This speed writing was produced to the tune of Stravinsky’s ‘The Rites of Spring’
10min Speed Writing Session: Technology
I love technology, I love how it has enhanced the lives of all that posses it’s awesome power. I was much younger than, but that made it even more magical. I was given a phone, an iPhone to be precise. Take a look at me now.
I love how I am now able to do everything from this one device. I was popular when I was younger, now I have no need to interact with others, the iPhone allows me to escape into a world where everyone is independent of each other, and all we do is wait for the next great app.
That’s what I do, I create these apps. What to create next. Why ask strangers for directions when you can ask the app. Shopping centres now have self serve check outs, diners for one are at an all time high. Why go to the movies when you can have it all from the comfort of your own home, and the same can be said for the gym.
This is my life, independent (lonely), exciting (predictable).
This morning I woke up, the sky was grey. It has been exactly 6 weeks to the day since I have spoken to another human being. I am scared that I have forgotten how to. This is the world I grew up in, I know no other. Yet, I still want more, more technology. I was popular when I was younger.
A car crashes from the sky, I duck suddenly, even though the car is no where near me. I peak back up from the space I now occupy. The wind is blowing fast from the explosion. The iPhone shop has been destroyed. Now, today, this moment, I will be remembered as the one who opened the eyes of the people. Technology has become like a cancer, it has spread throughout the world and caused us all to become nothing more than mindless zombies. As one we can in the present day rekindle our union with technology. We can now start to rebuild it in our conscious collective though of wanting to be as one.
Am I going insane? I don’t know one from the other, this may be the end for me, once living through technology, now being supported by it. My human life is over, my life as a cyborg has begun. I now see the error of my human ways, you too should view the world from the view of one that has no conscious, I can now act without though and by simply following mathematical patterns in my hard drive. I was popular when I was younger.
The end.
This session needs much more work and is a bit surprisingly random, however I am glad that I was able to write without thinking too much about conventions.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Avatars, Games & Characters
What will make someone care about my idea?
Based on the article Motivation to Play
http://indacan.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/tychsen.pdf
The article raised some interesting aspects into the motivations involved in playing RPG formats. While the article maintained a very clear and solid research strategy that may become a blueprint for future studies, the scope of the work was quite limited. This is in reference to the top selling games in Australia in 2008 (included below, http://www.gameplayer.com.au/gp_documents/090403AussieSales.aspx).
1. Wii Fit - Wii
2. Wii Play - Wii
3. Mario Kart - Wii
4. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games - Wii
5. Grand Theft Auto IV - PlayStation 3
6. Grand Theft Auto IV - Xbox 360
7. Dr Kawashima's Brain Training - Nintendo DS
8. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games - Nintendo DS
9. Super Smash Bros. Brawl - Wii
10. Big Beach Sports – Wii
In terms of the question of making someone care about my idea, if I were to make an RPG format concept than the article would be extremely useful. However it appears that Nintendo currently has the winning formula with their user friendly Wii system. This indicates that consoles play a large role in an individual’s motivation to play. The Wii system has successfully attracted the female and, more importantly the, adult markets across the world which have in turn been showcased in their media commercials and celebrity endorsements.
The re-introduction of old rivals Mario and Sonic represents an aspect not mentioned in the reading of the sense of ‘familiarity of characters’ or in this case ‘nostalgia’. The game genres are quite basic and I assume that a study into the motivations of playing the Wii rather than a PS3 or Xbox would have some interesting results.
The final point to make is that the Wii games are not only simplistic, they also encourage friendly competition. When juxtaposed against MMORPGs, the main aspect is the physical interaction between players. The Wii provides, dare I say, a more intimate gaming environment. If you tie this together with the sense of nostalgia found in the game titles than what Nintendo has been able to do is create an arena that mimics the way in which young children interact. Recreating one’s youth momentarily (escapism) has proven to be an exceptionally sound theme in a competitive industry.
Based on the article Motivation to Play
http://indacan.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/tychsen.pdf
The article raised some interesting aspects into the motivations involved in playing RPG formats. While the article maintained a very clear and solid research strategy that may become a blueprint for future studies, the scope of the work was quite limited. This is in reference to the top selling games in Australia in 2008 (included below, http://www.gameplayer.com.au/gp_documents/090403AussieSales.aspx).
