies got their start. Spacewar!, GNU Project and Jargon File all got launched here.


• Stanford University: Situated in the heart of Silicon Valley, it is famous for educating a myriad of people who went out and developed companies such as Hewlett-Packard, Electronic Arts, Sun Microsystems(Java, kids.), Nvidia and Google.

Companies

• Nintendo: One of the largest game companies that still influences popular culture and gaming trends. Popularity has ensured that when a non-gamer thinks of video games, it is very likely they're thinking of Nintendo.


• Atari: The little engine that could have, Atari pioneered home consoles, arcades and personal computers in the early days. After the debacle of ET and a saturation in the market, it has never recovered the glory of days past.


• Apple: Starting with personal computers and now dominating wireless multimedia devices. Presenting games to the consumer has never been easier for independent gamer developers to get a foothold in the market.


• Lucas Arts: Part of Lucas' domination of entertainment, this company is synonymous with adventure games and light sabers. Despite the focus on the Star Wars franchise, many of the adventures games remain firm favourites in the hearts of many.

People

• Alan Turing: Mathematician, logician, cryptanalyst, and computer scientist whose work in the devlopment of computer science made him one of the key players in the creation of the modern computer.


• Ralph H Baer: Developer of the Brown Box, the first home console and is considered the spawn point for the video game industy.


• Geroge Lucas: The man behind Star Wars, a franchise that inspired generations. From Space Invaders, jokes and military plans, somewhere in your mind Star Wars has influenced your vision of space.


• Shigeru Miyamoto: The face of Nintendo, a life that is filled with commerical success. Considered to be one of the most influential game designers around.

Others to consider

• Issac Assimov


• Microchip


• Internet


• Dungeons & Dragons


• Star Trek


• Senat

Things not to consider:

• Coffee


• Saturday Morning Cartoons


• Midi Music


• 4-chan


• Web Comics


• Critics