Collapsus (Blog 9B)

Here is the link to Collapsus the first if not, one of the only trans-media games ever made. Enjoy!!!

Interactive Global Map

Storyline (Animations/ Clips)

Documentaries

(Sorry if I mispronounced Tommy Pallott's name)

Superhero Power (Blog 8A)

First here is the link to the article on superpowers This American Life  Enjoy!!!

"With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility"

Here is the clip from Spiderman when the quote was first introduced. Just pay attention to the quote not on how Peter was mean to his Uncle.

Video Game Reflection (Blog 9A)

My video game presentation went okay but there were some things that our group could have focused on. One thing we could have focused on more was the controls of the game we originally had an idea of putting a picture of the controls but scratched the idea after the picture wouldn't paste onto our powerpoint. 

I think we focused too much on the fact that we were making a game like Halo and Call of Duty rather than focus on how it is different and unique from those games. We did however say why it would be a successful game which is because both of those series were very successful and our game takes aspects from both of those games and puts them together so it would hopefully become a success. I would have liked to focus on the game play also like a back story behind the game and come up with a plot like get more in depth with it so it attracts the audience's attention more and get them more involved and ready to invest. Some of the pictures used in the presentation were I believe a good illustration of what the game is going to look like to an extent they were vague ideas of what we wanted to do. 

In my opinion, the objectives are very hard to describe when giving a presentation on a video game compared to an actual game walk through. Objectives are the non-optional conditions that must be met to ensure a given outcome. This could be hard to convey within a presentation that doesn't show actual clips or pictures from the game represented in the powerpoint. Objectives within the story mode can vary depending on the player and would have to be storyboarded and drawn out in a flow chart/ decision tree. Those decisions can branch off into more decisions compared to just a couple of decisions in like which weapon to use, character to use, etc. The mission can change instantly depending on the players decisions. For instance, Dead Rising 2 has many alternate endings based on what objectives you complete and who you save from the zombie outbreak. So without a video or more in-depth walk through of the game.

"Freak Factor" (Blog 10)

“Freak Factor” by David Rendall is an interesting article based on people’s flaws and problems. Here is the link so you can read the article "Freak Factor" . Rendall explains that people are all faced with flaws which they can either fix these flaws, build on their strengths or both. He suggests that being a well-rounded person and fixing your flaws is very unlikely and not the best way to cope with your flaws. He suggests rather embrace those flaws because those same flaws characterize your strengths and can help you with your creative process. Rendall also explains that having flaws is nothing bad instead it makes you unique and if that is considered a freak then it is better to be a freak. I found this article very enlightening and true. Point number 2. What's My Problem? brings up some good points, there is nothing wrong with you and just because you're different doesn't make you weird or mean there is something wrong with you. You find success when you find the right fit, this has some truth behind it because it you find something that utilizes your flaws in a good way towards your advantage then you can gain success. Your weakness makes you different and being different is good because it's what separates us from everyone else and makes us unique. Points number 4 and 5 go together at least I thought so. Point 4 is titled "Forget It: Don't Try to Fix Your Weaknesses" and talks about how you shouldn't fix your flaws because in the end you do more damage than good and even if you fix the flaw you will not have a valuable strength anymore. Point 5 is Foundation Build on Your Strengths this goes along with rather than trying to work out your flaws focus on your strengths or your flaws as strengths. If you do this it will help you become a more creative person and achieve more success. 

One of my greatest strengths is how I perceive details and I try to preserve these details when I make something. I try to make something as good as I can within limits because you can not foresee limitations such as budgeting, technology, etc. This is also probably one of my greatest weaknesses because this focus on perfection can lead me to overlook certain aspects of the piece of work such as I could over budget trying to make the project the best I could. I would also say another one of my greatest strengths is how I perceive things. I perceive things differently than others and can imagine doing something different with that project than others would. Like the joke video project I took the beans joke and made it unique focusing on how the beans are symbolic for drugs and this leads to the man's addiction taking control and ultimately destroy his relationship with everyone he cared about.

