Thursday, 13 December 2012
Thursday, 6 December 2012
InFamous
The video game InFamous uses a very novel idea for its cutscenes. the game takes a strong influence from comics and the superhero genre, so the story and karma cutscenes follow a similar tone and visual style to motion comics.
The cutscenes have the visual appearance of the panels in a comic, with individual images within the panels, moving around to demonstrate what is happening in the scene while the player character Cole McGrath narrates the action.
While I will not use this style of cutscene in my own work, the module brief requiring to produce a more "In-game" style cutscene. I find this style very interesting and would like to produce sometihng similar at a later date.
The cutscenes have the visual appearance of the panels in a comic, with individual images within the panels, moving around to demonstrate what is happening in the scene while the player character Cole McGrath narrates the action.
While I will not use this style of cutscene in my own work, the module brief requiring to produce a more "In-game" style cutscene. I find this style very interesting and would like to produce sometihng similar at a later date.
Would you Kindly
The video game Bioshock is remarkable in many ways, one of which is the way it is a commentary on the video game medium itself, similar to how Watchmen is a commentary on comic books.
Bioshock is also notable for putting the player in the role of the character Jack and using cutscenes that allow the player to retain control of Jack. This allows for a level of immersion not present in an FMV cutscene, characters look directly at the camera, giving the illusion they are talking directly to the player.
The cutscenes featured are often signified by a change in contrast on the screen and a glowing phantom would appear in front of the player, showing the player an aspect of Rapture's (the city the game takes place in) past.
Bioshock is also notable for putting the player in the role of the character Jack and using cutscenes that allow the player to retain control of Jack. This allows for a level of immersion not present in an FMV cutscene, characters look directly at the camera, giving the illusion they are talking directly to the player.
The cutscenes featured are often signified by a change in contrast on the screen and a glowing phantom would appear in front of the player, showing the player an aspect of Rapture's (the city the game takes place in) past.
Wednesday, 5 December 2012
Video Game Cutscenes
Cutscenes are an important aspect of the story telling in a video game. The cutscene is used to give the player crucial information, as well as providing a transition from one game level to the next. Cutscenes can serve a variety of purposes and can be executed in a variety of ways, sometimes being fully animated cinematics, other times being scripted sequences with the player just being a person in the room, or being talked to.
Below are a number of examples of some of the different kinds of video game cutscenes:
Bioshock: Would you Kindly (major plot spoilers)
The Would you Kindly moment in Bioshock is a fantastic example of a cutscene that starts with the player in control of Jack, the playable protagonist, and then losing control, with this being mirrored in the game's story, as Andrew Ryan takes control of Jack)
Mirror's Edge:
The cutscenes from Mirror's Edge are unlike most modern video game cutscenes, in that they are not rendered using the game's engine, nor are they 3-D models. Instead Mirror's Edge utilises a Cel-Shaded technique, fitting with the game's cyberpunk anime inspired aesthetic.
Left 4 Dead 2 Intro:
The introductory cinematic for Left 4 Dead 2 differs from most Valve games in that it is fully animated, the sequence is rendered using the game's engine however has a much higher graphics quality than the playable sections of the game.
Below are a number of examples of some of the different kinds of video game cutscenes:
Bioshock: Would you Kindly (major plot spoilers)
The Would you Kindly moment in Bioshock is a fantastic example of a cutscene that starts with the player in control of Jack, the playable protagonist, and then losing control, with this being mirrored in the game's story, as Andrew Ryan takes control of Jack)
Mirror's Edge:
The cutscenes from Mirror's Edge are unlike most modern video game cutscenes, in that they are not rendered using the game's engine, nor are they 3-D models. Instead Mirror's Edge utilises a Cel-Shaded technique, fitting with the game's cyberpunk anime inspired aesthetic.
Left 4 Dead 2 Intro:
The introductory cinematic for Left 4 Dead 2 differs from most Valve games in that it is fully animated, the sequence is rendered using the game's engine however has a much higher graphics quality than the playable sections of the game.
Thursday, 11 October 2012
An upcoming event: MCM Expo
In October I am attending MCM Expo in London, MCM Expo is an annual 3 day event that showcases the works of comic and manga artists, as well as upcoming releases from mainstream films and games, allowing for fans to ask the developers questions about the upcoming releases.
The Expo also provides panels from media personalities which allows for a Q & A question with Actors, Directors and Developers. This year media guests include voice actors, as well as Matt Smith, the current actor to play the Doctor in Doctor Who.
