Research results

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Research results In this presentation, I will be concluding my research and talk about how it has helped my planning and ideas.

Transcript of Research results

Page 1: Research results

Research results

In this presentation, I will be concluding my research and talk about how it has helped my planning and ideas.

Page 2: Research results

Game title 1 Farcry 3

Publisher Ubisoft

Platforms Microsoft WindowsXbox 360PlayStation 3

Genre Action-Adventure, First-person shooter, Open world

Release date November 30, 2012 (UK)

Graphical style Photorealistic

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The graphical style for this game brings out the realism of the situation the protagonist is put in and shows what its like trying to survive in a jungle full of predators and danger. By doing this creates a better and more real experience for the gamer and makes them feel like they’re involved with the game and trying to survive.

This will help with my own designs because it gives me an idea of how lay out the game to make it feel real to the gamer and show what a survival game should be like.

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The art style for this game is photorealistic and focuses on the environment it is set in to show what a baron and dangerous jungle the character is put in. This needs to be detailed as the player will explore the jungle through the game.

A lot of detail has been put in to make the jungle believable and look like a dangerous habitat.

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Game title 2 State of decay

Publisher Microsoft studios

Platforms Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows

Genre Stealth, Survival Horror

Release date Xbox 360 – June 5th 2013Microsoft Windows – November 5th 2013

Graphical style Photorealistic

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This is a survival horror game where players have to loot for food, items and keep a close eye on their health/stamina etc.

Photorealistic graphics is used in this game to emphasize the realism of this game as its main theme is survival which creates a more effective experience for the gamer. Without using photorealistic graphics the game would be perceived as something different. For example, if it had cel-shaded graphics it would give the impression that the game should not be taken seriously. If cel-shaded graphics were used for the game to make it fun and cartoon looking this would be effective, however in this situation photorealistic graphics is most effective for the player.

This has helped me decide what style I need for my game and what graphics would be most effective for my idea.

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Dark colours give the mood of the game being dark and gloomy.

This image shows detailed graphics of the setting such as the cracks in the road. This shows how damaged the environment is which gives the sense of the situation and gives a real experience for the gamer.

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Game title 3 Mass effect 3

Publisher Electronic Arts, Inc.

Platforms Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Wii U

Genre Science fiction, action role-playing third person shooter

Release date March 6th 2012

Graphical style Photorealistic

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The graphical style used for this game is used to help bring the fantasy world of Mass Effect to life so the experience for the gamer is more real. This also helps the game because it is an RPG, which involves the player to interact and create relationships with other characters in the game. This shows how serious and realistic the game is meant to be and would need the appropriate graphics to make this effect.

This gave me more of an idea of what kinds of RPG games there are and whether it is necessary to use in my game. RPG adds to the idea of everything being real and creating a good experience for the audience and I think for the genre of game my idea is based on, will work effectively.

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This shows the players interacting with other characters in the game which goes more in depth of the characters in the game, this is good to make the gamer feel more apart of the character and involved. This also makes the situation more real.

This shows the detail of the characters created for the game.

Third person shooter is a good way to show your character in combat. The graphics used for this game are photorealistic to make the gun battles for realistic.

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Overall, my research has helped me define my game style, what I need and what is appropriate to make it effective to the specific gaming audience.

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How this research helped me

When researching these three games I found that it helped me gather an idea of what type of game I wanted to create.

Farcry 3 helped me understand what is needed to make the environment of the players setting detailed and believable which is an important asset to creating a game. The graphics of this game made this effective.

State of decay gave me a proper understanding of a survival game with zombies and stands out from other survival games by making the style realistic and on edge in terms of the player trying to survive in this environment created.

Mass effect 3 is a very influential part of my research because it is a fantasy world in space however tries to make the game realistic as possible by being able to interact and create relationships with other characters as well as making decisions that can determine the story of the game, this realistic sense is effective by also using photorealistic graphics.

These games made me understand that I would need photorealistic graphics and detail to create my own idea.

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Q1: What art style would be best for a open world zombie survival game?

Cel shadedPhotorealisticAbstractExaggeration

I asked this question to get a better understanding of the appropriate graphics that should be used for my game idea. I found that the idea of using photorealistic graphics would be best for the game. This is good for my work because it shows what graphics the audience would want to see most. This will make my concept art sketches more realistic and adapt it more to the graphic style that would be used.

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Q2: What weapon should the main character use in a zombie survival game?