Characters/ Animations Critique (Blog 8B)

Spark/ Villain (My character)

Hotspot / Hero (Christina's Character)

Critique of Other's Characters

Here is a link to Emily Zink's character post. (below)

                Brandi il Mondo / Villain (Emily Zink)                                    

Hipster Man / Hero (Adam Cesarz) 

                                                                                               

Brandi il Mondo or the villain uses one hue with different saturation's which is a dark color most resembling black from what I can see. The brightness also helps convey the feeling that she is evil because she is surrounded by darkness. The mood that I get when I look at her is sinister because she has an evil smirk on her face and she is surrounded by darkness which also helps her image as a villain. There is affinity used in the color of her costume with the background which could help show how she blends in with the background or to show how she is stealthy. The contrast is shown through the difference between the color of her hair and the background. Hipster uses more brightness to contrast with the villain using a split-complementary color scheme with the blue, green, and red. The mood that The Hipster conveys to me would be angry and determined by his facial expression he is not too happy most likely because of Brandi il Mondo and probably determined to stop her. The Hipster also stands in front of a bright background compared to Brandi il Mondo's character who stands in front of a dark background which is contrast between the two images.

Here is the link to Sam Binnig's character post. (below)

Lightning Man/ Hero (Sam Binnig)                      

Puck / Villain (Colin Mercer

Lightning Man uses an analogous color scheme with the red and yellow with different saturation's to get the black color. The brightness in Lightning Man's picture is brighter than that of Puck's who has a dark background which is to convey that he is evil and dark hearted. Puck uses a analogous color scheme as well with the purple and blue with different saturation's to get the dark color. The two character's color scheme are complements of each other on the color wheel. Puck has a lot more shadows and darkness to convey a darker mood than Lightning man who doesn't really have shadows except has brightness which contrast each other.  Lightning Man has a square head linear body and Puck has a circular and a curvilinear body which contrast each other as well. 

Here is the link to Alex Bolinger's character post. (below)

(there were only animations no drawings)

Thunderthighs (Matt Brody)

T Storm (Alex Bolinger)

Thunderthighs uses an analogous color scheme because the purple and blue are next to each other on the color wheel these colors are complementary to the colors of T Storm who uses a Green and Yellow color scheme which are also analogous to each other. There is more darkness in Thunderthighs characters which could show that he is a darker character or more evil than T storm. Thunderthighs has a square head compared to T storms round head which contrast to each other. The movements of the characters are different because Thunderthighs uses fire to fly away and move around, and T Storm uses instant transmission to move around. There is tension and release used in T Storms clip because when T Storm uses instant transmission he transports from one part of the screen to another and the tension is because you do not know when he is going to teleport or where he is going to teleport to. The release comes when he finally teleports and returns back from teleporting.

Joke Video Assignment (Blog 7)

Beans

A Wonderful Escape

The joke videos take a different approach towards telling the joke. One is very literal and straight to the point like the joke and the other takes a more creative approach to the video. Both videos used lines to help frame the characters in the clips which drew the attention of the audience towards the characters. There were was also similar rhythm used throughout both the movies.  These are shown by the rhythm of the windows on the diner which are within equal distances of each other creating visual rhythm.  Another way there is rhythm shown is by the character walking in the scenes which also creates visual rhythm within the scene without moving the camera. The difference between the movies comes in the visual representation of Tension and Release and Contrast and Affinity. There is more tension shown in the video A Wonderful escape because the screen actually goes dark and all you hear is the audio and the release happens when the screen flips back from the black to the people sitting at the table. There is also more contrast and affinity used in A Wonderful Escape as well. The beginning scene uses a lot of contrast with the darkness of the characters surroundings compared to the very colorful and warm colored flame. There is also affinity used in the Beans movie because everything is light and colorful throughout the movie there is no darkness outside or in the character’s surroundings.

Gears of War 2

(Don't pay attention to the texts put up by the user of the video)