Game analysis

Game 3: Kim Possible: A sitch in Time

Introduction

 A sitch in time is a game created based on Kim Possible Disney Tv Cartoon Series. Genre of this game is platform game.

Storyline

Kim Possible travels in the past to stop the villain from crushing her spirit. She was designed as she is in her childhood phase and teenage phase as game progresses.

Character design 

Kim possible

 Kim is in her childhood, where she is wearing a blue dress and has ponytails. She also has marks on her face. She wears blue shoes.

 Other character: Ron - Ron is also appears as child and wears red shirt and blue short pants with 
                                          black shoes. He was at the end of level 1.

Controls:

Arrow keys are used:

Up- jump
Down- crouch
Left -moves left
Right- moves right
Spacebar - activates lever, switch

Other features:

Life Bar: Shows Kim's life

Timer: Each level is given 2 min to finish that level by the player.

Extra lives: Kimmunicators are picked for extra lives.

Cuddle buddies: For points

Object design

Interactive objects: Lamp, Lever, Switch

Helpful objects: Block, ball to reach higher ground

Other objects: Kimmunicators, Cuddle buddies

Platform to jump from one to another:

Moving plane:

Obstacles design:

Level 1:

Sleeping babies

Level 3:

Laser beam

Metallic platform: avoid self from falling down through space between them

Enemy design:

Level 1:

K-villain  that throws ball on Kim.

Another villain that jumps and make the blocks fall on her.

Level 2:

Monkey

Villain that throws ball

Villain who uses water gun and shoots

Level 3: Last boss - Guardian of Satsuma

Level 1: Little Angel's Pre-school

Kim needs to get out of the classroom to meet pre-K Ron at the playground.

Environment design:

Takes place in a pre-school that is colourful and has many blocks. Drawings are paste on the wall and it ends with door that leads to playground.

Level 2: Little Angels Pre-School Playground

Young Kim nees to cross the playground to meet the present Kim, by avoiding obstacles and villains.

Environment design:

Playground that has see saw, slides, fence, trees, etc.

Level 3: Paisley Mansion Vault

Kim need to cross all the lasers and need to defeat the Guardian of Satsuma by switching on the switch. The laser will burn the villain.

Environment design:

Takes place in a place that has many switches, moving planes and red laser beams.

Achievement:

Gaming Experience:

It was fun to play, and the level was getting harder as progressing. The use of arrows is difficult when it comes to jumping from one plane to plane without falling down to death. The graphic was nice and beautiful. The idea of putting interactive objects is brilliant and suits well for children to play this game. The game designed as per storyline of the real cartoon series was a nice idea since it mimics the story and stimulates the player to play this game to help Kim to defeat the villain.

Reference:

Krazyness12345, 2008, KP: A sitch in Time-past, youtube, accessed on 9th September 2017, url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9dOdNxUXSg

Terminology and Principle of 3D Modelling

3D modelling is all about creating 3 dimensional object in a digital media especially 3D modelling softwares like Maya, Solidworks, Inventor, Meshmixer, Sculptris, Rhinoceros etc (Sculpteo, 2017). 3D modelling is used by designers, engineers, artists to create a precise models. Now with advanced graphic computer graphics and rendering technologies, 3D modeling has developed to produce virtually realistic models that can be used for entertainment industry and media as well as gaming industry (Um, D, 2016). STL file is the common file used for 3D printing.

Some general types of 3D modelling methods (Sculpteo, 2017):

Polygonal Modelling - 3D space connected by line segments to form polygonal mesh. They are lightweight and visualization is rendered quickly. Blender is one of the software that uses this method. In this method, the coordinates of vertices, edges and faces are manipulated to change the shape of the 3d Models.

  Faces    - When 3 or more edges meet, a face is form
  Edges    - Edge is the 2 vertices points connected by lines
  Vertices - A point in 3D space

Curve Modelling - generate geometry using curves. It can be both parametric and freeform. This rely on NURBS (Non-uniform rational B-splines) to evaluate surface forms. It has great flexibility and precision in generating shapes (Fabian, 2017).

Curves are drawn and edited by control vertices. This modelling approach is used in automotive and industrial parts.

Digital Sculpting - digital model is treated as modelling clay where user can twist, pull and push the digital model just like sculpture.

Code Driven Modelling- Geometry is generated based on condition set by designer and often uses Autodesk.

 Coodinate System

Unique sets of 3 numbers (x,y,z) in 3D space that decides position.

x:horizontal
y:veritcal
z:depth

 

Figure 1: Coordinate system (Worldviz, 2017)

yaw, pitch and roll are the terms used for rotation at respective axis as shown in diagram above (Worldviz, 2017).