Assualt rifleHandgunShotgunSub machine gun

For this question, I thought it was important to understand what type of weapon the gamer would want to use in the game as it would play a big role throughout gameplay. I found that the shotgun is the most voted weapon with the assault rifle just behind. This shows which particular weapons are wanted and gives me a chance to decide which is best for this game genre. This is useful for my work because it gives me better direction concerning the weapons.

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Q3: For a zombie survival game, which setting is best?

A graveyardA diner The countrysideA city

I asked this question because it is important to understand what type of setting the audience would prefer in this game genre as it would play a huge part throughout the game. I found that a city based game is most voted, this shows me what type of game the audience is looking for. For example, a zombie survival game based in a city may conclude to it being a open world map with the ability to explore the landscape. This gives me a much better direction in terms of concept art because the setting of the game is more defined and gives many options for different ideas.

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Q4: Which area of the game should have most focus when it comes to concept art?

EnvironmentCharactersItemsLevel designs

I asked this question because I think it is important to know which area of the game needs more detail and should be defined to stand out most in the game. I found that environment has been voted most, this is useful because it shows what type of game the audience is looking for. For example, so far I have gathered that the game should be a open world game with focused and detailed environments that should use photorealistic graphics. These points can lead to extensive ideas such making it a RPG game etc. This gives me a sense on what should be detailed and focused on.

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Q5: If the game were to be rated 18, what do you think is the most appropriate graphical imagery?

Dead and clothedDead with torn clothes and minor decayDead with open flesh wounds, decay and torn clothesDead with dismembered body parts, harsh flesh wounds and decay, and torn clothing

I asked this question because I wanted to understand what levels of graphics the game should be taken to, so I can find the right target audience and not make it too harsh. However, the most voted answer is the detailed and gory imagery. This shows me how graphical the audience want the imagery and the game should be more realistic in a sense of being gritty, gory and violent. This again relates to how detailed my sketches should be.

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Q6: Who should the main protagonist be in this game?

A military manA scientistA average workerA ex-spec ops agent

For this question, I wanted to find out who the appropriate character is for this type of game. I found that an average worker is most voted which shows that the gamers want to see a realistic character which also means they want to see a believable story. This is useful for my work because it shows what story they want to see. For example, the idea of a average worker shows they want to see someone who is a average person put in to this situation. This gives me a better impression of what to use for my concept sketches, being normally dressed, working class looking.

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Q7: What would you expect to find in a open world zombie game?

SurvivoursInfectedWild animalsAbandoned streets and houses

Now my understanding is better, I asked what the audience would want to see in a open world game. I found that they of course want to see the infected (zombies) but also equally want to see others such as animals and survivors. This gives me a better idea of what should be in a game to improve it and reach a wider target audience.

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Q8: What do you think the main characters role is in the game?

Find a cureHelp stranded survivoursSurvive the infection that is slowly causing human extinctionFind the cause and origins of the infection

I thought this was an important question to ask as it defines the plot of the game and gives the character purpose as well as a good game to play for the audience. I found that the best idea would rather be to find a cure or find the origins of the infection. These are good plot points that will help with my original game idea.

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Q9: How do you think the main protagonist will psychologically handle the events and situation he is in?

Slowly lose his sanityGet to grips with whats happened and move onBecomes more violent and aggressiveUnable to cope

I asked this question to get a better take on how realistic the game should be and how the character should be portrayed as the user progresses through the game. I found that the audience prefer the idea of the character becoming more violent and losing his sanity which shows the realism and also hinting at the game being violent. This helps me understand how to portray the character in the story.

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Q10: What vehicles do you expect to use in this particular game?

CarMotorcycleBoatsSmall planesTrucks

As the game is a possibly free roaming and open world, I thought it was important what vehicles the user would like to see. I found that cars are most voted. This shows me what should be in the game and what I should concentrate on when designing a vehicle in my concept arts.

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Q11: How should the main protagonist be presented?

In torn ragsIn a suitIn a leather jacket with jeansIn army uniform with a bulletproof vest

I asked this question to get a better understanding on how the main protagonist should be presented. I found that a leather jacket and jeans is best which shows they want him to look cool but average and normal. The clothing presents the characters personality which is important. This gives me a better idea of what do use when designing the characters presentation in my concept art.

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How this research helped me

This research was helpful because it extended my ideas further and gave me more direction in how the game should look and be.

