#ctech607

[benbct]

Week 5

This week Max created a project planner so we each knew what activities to do and what we needed to achieve before the end of the week. I have really been excited to get back into animation now that I have my computer back. I have been spending my nights watching GDC videos about animation tips, tricks and essentials. I have also been looking into game postmortems as we are creating a sort of “game”. Just to see what made classic and popular games good or great is a great place to see what might help our project. 

[benbct]

Week 4

Finally got a new laptop so I’ve had to download everything again. Hopefully this one doesn’t break on me...This week we had a meeting to make sure that everyone was on the same page. I don’t know if there was enough communication between each other so I know at least I was on a different planet entirely which was partly my mistake for completely misreading the situation on 3 hours of sleep :) 

As well as simulation theory being the prominent theme, I was thinking of what effects that would have such as: Is there really free will if we are in a simulation? Who’s to say that the actions we take haven’t happened in a million different simulations before this one. I think there’s some interesting theories to explore through using this theory, makes concept design a lot more fun as well. I think the most difficult thing of creating concepts for this project is the fine line between making an effective project and it being unethical and possibly harmful to participants mental state. I guess that’s where play-testing comes in. Good luck to them...

[benbct]

Week 3

This week we talked to my boss from the escape room I work at. Through talking to him we figured out that we wouldn’t be able to create an “escape room” of sorts because of the time constraints in trying to get as many people through the room in the time we have available. We have decided to go with more of a sandbox where there is no set goal so the participants can do whatever they like within the time they are given. My laptop has been in at repairs so I haven’t been able to do the work I have been tasked to do so instead I have been helping Stuart in concept design. We have designed some puzzles so that the participant can think up the ideas of why they are in the simulation. Whether they think they are the simulator or the simulatee or maybe even somewhere inbetween or completely different.

[benbct]

Week 2

This week has been more of a focus on getting a video done to explain who we are, what we are doing and why. After a week of research about the many different theories on life, we have concluded that we will stick with the simulation theory. The simulation theory states that life as we know it is a massive simulation. For what sort of project we were going to do, we got together and threw any and every idea out there, coming up with having the participant walk into a room that will have a computer in there, among other things, this computer will be on a game and that game world will be a replica of the room they are in. We aim to break the barrier between "simulation" and "reality" by allowing the game world to interact with the "real" world and vice versa. They will have to solve puzzles in the room to get out of the room and possibly the simulation...

I have called my boss of the escape rooms that I work at and have scheduled a meeting for our team and him so we can talk about the process of creating the room and what sort of things to include.

I am really looking forward to the outcome of this project. I feel like our team have really bonded and come together. We each have our areas to shine in and I hope to be a valuable member to the rest of them.

[benbct]

First week back

I have joined year 3′s in creating a project that our goal will be to challenge people’s reality. We’re thinking of doing this through breaking the 4th wall with a video game. We’re still in the rough stages of planning but I’m very excited to work with these people, they each seem to be the best in their respective fields. I feel I’m gonna have to pick up my animation game a lot to not drag behind them but am looking forward to be able to prove myself. Here’s to a good year I guess :)