Another big part of the event is Cosplay. Cosplay is basically the fans of a franchise dressing up as their favorite characters, with massive variations in both the kinds of character, and the quality of the costumes. However the industry is beginning to attempt to integrate cosplay into their works. A notable example being Borderlands 2, which uses a live action actress who started out in cosplay to portray the character Lilith.
I have attended previous MCM expos and have found them to be both enjoyable and informative. It's a great way to discover new releases you may otherwise miss, and a good chance to ask the developers questions.
The Expo also provides panels from media personalities which allows for a Q & A question with Actors, Directors and Developers. This year media guests include voice actors, as well as Matt Smith, the current actor to play the Doctor in Doctor Who.
Another big part of the event is Cosplay. Cosplay is basically the fans of a franchise dressing up as their favorite characters, with massive variations in both the kinds of character, and the quality of the costumes. However the industry is beginning to attempt to integrate cosplay into their works. A notable example being Borderlands 2, which uses a live action actress who started out in cosplay to portray the character Lilith.
I have attended previous MCM expos and have found them to be both enjoyable and informative. It's a great way to discover new releases you may otherwise miss, and a good chance to ask the developers questions.
Saturday, 6 October 2012
A Summer Summary
Over the summer I was unable to do the amount of work I would have liked due to a hectic summer with me spending little time at home, as well as my laptop having a hard drive malfunction that resulted in a complete memory wipe.
However, despite these hinderances, I have written some step outlines for film ideas as well as developing further some story ideas I had already begun writing. These include a steampunk alternative history story about Sky Pirates. And a dystopian future partially inspired by the fairy tale of Little Red Riding Hood.
I have also seen many films at the cinema over the summer which I shall look at in more detail in later posts.
These include:
The Dark Knight Rises:
Total Recall (2012 remake):
Prometheus:
Dredd 3D:
Iron Sky:
In addition, I also attended MCM Expo London May 2012, an annual event showcasing upcoming video games and films, as well as being a place for artists and other media personalities to meet with their fans. As well as showing panels for people within the film and gaming industry to discuss upcoming projects and the industry as a whole with fans. The Expo also provides a place for fans to cosplay as characters from their favorite fandoms. I myself cosplayed a human personification of Finland from one of my favorite webcomics. (A great idea at the height of summer! NOT)
However, despite these hinderances, I have written some step outlines for film ideas as well as developing further some story ideas I had already begun writing. These include a steampunk alternative history story about Sky Pirates. And a dystopian future partially inspired by the fairy tale of Little Red Riding Hood.
I have also seen many films at the cinema over the summer which I shall look at in more detail in later posts.
These include:
The Dark Knight Rises:
Total Recall (2012 remake):
Prometheus:
Dredd 3D:
Iron Sky:
In addition, I also attended MCM Expo London May 2012, an annual event showcasing upcoming video games and films, as well as being a place for artists and other media personalities to meet with their fans. As well as showing panels for people within the film and gaming industry to discuss upcoming projects and the industry as a whole with fans. The Expo also provides a place for fans to cosplay as characters from their favorite fandoms. I myself cosplayed a human personification of Finland from one of my favorite webcomics. (A great idea at the height of summer! NOT)
Location Concept inspiration pics: Rooftop
In keeping with the Cyberpunk motif, and following on from the theme of Surveillance, I figured a rooftop location would be ideal. A city rooftop is generally unsheltered from the elements, as well as allowing for a mostly unobstructed view of the rest of the surrounding city. Rooftops can also be connected by walkways, as well as contain a variety of additional things such as ventilator, chimneys, air conditioning units, ariels as well as being decorated and adorned with chairs and tables to allow for a comfortable living space for those with roof access.
Rooftop surveillance works for both an antagonist and a protagonist, a protagonist may be using the rooftop to carry out a stakeout operation, while an antagonist would most likely be spying on the protagonist, or be an assassin about to kill their next victim.
Friday, 5 October 2012
Cyberpunk protagonists
In a cyberpunk setting, you would need a character to reside in it. Cyberpunk characters generally follow a set of loose conventions. Protagonists are usually found on the wrong side of the law, and have no strict moral conviction. The occupation of the character is usually varied between cyberpunk works, with characters starting out as thieves, hackers, detectives, special forces police officers or even factory workers amongst other occupations found in an urban environment.
