Alpha

I worked on more of the music, but still I am stuck on trying to finish it. I never got a chance to work on the environment. Mike's computer has been acting funky and hasn't been able to get me the file. Once he puts it up I will start working on the environment. So, hopefully I'll get a few things done over the Christmas break and get things ready for our team to start working for beta.

Music

I have been creating music for the game.  Here is what I came up with.  It is not finished at this time; I have a "writers block" so to speak. Fear not! It will come to me eventually!

Female Hero

I finished modeling the female hero from the base model from Jordan.  I decided to actually give the girl some features to the face so I put in lips and a nose.  All I need to do now is start texturing and then give it to Tyler so he can rig her.

After Thanksgiving

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!  After the tryptophan finally wore off from the turkey I looked up a helicopter sound effect for the commando game.  I also started making another tree.

 

Ta da!

Now I need to work on the female model and environmental textures along with finding more death noises.  The scream we are using now is just too much.  We need more grunts and sighs.

Moving onward

Got the trees fixed finally (and...hopefully).  Now I will fix up the female hero model and then I am going to create textures for the environment.  Mike is going to give me the level and I will see what else I can do to make it better.  I do not like how it is so blocky, so I will change that.  However,  I will keep it to the art style that we like and to the colors that we have chosen.  Also, I need to find more sound effects (helicopter) as we have added more assets to the game.

Problemas

I fixed more normals of the trees and hopefully fixed the problem with the grass.  I've noticed that the pine tree I made won't work for the game.  So, I'm actually going to create it with geometry.  I also found more sound effects for Hish and fixed up the music for the Space Team that I made.


BTW, it's my birthday today!  GO ME!

Fixes and Alterations

I had some problems with my pine tree and it's normals, same with the other tree.  So, I went in and (hopefully) fixed them.  I also took Jordan's basic model and altered it into a female model.  Yay!

Also, I got another tune in my head and composed it, but this time it's for the Space Team.   It's more of an introduction song (for the title screen/menus).

Sounds and Trees

I found more sound effects that we can use for team Commando.   I also textured my tree (I can add more leaves later if needed; I just wanted to keep it as low poly as possible).  I also fixed up my pine tree (because its texture was not a multiple of 4 for XNA) and grass model so it has more depth.  Hopefully everything will work.

Alpha-wha?!

Along with finding sound effects for our Creep Commando game, I have also been learning the ways of alpha mapping. This has totally eased up my modeling for trees. I don't really even have to model the tree! I just create a plane, and put a tree texture with alpha channels on it! HA! I actually did this pine tree with a png image and somehow Maya likes that too.  You can kind of tell that it's all planes, but I think if I burn lights onto it, I can trick the viewer it to making it look like it has more depth.

Foliage and Music

I've got some basic foliage done for our environment.  I still need to texture the tree.

 

I also started writing up a song for the game! It's not done, but I just had to get the intro down before I forgot it!

 

Maya Brushes!

This week I am in charge of environmental modeling.  I was wondering how to model trees and whatnot when I found out a really cool feature of Maya!  Yay!  They have paint brushes, like that of Photoshop!  What does that mean?  They have environmental brushes!  I can paint a tree directly onto a scene!  They even have a moving grass brush!  There's even an option telling Maya to turn these into actual objects!  Hopefully we can use these.  If not, then I will make them myself.  I saw no rock brushes, so I'll make some rocks =D

Scanned In

Finally got my concepts scanned in. 

 

More Concepts - Continued

Our team in capstone decided on an art style we'd like the game to have.  It would be a mix of  Buckets of Blood and Team Fortress 2.  The characters in our game will be shorter and more round, sort of like what we had in the prototype.  I have re-made my two females to this style, however haven't scanned them in.  I will do this as soon as possible.  Now the art team and I will start (and have actually somewhat already started) modeling our hero characters and creeps.

More Concepts

Here is the concept art I created last time.  I drew her with the idea that she would use grenades as her specialty.  The gun on her back is also a grenade launcher.

And here is one I made for the other female soldier.  She's a bit more cartoon-like than the other concept.  I put her as a flamethrower user, but we'll see if that idea will fly.   She could easily be put with a shotgun instead.

I'd like to say that my process in doing art work somewhat goes in stages.  I re-draw my concepts to my liking and to my teams liking.  So, there's a high possibility these concepts will change.  I will admit I drew the 2nd concept a bit too fast for my liking and later on will most likely re-draw her.

Concept Art

The art team of the capstone class has decided to draw concept art to get an idea as to where we wish the art in the game to be.  I drew a female soldier.  I haven't scanned it in yet, but I will post it once I do.

Let's Get the Game Rollin'!

So far, the team has been coming up with ideas for the game in the Capstone class.  We decided to have the player be able to choose from multiple heroes.  I am to come up with some concept art for some of the female heroes for the up and coming week.  I've got some ideas already.  Let's hope they turn out alright and help us out!