The opinions from a large group of people helped determine what was best for the game idea because its best to understand what the audience want to play and feel when experiencing a game with a lot of detail.

The answers for my questions helped me develop the ideas of story, characters, weapons and vehicles etc.

The audience also gave feedback on vital information such as the graphical imagery that should be shown. The answers also made me aware of what kind of game it should be.

Overall, I think the questionnaire helped me develop initial ideas.

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Mind mapSetting

Theme

Game ideas

The infected

caused by a virus passed by blood or saliva, causes a need for human flesh limitless stamina and speed and has an instant transformation. Appearance: bloodshot eyes, pale complexion, protruding veins and make snarling noises. Throughout the story different theories of what created the virus arise creating a confusion of the real conclusion.

The game will focus on the journey of an individual survivor of the zombie apocalypse. I would want the game to cover these various storytelling points which are: the nature of survival (survival of the fittest) and moralities between humans (turning on each other - murder, rape, cannibalism) theme of loneliness, isolation, sanity and emotions.

The game setting will be based in London and the outskirts of London such as the countryside which will make the open world gameplay very big. I used a real environment to make the game realistic and believable, other than using a fictional game setting which can take the sense of realism away.

Item/weaponThroughout the game the character will be able to find and use a range of various weapons in the story. However, I think it is good to give the character a signature weapon which is an old double barrel shotgun because although it is fun to use when killing zombies it is also a well known and a common weapon used in the zombie horror genre in films and games likes The Evil Dead franchise. I think using this will grab the attention of gamers because it will connote more to the games genre.Plot

The plot of the story is focused on a normal everyday person who tries to survive the zombie outbreak that has affected the world. The story starts with the character Jason Blake trying to get out of London because of the infection spreading through the city. The character flees out of London to the countryside where he grew up hoping to find his family, only to find a badass shotgun and a badass car. The character is now alone and has lost all hope with an unknown infection killing millions of people. Roaming the streets and abandoned roads the survivor hopes to find civilization.

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Game ideas

Mind mapRPG

Open worldThe open world gameplay would allow the player to explore and discover things around the map such as finding new weapons and other missions, this will give the player a feel of what its like to survive in this environment from looting abandoned supermarkets, finding shelter in houses, meeting other mysterious survivor's and many other interactions and obstacles throughout the game.

Throughout the game the character will gain more experience from using weapons and driving ect, which will level up the character and increase his strengths. Also, environmental challenges such as running will increase the characters stamina. The character will have an inventory which will hold all the items the player is currently carrying such as: weapons, food, apparel etc.

Choices made throughout the game affect what happens and what path the character takes. When interacting with other characters the player can choose whether to commit a renegade action or good action which will determine what kind of character you are.

The map would look similar to the one below which is the Grand Theft Auto 5 map which contains the city itself and the outskirts that includes the countryside.

The player will have a minimap displayed on the bottom left corner of the screen that also shows health and stamina.

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CharacterJason Blake

He will be portrayed as an antihero type of character, he knows the difference from right and wrong but is also cold and heartless and uses this attitude to survive. These are some similar characters from film and games of which I would like my character to be alike: Max Payne, Mad Max,

27 year old working class man

Lives in a flat in London on his own

Has a family living on a farm where he grew up on the outskirts of London

Throughout the game the character goes through emotional changes adapting to the decaying environment with the new infection spreading and finds it hard to keep sanity thinking to be the last person alive. Also becomes more aggressive and violent.

I used an ordinary person (working class) in this game to make the gamer think it could be anyone in this position and to relate to. It also gives a realistic sense e.g not using a character who is a veteran soldier, I think this makes the player relate easier and become more interested in the character and story.

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Mood board

Setting

I chose this picture from the game Fallout 3 because it underlines the theme of loneliness in a rotting environment.

This image shows all the infected people on the streets.

This picture shows the player out of city and establishes the size of the free roam capability

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These are some images of the type of environment the game will be set in.

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How this research helped me

By completing this research I was able to understand what kind of game I wanted to create.

The mood board abled me to sketch a setting that I think would go well with the game as it gives a dark and gritty feeling.

My mind map helped me develop influential ideas and go into detail of characters background and game ideas concerning open world and RPG.

Overall, this helped me with my final ideas for my concept art.

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Conclusion

In conclusion, all my research helped me develop and define my original idea for a zombie game.

Research such as looking at other games, using questionnaires and designing mind maps and mood boards helped me do this.