Description of frame

Wireframe 

 A 3D wireframe model is edge/skeletal represantation of of the 3d image using lines and curves without any fillings (Techopedia, 2017).

Figure 2: Wireframe (University of Uteh, 2015)

Surface Modelling

It is a mathematical method provided in computer-aided design applications for displaying solid- appearing objects. This technique often used in architecturial designs and renderings. This technique make use of B-splines and Beizer mathematical technique. The object cannot be sliced open and can be in asymmetrical (Techopedia.com, 2017).


 Solid Modeling

It is the representation of solid parts of the 3d object. The geometrical object made up of wireframes in 2d or 3d. The CAD solid modeling helps the designer to view the designed object as real manufactured product. This technique is widely used in engineering, medical and entertainment field where 3d objects are used to design various products, buildings, devices and characters in movies (Khemani, H, 2008).


Principle of 3D modelling

1. Get reference materials

Figure 3: Reference (Lin Chou Cheng, 2013)


2. Make a model sheet comprised of story, storyboard, character design, environment
3. Start modelling
    - Use one of the orthographic viewpoint
    - Use a reference image
    - Modify a primitive polygon ( cube, cylinder, sphere)
4. Model each element by manipulating vertex, edge, faces
5. Learn the tool and techniques
    -  Symmetrical object is drawn on only side only and then mirror to the x/ y axis
    -  Tools used are mesh modelling tool, surface creation tools/ sculpt.
6. Modelling rules
    - Simple geometry followed by more geometry
    - Subdivison with minimal point to allow easy modelling
    - Avoid overlapping geometry
   
3D principles
  
- Realism
- Simplification and Details - Simple object with details make it more appeal
- Functionality
- Scale and proportion
- Appeal
- Volume
- Exaggeration
- Weight

 (Austincc.edu)

Reference:

Um, D, 2016, Solid Modeling and Applications: Rapid Prototyping, CAD and CAE Theory, ebook, Springer, accessed on 3 September 2017, url: https://books.google.com.my/books?id=RAWkCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA51&lpg=PA51&dq=terminology+and+principle+of+3d+modelling&source=bl&ots=Q4v6vFq5DY&sig=pZOVxQNUXN-0xrr6aEXXjQ8Q43A&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=terminology%20and%20principle%20of%203d%20modelling&f=false


Sculpteo, 2017, 3D Modelling: Creating 3d objects, sculpteo, accessed on 4th September 2017, url: https://www.sculpteo.com/en/glossary/3d-modeling-definition/

Fabian, 2017, Key 3D Modelling terms Beginners need to know, i.materialise, accessed on 5th September 2017, url: https://i.materialise.com/blog/3d-modeling-terms/

Worldviz, ,2017, Understanding Coordinate System, WorldViz LLC, accessed on 5th September 2017, url: http://docs.worldviz.com/vizard/Old_Book/Understanding_Coordinate_Systems.htm

Khemani, H, 2008, Application of CAD software: What is solid modeling?, brighthubengineering.com, accessed on 5th September 2017, url: http://www.brighthubengineering.com/cad-autocad-reviews-tips/19623-applications-of-cad-software-what-is-solid-modeling/

Task 1 Game Analysis

Game 1: Disney's Ducktales

Introduction

Ducktales is a platform based video game developed by The Walt Disney Company, Capcom on 1989 based on Disney animated cartoon called Ducktales. The consoler will be Nintendo Entertainment System and designed by Yoshinori Takaneka, Nobuyuki Matshushima, Tokuro Fujiwara, Keiji Inafune, Naoya Tomita, Hironori Matsumara, and Miki Kijima. Music is composed by Hiroshiga Tonomura. (retrogames.cz, 2017)

Storyline

Scrooge McDuck (player) will explore across the world in 5 different places (5 levels) in search for the 5 treasures to become the richest duck in the world. His weapon will be his cane that used for jumping, breaking objects and to attack the enemies. Along his way, he will be gathering diamonds, gold, and ice cream to restore his health. There will be secret passages, undergrounds in this game. At the end of each level, he will be defeating the bosses to collect the treasure. After all the 5 treasures collected, he will be facing the final big boss to get back the stolen treasures.

Character Design

 Scrooge McDuck (Player)

Figure 1: McDuck (Pressthebuttons.com, 2017)

 

Role: Player will be this character to move around, cane is used to attack the enemy and to jump on   

          thorns. This character designed on 1980's in which pixelation can be seen. The McDuck has   

          blue eyes, red shirt, black hat, and yellow cane.

Launchpad McQuack  (for hints)

Figure 2: Launchpad McQuack (Pressthebuttons.com, 2017)

Role: The helper, hints giver or transporter depends on which level. The design of McQuack has tall, builded body, with big beak, red clothes, white pants and a black cap.