Going Commando

The final games have been chosen for the senior capstone class!  Gravity Shift, The Space Game, and Creep Commando.  I'm on the Commando team.  For now, we are just brain storming and getting ideas down.  I'm excited to see where this game will go!

Time for the Big Pitches!

It is now the days where we (me and my fellow students) are giving our final game pitches.  I have already given my final pitch in my game development class and my game was chosen!  Huzah!  Now, for my Senior Capstone class, my team and I need to present our final game pitch tomorrow to a group of teachers and representatives from Disney and EA. EEK!  I'm super nervous, yet super excited!  I was told I have a "booming" voice during our test-run pitch, so my team decided I should be the one to present the game.  So, I have been working on a power point and getting myself ready for tomorrow.  Wish me (and my fellow students) luck!

One-Pager

I started work on the "one-pager" for the capstone pitch.  I need the other guys to look at it and add more stuff that they see fit.  I put graphics on there and made a logo.  We changed our name too.

A More Cartoon Feel

My team and I decided we would like our game to bee cartoon-like, with a light feel.  So I went and re-did the map and created mini-figures to perhaps go on the map!  In this map, the pirates start off in the lower-right corner, and the ninjas start in the upper-left.

 

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes! (Turn and Face the Strain)

So, our professors in the capstone class told us that our game idea was getting too complicated and that we would most likely get our game shot down on pitch day. They told us to start re-thinking about our game and change it for the better.  My team and I decided that we should look at the game Mushroom Wars more and try to make our RTS/Puzzle simple like that.  We stepped down from having 2.5D game (no more Maya for now), and just go 2D. 

I was able to jump into Photoshop today and I quickly created a map and a ninja building for the prototype!  We're going to use Nate's pirate flag represent the pirates.  I then looked around for some sound effects.

I'm the map, I'm the map, I'm the map, I'm the map~!

Hooray for figuring out there was a perspective scale in P.S.!

The Path to the Pitch

Hey everyone.  I was able to make/find songs (all of which are my creation, mind you) for my senior project prototype game.  I haven't put them on the web anywhere yet, so I can't share them with you at the moment.  However, I did manage to jump into Autodesk Maya and quickly make a "prototype" building for my game. 

Hooray for ninja-type hospital!...?  Hehe, any-who~ I'm quite the "noob" when it comes to putting art into a game.  I've never done it!  I've done art for a game, but I've never actually put it into a game.  Well, everything is a learning process and I'm sure I will learn the steps sooner or later.

Pitches Part 2 Continued

Alright.  I found out what team I am on for the capstone E.A.E class!  Wewt! I'm on the Battle for Middle Earth team.  It's an real time strategy (R.T.S.) style game like Mushroom Wars.  You can create buildings to help your army to defeat the other team.  So, you can build barracks or even a hospital.  We want them to be upgradable too, so each time you upgrade the images of your buildings will change!  We also want to animate them!  I am the only art asset on the team at the moment, but I'm feeling OK with everything.  I can do it!

So, remember the pirate pitch for my game development class?  Well, I drew some doodles for it, and my team really likes the style.  So, we're actually changing the theme of medieval, middle-earth style to pirates and ninjas.  We'll see if that stays, but I'm fine with whatever.  We'll see how it pans out.

Aside from art, I'm also going to compose a small music piece for our prototype!  Yay!  I <3 music!

Here are the pirate doodles I did for my game development class along with ninjas I just barely made.  The female pirate is a bit more simplistic, but they both have that simple style to them. Aren't they ADORABLE?! =)

Pirates:

Ninjas:

We'd like to stick to this cartoon-like and simple style for the capstone game.  Now I just need to do some concepts on buildings.  Looks like I need to research oriental and Caribbean styles!  Off I go!

Pitches Part 2!

So, my capstone class has narrowed all the pitches to the top 9.  The teachers are going to put us in groups where we are going to take one of the pitches and expand more upon it.  Later, we will pitch the game again with further detail and even an XNA prototype of the game.  I'm excited to see which team I am in and to see what games are going to be further developed.

Game Pitching

For my Senior Capstone class and my Game Development class I had to come up with game ideas/pitches.  It's harder than it looks!  I would think one, write it out, and go...nah *crumple up paper*.   Either that or think that it's been done already and then think of another game.

So, here are my two premises of the games I though. 1) You are an apprentice wizard who has to get back your master's staff from the evil witch.  2)  You are a pirate looking for treasure.   So, that's the basics of the two.  I'm horrible at thinking up games.  However, I actually put more thought into the pirate game than the wizard one.