Various cyberpunk works feature a massive variety in characters, both male and female. The unifying theme often being urban style clothing, and often a good understanding of both street life and technology, allowing them to survive on their own in the harsh cities they inhabit. Colour schemes usually match the cities they live in, with cool coloured clothing usually blacks, purples and greens. Although not always the case, some characters will have cybernetic implants or enhancements.
Cyberpunk as a genre borrows many themes from Crime Noir, and as such, at the end of the story, the protagonist is usually left in the same position they were in at the start, their ordeal giving no rewards for being overcome.
Cyberpunk settings
For our group work, we have been tasked with creating a mahinma/in game style cutscene. Early on in our discussions we agreed upon the possibility of a cyberpunk/future noir setting.
To this end I have compiled a collection of images of a cyberpunk setting:
A common theme amongst Cyberpunk settings is mass metropolitan megacities, bright neon lights, and a sense of dark forboding, both at night and in the day. Torrential rain is also common, with rain always being heavy. Colour schemes usually contain blues, greens and purples, with brightly coloured red or yellow lights contrasting the cold backgrounds. Cyberpunk can be summed up with the phrase, "High Tech, Low Life." with the cities reflecting this idea of advanced technology, but poor quality of life and high crime rates.
To this end I have compiled a collection of images of a cyberpunk setting:
A common theme amongst Cyberpunk settings is mass metropolitan megacities, bright neon lights, and a sense of dark forboding, both at night and in the day. Torrential rain is also common, with rain always being heavy. Colour schemes usually contain blues, greens and purples, with brightly coloured red or yellow lights contrasting the cold backgrounds. Cyberpunk can be summed up with the phrase, "High Tech, Low Life." with the cities reflecting this idea of advanced technology, but poor quality of life and high crime rates.
Tuesday, 22 May 2012
Sectors and Services
This lecture looked at the various sectors and services in the UK economy.
The UK Economy is the 7th largest in the world,
The 3rd largest in Europe
One of the most globalised countries.
London is the largest financial centre, equal with New York.
Largest Industries - Aerospace, Pharmaceuticals, North Sea oil and gas.
An Industry sector is an area of the economy with related products or services:
Primary Sector - Extraction and harvesting of natural resources.
Secondary Sector - Processing, Manufacture and Construction.
Tertiary Sector - Knowledge and Services.
There is also the:
Public Sector - Publicly or state owned E.G NHS
Private Sector - Privately owned and run for profit
3rd Sector - Voluntary, Charity, Community owned business.
The UK Economy is the 7th largest in the world,
The 3rd largest in Europe
One of the most globalised countries.
London is the largest financial centre, equal with New York.
Largest Industries - Aerospace, Pharmaceuticals, North Sea oil and gas.
An Industry sector is an area of the economy with related products or services:
Primary Sector - Extraction and harvesting of natural resources.
Secondary Sector - Processing, Manufacture and Construction.
Tertiary Sector - Knowledge and Services.
There is also the:
Public Sector - Publicly or state owned E.G NHS
Private Sector - Privately owned and run for profit
3rd Sector - Voluntary, Charity, Community owned business.
Don't Get Ripped Off
This lecture looked at copyright and intellectual property.
Intellectual property refers to creations of your mind:
Inventions, Literary and artistic works, and symbols, names, images, and designs used in commerce.
Films, games, painting, photographs, fashion designs, recipes.
Intellectual Property is Patents, Trade Marks, Registered Designs, Copyright
Copyright covers
Art, Literature, Music, Animation, Films, Games,
it is automatic and dates and records your work.
How long do they last?
Patents - max 20 years
Trademarks and logos - indefinite, renewed every 10 years
Design Rights - Up to 25 years, renewed every 5 years
Copyright - until 70 years after death
Intellectual property refers to creations of your mind:
Inventions, Literary and artistic works, and symbols, names, images, and designs used in commerce.
Films, games, painting, photographs, fashion designs, recipes.
Intellectual Property is Patents, Trade Marks, Registered Designs, Copyright
Copyright covers
Art, Literature, Music, Animation, Films, Games,
it is automatic and dates and records your work.
How long do they last?
Patents - max 20 years
Trademarks and logos - indefinite, renewed every 10 years
Design Rights - Up to 25 years, renewed every 5 years
Copyright - until 70 years after death
What is an Evaluation?
This lecture looks at writing evaluations.
We make choices all the time, the choice we go with is decided by evaluating the possibilites.
We also use reviews by other people to decide on what films to watch, or what games to play. These reviews weigh the pros and cons of various aspects of the product being reviewed.