Figure 3: McQuack transporting the McDuck

Louie, Dewey, Huey

Figure 4: Louie, Dewey, Huey (Pressthebuttons.com, 2017)

Role: Hints giver. The design of these character has the same face and body but differentiated with the colour of shirts, green, blue and red. The character has a hat, round face, blue oval eyes, short body, with peach colour legs.

Levels

There are 5 levels in this game. The levels is not ordered 1-5 but player can choose any level they want and reaccess back any level to get the key, etc.


The Amazon

Environment design: Forest that has many trees, bushes, grass, blue sky, brown ground, undergrounds

Enemy design: Throught the path in this platform, there are several small enemies, the player has to face and cross them. Some of them are gorilla, bee, fox, carnivorous plant/flytrap, snake, spider

Objects: Gold, Bush, Chest that contains ice cream/gold, Rock, Vines, ancient pillars

Colour used: Green, Blue, Brown, Grey, Black

 Final treasure design for this level:

Transylvania

 

 

Environment design: An old building in translyvania (dracula-related place) that has grey wall, brown reddish bricks, grey pillars, windows, door.

Enemy design: Flying white ghost, Mummy, Skeletal ducks

Objects: Treasure chest, mirror than can transport to other place, rope,cannon ball, black coffin with 'RIP' written on it, white rocks, knight armorsuits, illusionary walls, trolley

Colour used: Dull colours, Grey, Brown, Dusky yellow, dirty green, white, black

Last treasure design for this level:

African Mines

 

 

Environment design: Takes place in a mine which has soil down and above

Enemy design: Snail, bats, flytrap, bouncing duck

Objects: carton, chain, treasure chest, rolling ball

Colour used: brown, dirty green, grey

Last treasure design for this level:

The Moon

 

Environment design: Takes place on moon where rock can be seen and black night sky with stars and planets. Also has spaceship background.
Enemy design: Alien, Robotic jet pack using Duck, Octopus, electrical spikes
Objects: White rocks, moving plane
Colour used: Grey, White, Black, Green, Blue

Last treasure:

The Himalayas

Environment design: Snow mountains where there are blue and white snows everywhere, and ice, sky with clouds
Enemy design: Rabbit, Spider, Skating 'mask-wearing' duck, Human like monkey
Objects: Sharp glacier ice, rope, invisible holes for underground, secret power-ups,  square shaped
               ice, Rolling blue ball
Colour used: Light blue, White, Black, grey, dark blue

Last treasure design for this level:

 


Enemy Design

Last boss in Amazon: The enemy is an ancient statue/totem that made up of grey metal and has eye
                                    that blinks light when player hits it.

Last boss in Transylvania: A female duck which has dracula featured like sharp teeth and can fly has
                                           wings), It wear white shoes, and pink shirt and has 'Cleopatra'-like hair.

Last Boss in African Mines: A snail that given features like big nose, white beard, crown, wand, necklace and can roll.

Last Boss in Himalayas: Aggressive snow bear that hit the walls and snow ball falls down, Player must avoid the snowballs and kill the bear with cane.

 

Last boss in The Moon: A greyyish coloured rat that jumps.

Other big boss to finish the game: Dracula duck

Points/ Calculation of total diamonds/Achievement:

Money/gold collected
Health point : 5/5
Life chance: represents life
Total clearance of all the explored levels
Time given to solve a level: 600s

Common design for all levels:

Money

 Gold

Money

 Treasure chest

Ice cream to restore HP

Treasure chest for treasure


Gaming Experience

The game was fun to play as well as tricky to escape the obstacles and one may fail many times before the person finally find a way to finish the game. The game has many level from easy to hard. The character design is based on Disney's cartoon and recognizable. Sound is also plays important part as main theme song differs for every level and also at the final boss dungeons. The theme is logical and colour used is real colour according to the specific place, for example snow is white in colour not green. This game may take 2 hours to finish.

From this game analysis, I understand how a game is designed from storyline, character design, enemy design, background design, object design, description, hints, point board design and etc.


Reference

Retrogames ez, 2017, Disney's Ducktales(NES), retrogames.cz, accessed on 9th February 2017, url: http://www.retrogames.cz/play_157-NES.php?language=EN


Press The Buttons, 2017, Scrooge McDuck Then and Now, pressthebuttons.com,accessed on 9th February 2017, url: http://www.pressthebuttons.com/2013/03/scrooge-mcduck-then-and-now.html

Various For, 2013, Duck Tales (NES) Complete Walkthrough,Youtube, accessed on 6th September 2017, url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_DdJYsvuUs

3D Modelling Practice

Maya was installed and we are asked to study the tutorial videos on 3d Modelling and come up with lego models.

I was exploring the basic icons to use this software. I found obstacles to further my 3D modeling. I need to do more research.