1. Wii Fit - Wii
2. Wii Play - Wii
3. Mario Kart - Wii
4. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games - Wii
5. Grand Theft Auto IV - PlayStation 3
6. Grand Theft Auto IV - Xbox 360
7. Dr Kawashima's Brain Training - Nintendo DS
8. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games - Nintendo DS
9. Super Smash Bros. Brawl - Wii
10. Big Beach Sports – Wii
In terms of the question of making someone care about my idea, if I were to make an RPG format concept than the article would be extremely useful. However it appears that Nintendo currently has the winning formula with their user friendly Wii system. This indicates that consoles play a large role in an individual’s motivation to play. The Wii system has successfully attracted the female and, more importantly the, adult markets across the world which have in turn been showcased in their media commercials and celebrity endorsements.
The re-introduction of old rivals Mario and Sonic represents an aspect not mentioned in the reading of the sense of ‘familiarity of characters’ or in this case ‘nostalgia’. The game genres are quite basic and I assume that a study into the motivations of playing the Wii rather than a PS3 or Xbox would have some interesting results.
The final point to make is that the Wii games are not only simplistic, they also encourage friendly competition. When juxtaposed against MMORPGs, the main aspect is the physical interaction between players. The Wii provides, dare I say, a more intimate gaming environment. If you tie this together with the sense of nostalgia found in the game titles than what Nintendo has been able to do is create an arena that mimics the way in which young children interact. Recreating one’s youth momentarily (escapism) has proven to be an exceptionally sound theme in a competitive industry.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Software & Online Distribution
This speed writing was produced to the tune of Beethoven's 'Op.110' for piano (extract)
10min Speed Writing Session: Robots
The robots move together, similar to a human band marching. The work is being completed in record time, who would have thought.
Awareness. This term has significant meaning to the human race. We know we are alive, we have a choice.
Suddenly, the robots stop working! Instead, they start dancing. They too now have awareness.
Rather than a scene out of a science-fiction movie, the robots have adapted the most “ ” of human disciplines, the Arts.
One robot moves, another stops, they meet in the middle. The other robots form a circle around them, they twirl around and around, then, stop on a dime.
Amazing.
If dancing is the human soul laughing, than do these robots have something similar? Perhaps, I’d like to think that they blended in with their surroundings, that they scanned the inhabitants and found within the human culture characteristics that allow them to be free. Instead of seeing the human race as the oppressors, they have seen them as their creators who were capable of instilling in them beauty and the creativity to express their new found awareness of being free.
...
Soon after, the humans do not want the robots to be free, they want the work done.
The end.
10min Speed Writing Session: Robots
The robots move together, similar to a human band marching. The work is being completed in record time, who would have thought.
Awareness. This term has significant meaning to the human race. We know we are alive, we have a choice.
Suddenly, the robots stop working! Instead, they start dancing. They too now have awareness.
Rather than a scene out of a science-fiction movie, the robots have adapted the most “ ” of human disciplines, the Arts.
One robot moves, another stops, they meet in the middle. The other robots form a circle around them, they twirl around and around, then, stop on a dime.
Amazing.
If dancing is the human soul laughing, than do these robots have something similar? Perhaps, I’d like to think that they blended in with their surroundings, that they scanned the inhabitants and found within the human culture characteristics that allow them to be free. Instead of seeing the human race as the oppressors, they have seen them as their creators who were capable of instilling in them beauty and the creativity to express their new found awareness of being free.
...
Soon after, the humans do not want the robots to be free, they want the work done.
The end.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Ergodic Films & Games
This speed writing was produced to the tune of “Storch” by Trio Slicnation (http://www.myspace.com/slicnaton)
5min Speed Writing Session: Walk this way
The sun is rising and the end of a gruelling night has finally arrived. In one corner of the arena lies a once powerful warlord, in the other a sign of things to come.
As the victor approaches the defeated, she hesitates and asks herself ' am I really ready for this reality?’
On the other side, Jack laughs with a distain towards everything she represents. He has nothing left in him, only a warning,
'You still live in a world that is governed by two different sets of laws'
...
Now, let me tell you the story of how this picture came to be.
A train stops at its designated station. Jack in his early forties attentively waits on the platform.
The end.
The music was an influential piece in the overall writing process, something which for some sense I didn’t expect to direct thought process as much as it did. As I am new to this method I found it inviting and productive. However, I still establish myself as trying to produce an understandable piece of work rather than simply writing down as many words as possible which I believe was the purpose of the exercise.
In terms of creating a theme, feel and overall mood of a larger picture, speed writing is a tool that I will employ if and when I get an unexpected burst of creativity. This unfortunately does not happen often as I am not one to carry around a notebook and pen as some artists find essential (and for good reason). But when it does, I’ll keep you updated.
