Pre-production

This week I was really busy dealing with my own game idea and game design.

First I made a sketch of how I have imagined the game would be: the whole layout. (see image below)

 Also made a quick sketch of the land/forest environment part. (see image below)

Then I needed to 'polish' the game idea and mechanics. Basically figure out what exactly is happening in the game, what the character can do, what are interactable objects and how they interact with the character, environment etc. Also what information got to be displayed in UI. I was trying to work that out in my mind by looking at my skech first but I was going nowhere as I kept forgetting things and had difficulties visualizing things as the 'gameplay' progressed. I know that game developers often use paper prototypes to test their ideas and seen some video about it so I did just that.

Paper prototype (see images below)

Paper prototype: up until land/forest starts

Paper prototype: land/forest and air parts

I have to say, having my game in front of me, even if it was on paper made it so much easier to understand and visualise how things worked and find 'holes' in gameplay and context. I did change environment layout and some of the items that the player had to acquire and how he/she would use them. HUD/UI requirements also become much clearer.


Before starting work on my Game Concept document I dug out my year 2 Entertainment Design module notes and an old Game Design document. I have used adjusted version of the framework for this game idea and completed first draft. I still need to finalise some minor things and write a Look and Feel part.

Also drafted  Game Asset List document. But it is far from final as I need to work out a few things related to HUD design and interaction.



To help me with game art and Look and Feel part of the Game Concept document I have created  three Moodboards. (see images below)

Colour Moodboard

Since the game would take place in the late evening and early night I decided that I want blue-violet colour palette to represent the coldness and cold tranquillity however because this story is not a horror story but more of a mystical fairytale I want oranges and yellows to balance  the coldness and create hope and warmth.

Since I am still not sure in which traditional media style I should paint all the game assets I have also created two moodboards: one for watercolour media (similar style to the boy and balloon painting I have created during week 19) and one for oil/acrylic media (similar to Noboy game underwater screenshot created during Semester 1)

Watercolour media moodboard

Oil/Acrylics media moodboard

Also this week I have met with one of the AGDS members as he wanted to find out more about my game idea and see if he would be interested to get involved. So far I do not know if it will lead anywhere. It would be good if my idea could be turned in to a game prototype, however the backup plan is just to create a gameplay video which at this point is the most likely outcome.