Twins are coming

The replacement arcade machines are nearly done.

They will be ready for open evening (fingers crossed)

Half term homework: Game theme and asset production

You need to decide on the theme for your game. Remember we are talking old school game genres, racer, platformer, shooter etc...

Once you have identified a genre take a look at examples of control schemes for retro games to give you an idea how this may work for you.

You need to also look at the presentation shown in new games, particularly the menu structures and title screens used. Elements of these you should be able to incorporate in your own front end such as graphical styles and use of audio.

Once you have decided on this then you need to start organsing your assets.

Collect/create the following

audio (mp3 or wav formats)
Background graphics (organise into single images png for transparency)
Sprites (organise into a large sprite tile sheet 2048x2048 as png)
Title graphics (anything you want to move or flash such as Press Start, insert credit, logos etc...)

We need this stuff ready for when we come back after half term.

Homework: Mode specific design

The design section of your portfolio needs completing before we break up (this will be Thursday 17th Feb 2011). All work needs to be in your folder.

• General Design
• Mode specific Design for Title
• Process design for Title
• Assets for Title
• Mode specific Design for Options
• Process design for Options
• Assets for Options

You should also ensure that you have reviewed your specification section to ensure that no parts have been left out. In particular several people are missing:

• Inputs, Processing, Outputs and storage (page 11 of guide)
• Messages to User (page 13 of guide)

Double 2nd yr ICT Monday 31st Jan 2011

I am away today (hope to be back tomorrow)

page 16 portfolio guide - Game State design

For the title and options you need to start a document (two documents) detailing the design for each. Start by doing the items on page 16, then make sure that your Top Down designs are complete for each mode.

When complete go back to your specifications and ensure that you have gone through the brief as stated on page 13.

You should also ensure that there are no other missing parts from your specification section, go through the guide and the contents list to double check this.

Homework General Design

The General Design section of the Front end must be completed by Monday 31st January.

Make sure this work is in you folder on the day.

You may need to go back and finish any items not completed in your specification (it doesn't need to be the same as the designs but if there was a complete lack of detail in the spec then you will need to go back and add it).

Make sure you have also completed the Testing for both the Title and Options screens.