This is similar to an evaluation that assesses the strengths and weaknesses of a wide variety of things in order to improve their effectiveness.
An evaluation is about:
Your progress as a result of learning
The quality of your solution
You performance during the module
Your ability to work in a team
Your professionalism
Perfect Presentations
In this lecture we looked at presentations, and what makes a good presentation. Presentations are a way of bringing forth and communicating new information to an audience and attempting to help them to understand.
The lecture suggests the use of as little text as possible, keep the presentation simple, make connections, use a maximum of 10 slides, avoid the use of bullet points and use inspirational imagery and images.
It also suggests that you:
Know your subject,
Know your audience,
Know yourself,
Prepare Your script,
Choose correct visual aids.
Possible visual aids include,
Powerpoint,
An Overhead Projector,
A relevant Object,
Video,
Handouts,
Flip Cards,
Mime.
The lecture suggests the use of as little text as possible, keep the presentation simple, make connections, use a maximum of 10 slides, avoid the use of bullet points and use inspirational imagery and images.
It also suggests that you:
Know your subject,
Know your audience,
Know yourself,
Prepare Your script,
Choose correct visual aids.
Possible visual aids include,
Powerpoint,
An Overhead Projector,
A relevant Object,
Video,
Handouts,
Flip Cards,
Mime.
Social media and networking
This lecture looked at the way we use social media and various social networking sites and their uses. Social networks are a way of connecting individuals who would never gain real world contact. The lecture looked at a variety of sites, ranging in purpose from personal, such as Facebook, professional, such as Linked In, and commercial sites, such as Red Bubble.
The Lecture also provided 20 social networking and blogging tips:
Top 20 tips for successful blogging & social networking
1. Be Social – Don’t always talk about ‘YOU’. People quickly become bored if you are always
talking about yourself, your opinion, the way you feel about stuff. Include opinions from
other sources such as your favourite artist, designer, musician or guru. Say if you agree or
disagree with what they say and explain why. Talk about the work of other students that
you admire or respect.
2. Visit other blogs – Read the blogs of your peers and comment on their work. Everyone
waits around for others to comment on their blogs or web sites but when was the last time
that you commented on someone else’s blog?
3. Respond to comments – It is disappointing when I don’t receive a reply to comments I
have posted. It is basic blogging etiquette to reply. Acknowledge your readers’ comments
and they will be encouraged to comment again.
4. Be generous – Be constructive in your comments.
5. Subscribe by email – It is great to be able to subscribe to a favourite blog by email.
Adding this feature could bring more regular visitors.
6. Share – If you think you have something in common with another blogger, send them links
to other sites, events and feeds that may be of interest to them.
7. Know what you have posted about yourself – keep your profiles up to date. Make a
note in your calendar to update information periodically. Out of date information could be
unhelpful in the future.
8. Assume that everything you put on the internet is permanent - Even if you can
delete your account, anyone on the internet can easily copy, paste, save anything you have
put up there. Their records will live on after yours have been deleted.
9. Be a conduit - As well as publishing your own content, stay on the lookout for things that
will interest your audience elsewhere on the web. As well as helping you to develop
relationships with others, this will help to develop your reputation as an expert or ‘the place
to go’ for information in the eyes of your readers. Do this by adding links to your posts.
10. Be original – Simply feeding or replicating existing material is not enough. Keep thinking
about new ideas for content that haven’t been explored as these will secure your position as
an independent thinker.
11. Create a news feed - Pick some favourite artists, designers, writers, journalists and create
a Google News feed that tracks new mentions of them, so other fans can follow them via
your weblog.
12. Credit your sources – include links to your sources so your readers have the option of
following and idea ‘upstream’ and to lend authority to your research.
13. Use key words – always label your work using as many relevant key works as possible.
This helps the reader to find their way around your site. Tags help people to find your
articles but be clever about the way you use them. Don’t use long phrases; split them up to
improve the chances of people picking up on your posts.14. Interview somebody – to take the focus away from you and your thoughts and feelings;
why not interview someone. You could use write it in a Q&A style or you could even insert
a short video. 2-3 minutes is the optimum length.
15. Post frequently – every day is too much. Once a week is not enough.
16. Fun Widgets – If blogging is new to you, you may get distracted by widgets. Too many
widgets will detract from the content of your blog. If you must have them; limit them to
three at the most.