Here's my pitch for the pirates and apprentice:

THE QUEST FOR TREASURE
This game would either have a top down view similar to Zelda or a side view similar to Castle
Crashers. You are a pirate trying to find the big treasure chest on the map (whether it be
at the end of the level, of you have to explore the map to find it). You have to face other
pirates and other enemies (possibly military or maybe zombie/skeleton pirates) to get to it.
You need to hack and slash these pirates/enemies while trying to find the" big booty", which
contains loads of gold (can maybe use for a shop or just be there for points) and possibly rare
items (weapons, HP upgrade potions, etc). Once you find this chest you end the level. You can
find mini chests aside from the main treasure that contain new weapons and armor or potions.
Your character can also earn ranks. The more chests you find (even little ones) the higher your
status/infamy rises (so achievements. If you collect 10 chests you could get a rank like "Starter
Pirate"). For the main character I was thinking you could chose who you want; either have
pre-made characters to choose from (even a girl character for those females out there!), or even
have a simple character creation. In game your character will have an HP bar either above your
character or to the side of the screen to help keep track of health.
Each level would be a different location (deserted island, jungle, etc), and on each progressive
level the enemies would become a bit harder. I was also thinking of maybe having a menu map
for levels and have it be linear.  So you chose the first X you see on the map, and once you defeat it another
one pops up and you go there to the next level. Once you finish all the levels a congratulations
would come up showing your points, ranks, etc.
OPTIONAL: You can possibly find a parrot or some sort of AI to help you fend off other pirates in
some areas.


APPRENTICE ADVENTURE

You are an apprentice wizard. Your master's wand/staff/book/orb/jewelry/etc has been stolen by
the evil witch and it is your job to get it back. This would be more of a 2D side-scroller platformer
and more to the likes of Mega Man and Cave Story. As you progress through the game you can
obtain and/or collect new spells and potions whether it be to upgrade a weapon, health, magic, etc.
There are mini bosses throughout the game. There's also the idea where you can obtain items from
some mini bosses. For example, one mini boss could be a witch and you can obtain her broom to use
once you defeat her.
For levels, you would be crossing deserts, snowy mountains, and even jungles to reach the Evil Witch's
castle. So, this game has potential for a plethora of level ideas and designs.
Monsters/enemies are also potential for ideas and expansion. Each level would have different monster
types that associate it to that area, and possibly could be seen in later levels but upgraded (tougher,
etc).
The characters in this game are mainly you, the evil witch, and you master. There could be other side
and minor characters put into the game. There could be a level where a fairy helps you or an orc helps
you fight a mini boss, or possible the Evil Witch has a daughter who hate her mother and she helps you.
The story could be pretty simple or could be drawn out a little bit. The basics are that the Evil Witch
wants your master's wand/staff/book/etc. to obtain the up-most power in the land.
Visually the artistry would lean more towards a cartoon-style, so this game is light and not hardcore.

Introduction of Me

I am female, and I love to play video games.  "Le Gasp! Impossible!" say you men, but oh yes, we girl gamers are out there.  I love my games!  LOVE LOVE LOVE, om nom nom!  I consider myself a PC gamer, mostly because I live up at the dorms of my university and lack a TV for consoles.  I also compose music on my computer and therefore I love my PC too!  So much so, that I actually have considered ways to carry my computer tower out of my dorms/house in case of a fire... Don't get me wrong though; I also love console games!  I have a Wii, GBA, DS, PS2, PS3, and XBOX (well I mooch that off the boyfriend for Final Fantasy 13).  So, I have a plethora of games that I have played and enjoyed! 

What games suit my forte, then? Well here is a list of current games I am playing that are sucking the life out of me: Counter-Strike Source, Left 4 Dead(2), Final Fantasy Tactics A2, Pokemon, Oblivion, Dragon Age: Origins (I just love Alastair *squee*), and  Mass Effect.   Yep, they are all currently sucking out my soul, but in such a pleasing way.  Which, I guess also bums me out sometimes because I really want to go to the mall on a shopping spree and let my girly side take over.  Someone should make a game of a mall and I can go virtual shopping.  WIN/WIN!  Honestly though, I'm really not that sad...

I am currently at the University of Utah in the Entertainment Arts and Engineering major.  In short, we learn about the creation of video games and animation.  It's really fun!  Sometimes it is challenging (*shakes fists at her programming classes*), but still it is fun.  I'm on the art/film side of EAE, hence why I curse the programming gods.  Well, I respect the people who can do it because frankly my brain cannot compute those hieroglyphics.  I also know that programmers can create many things and are vital in the gaming and technology industry; it's just me and programming don't get along well. It's a love-hate relationship.

Being a girl gamer is fun.  It is sometimes fun to see/hear reactions of people when they find out you play video games.  Though, this can be a faulty.  I play Counter-Strike Source and Left 4 Dead(2) in which I use a mic.  Sometimes reactions to my voice are...well, here are the two main question I am asked: 1) Are you a 13 year old boy? and 2) are you hot?  Sometimes you silly boys out there can become, well silly and annoying.  I could always "not" use the mic I suppose.  Then again, it is hard to type out BOOMER!  or TANK!  or GET THIS WITCH OFF OF ME! in a panic.  I end up screaming like a girl.

~'Tis the life~