5min Speed Writing Session: Walk this way
The sun is rising and the end of a gruelling night has finally arrived. In one corner of the arena lies a once powerful warlord, in the other a sign of things to come.
As the victor approaches the defeated, she hesitates and asks herself ' am I really ready for this reality?’
On the other side, Jack laughs with a distain towards everything she represents. He has nothing left in him, only a warning,
'You still live in a world that is governed by two different sets of laws'
...
Now, let me tell you the story of how this picture came to be.
A train stops at its designated station. Jack in his early forties attentively waits on the platform.
The end.
The music was an influential piece in the overall writing process, something which for some sense I didn’t expect to direct thought process as much as it did. As I am new to this method I found it inviting and productive. However, I still establish myself as trying to produce an understandable piece of work rather than simply writing down as many words as possible which I believe was the purpose of the exercise.
In terms of creating a theme, feel and overall mood of a larger picture, speed writing is a tool that I will employ if and when I get an unexpected burst of creativity. This unfortunately does not happen often as I am not one to carry around a notebook and pen as some artists find essential (and for good reason). But when it does, I’ll keep you updated.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Interactive Storytelling
The short article referred to is titled ‘Turning a Linear Story into a Game: The Missing Link between Fiction and Interactive Entertainment’. The reading currently has no author and can be found @ http://www.gamedev.net/reference/list.asp?categoryid=123
The article discusses the growing trend of cinematic aspects found in video games. The main premise is that the characteristics of fiction, with the given examples of theme, characters, scripts and production can be applied across a broad range of mediums. This includes video games and with the right production, for instance the appropriate camera angles that can assist in creating a more movie-like experience, a game can become a great piece of fiction.
The one game franchise in particular that has embraced the form of contemporary cinematic movies is ‘Metal Gear Solid’. The most recent of these is the ‘Guns of the Patriots (MGS 4)’.
While this game is entertaining at times, there is in my opinion excess movies and not enough game play. The camera angles, cuts, lighting and sound are all very reliable versions of a possible preview to a feature length film, however they at times detract from the flow of game play. This is in comparison to the franchises previous versions. In MGS 1, the game play was engaging with a pattern of completing several levels before fighting a boss at the end of certain chapters. In number 4, there are less of these in between levels which have been replaced by videos. In this sense, the game is furthered through the use of visual aids rather than game play.
This fourth encounter while being a solid tribute to the franchise, romanticised a little too much with the cinema. There existed already countless fans that knew the back story and wanted to play towards a final conclusion. If the videos were for the causal gamer, in all fairness if they have only now started to play MGS that it is already too late to also play catch up.
Aspects of the movie world can enhance a video game's interactive story telling capabilities in addition to making the game more entertaining, however they are essentially only an add on. If the game lacks the necessary elements that it has to rely on this given feature that it really does not have chance in the open market.
Grand cinematic videos should only be shown at the conclusion, as a bonus reward, for hours and hours of work put into developing a character and defeating the nemesis.
The article discusses the growing trend of cinematic aspects found in video games. The main premise is that the characteristics of fiction, with the given examples of theme, characters, scripts and production can be applied across a broad range of mediums. This includes video games and with the right production, for instance the appropriate camera angles that can assist in creating a more movie-like experience, a game can become a great piece of fiction.
The one game franchise in particular that has embraced the form of contemporary cinematic movies is ‘Metal Gear Solid’. The most recent of these is the ‘Guns of the Patriots (MGS 4)’.
While this game is entertaining at times, there is in my opinion excess movies and not enough game play. The camera angles, cuts, lighting and sound are all very reliable versions of a possible preview to a feature length film, however they at times detract from the flow of game play. This is in comparison to the franchises previous versions. In MGS 1, the game play was engaging with a pattern of completing several levels before fighting a boss at the end of certain chapters. In number 4, there are less of these in between levels which have been replaced by videos. In this sense, the game is furthered through the use of visual aids rather than game play.
This fourth encounter while being a solid tribute to the franchise, romanticised a little too much with the cinema. There existed already countless fans that knew the back story and wanted to play towards a final conclusion. If the videos were for the causal gamer, in all fairness if they have only now started to play MGS that it is already too late to also play catch up.
Aspects of the movie world can enhance a video game's interactive story telling capabilities in addition to making the game more entertaining, however they are essentially only an add on. If the game lacks the necessary elements that it has to rely on this given feature that it really does not have chance in the open market.
Grand cinematic videos should only be shown at the conclusion, as a bonus reward, for hours and hours of work put into developing a character and defeating the nemesis.
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