17. End with a question – reach out to your readers by asking a question. Blogs that consist
only of statement and thoughts are boring. Engage your tutor and other readers by asking
for their thoughts on your subject.
18. Left align your writing – Centred text is what you see on menus and posters.
Professional writers for newspapers, magazines, books and web sites do not centre their
text because it makes it very difficult to read.
19. Use paragraph breaks – every time your post changes subject or introduces a new idea,
start a new paragraph. Blocks of continuous text are not inviting to read.
20. Don’t copy and paste from MS word: This is a bog ‘NO’ Doing this can give you bad
code that will mess up your blog layout.
If you want to copy and past from MS Word you should paste the text into the HTML
section of your editor or paste the text into notepad ( or Mac ‘text edit’ in applications) and
then copy and paste that text into your post editor.
19. Stick with it – One of the biggest mistakes that bloggers make is to give up too easily. Stick
with it and reap the rewards.
The Lecture also provided 20 social networking and blogging tips:
Top 20 tips for successful blogging & social networking
1. Be Social – Don’t always talk about ‘YOU’. People quickly become bored if you are always
talking about yourself, your opinion, the way you feel about stuff. Include opinions from
other sources such as your favourite artist, designer, musician or guru. Say if you agree or
disagree with what they say and explain why. Talk about the work of other students that
you admire or respect.
2. Visit other blogs – Read the blogs of your peers and comment on their work. Everyone
waits around for others to comment on their blogs or web sites but when was the last time
that you commented on someone else’s blog?
3. Respond to comments – It is disappointing when I don’t receive a reply to comments I
have posted. It is basic blogging etiquette to reply. Acknowledge your readers’ comments
and they will be encouraged to comment again.
4. Be generous – Be constructive in your comments.
5. Subscribe by email – It is great to be able to subscribe to a favourite blog by email.
Adding this feature could bring more regular visitors.
6. Share – If you think you have something in common with another blogger, send them links
to other sites, events and feeds that may be of interest to them.
7. Know what you have posted about yourself – keep your profiles up to date. Make a
note in your calendar to update information periodically. Out of date information could be
unhelpful in the future.
8. Assume that everything you put on the internet is permanent - Even if you can
delete your account, anyone on the internet can easily copy, paste, save anything you have
put up there. Their records will live on after yours have been deleted.
9. Be a conduit - As well as publishing your own content, stay on the lookout for things that
will interest your audience elsewhere on the web. As well as helping you to develop
relationships with others, this will help to develop your reputation as an expert or ‘the place
to go’ for information in the eyes of your readers. Do this by adding links to your posts.
10. Be original – Simply feeding or replicating existing material is not enough. Keep thinking
about new ideas for content that haven’t been explored as these will secure your position as
an independent thinker.
11. Create a news feed - Pick some favourite artists, designers, writers, journalists and create
a Google News feed that tracks new mentions of them, so other fans can follow them via
your weblog.
12. Credit your sources – include links to your sources so your readers have the option of
following and idea ‘upstream’ and to lend authority to your research.
13. Use key words – always label your work using as many relevant key works as possible.
This helps the reader to find their way around your site. Tags help people to find your
articles but be clever about the way you use them. Don’t use long phrases; split them up to
improve the chances of people picking up on your posts.14. Interview somebody – to take the focus away from you and your thoughts and feelings;
why not interview someone. You could use write it in a Q&A style or you could even insert
a short video. 2-3 minutes is the optimum length.
15. Post frequently – every day is too much. Once a week is not enough.
16. Fun Widgets – If blogging is new to you, you may get distracted by widgets. Too many
widgets will detract from the content of your blog. If you must have them; limit them to
three at the most.
17. End with a question – reach out to your readers by asking a question. Blogs that consist
only of statement and thoughts are boring. Engage your tutor and other readers by asking
for their thoughts on your subject.
18. Left align your writing – Centred text is what you see on menus and posters.
Professional writers for newspapers, magazines, books and web sites do not centre their
text because it makes it very difficult to read.
19. Use paragraph breaks – every time your post changes subject or introduces a new idea,
start a new paragraph. Blocks of continuous text are not inviting to read.
20. Don’t copy and paste from MS word: This is a bog ‘NO’ Doing this can give you bad
code that will mess up your blog layout.
If you want to copy and past from MS Word you should paste the text into the HTML
section of your editor or paste the text into notepad ( or Mac ‘text edit’ in applications) and
then copy and paste that text into your post editor.
19. Stick with it – One of the biggest mistakes that bloggers make is to give up too easily. Stick
with it and reap the rewards.
PPP Who are you?
The Lecture also covered Belbin's Team Roles, and we were asked to identify which of these roles we could mostly associate ourselves with.
The 16 Personality types taken from the lecture are as follows:
The 16 MBTI Types
ISTJ
Quite, serious, earn success by thoroughness and dependability. Practical, matter-of-fact, realistic, and responsible. Decide logically what should be done and work toward it steadily, regardless of distractions. Take pleasure in making everything orderly and organized – their work, their home, their life. Value traditions and loyalty.
ISFJ
Quiet, friendly, responsible, and conscientious. Committed and steady in meeting their obligations. Thorough, painstaking, and accurate. Loyal, considerate, notice and remember specifics about people who are important to them, concerned with how others feel. Strive to create an orderly and harmonious environment at work and at home.
INFJ
Seek meaning and connection in ideas, relationships, and material possessions. Want to understand what motivates people
and are insightful about others. Conscientious and committed to their firm values. Develop a clear vision about how best
to serve the common good. Organized and decisive in implementing their vision.
INTJ
Have original minds and great drive for implementing their ideas and achieving their goals. Quickly see patterns in external events and develop long-range explanatory perspectives. When committed, organize a job and carry it through. Skeptical and independent, have high standards of competence and performance – for themselves and others.
ISTP
Tolerant and flexible, quiet observers until a problem appears, then act quickly to find workable solutions. Analyze what makes things work and readily get through large amounts of data to isolate the core of practical problems. Interested in cause and effect, organize facts using logical principles, value efficiency.
ISFP
Quiet, friendly, sensitive, and kind. Enjoy the present moment, what’s going on around them. Like to have their own space and to work within their own time frame. Loyal and committed to their values and to people who are important to them. Dislike disagreements and conflicts, do not force their opinions or values on others.
INFP
Idealistic, loyal to their values and to people who are important to them. Want an external life that is congruent with their values. Curious, quick to see possibilities, can be catalysts for implementing ideas. Seek to understand people and to help them fulfill their potential. Adaptable, flexible, and accepting unless a value is threatened.
INTP
Seek to develop logical explanations for everything that interests them. Theoretical and abstract, interested more in ideas than in social interaction. Quiet, contained, flexible, and adaptable. Have unusual ability to focus in depth to solve problems in their area of interest. Skeptical, sometimes critical, always analytical.
ESTP
Flexible and tolerant, they take a pragmatic approach focused immediate results. Theories and conceptual explanations bore them – they want to act energetically to solve the problem. Focus on the here-and-now, spontaneous, enjoy each moment that they can be active with others. Enjoy material comforts and style. Learn best through doing.
ESFP
Outgoing, friendly, and accepting. Exuberant lovers of life, people, and material comforts. Enjoy working with others to make things happen. Bring common sense and a realistic approach to their work, and make work fun. Flexible and spontaneous, adapt readily to new people and environments. Learn best by trying a new skill with other people.
ENFP
Warmly enthusiastic and imaginative. See life as full of possibilities. Make connections between events and information very quickly, and confidently proceed based on the patterns they see. Want a lot of affirmation from others, and readily give appreciation and support. Spontaneous and flexible, often rely on their ability to improvise and their verbal fluency.
ENTP
Quick, ingenious, stimulating, alert, and outspoken. Resourceful in solving new and challenging problems. Adept at generating conceptual possibilities and then analyzing them strategically. Good at reading other people. Bored by routine, will seldom do the same thing the same way, apt to turn to one new interest after another.
ESTJ
Practical, realistic, matter-of-fact. Decisive, quickly move to implement decisions. Organize projects and people to get things done, focus on getting results in the most efficient way possible. Take care of routine details. Have a clear set of logical standards, systematically follow them and want others to also. Forceful in implementing their plans.
ESFJ
Warmhearted, conscientious, and cooperative. Want harmony in their environment, work with determination to establish it. Like to work with others to complete tasks accurately and on time. Loyal, follow through even in small matters. Notice what others need in their day-by-day lives and try to provide it. Want to be appreciated for who they are and for what they contribute.
ENFJ
Warm, empathetic, responsive, and responsible. Highly attuned to the emotions, needs, and motivations of others. Find potential in everyone, want to help others fulfill their potential. May act as catalysts for individual and group growth. Loyal, responsive to praise and criticism. Sociable, facilitate others in a group, and provide inspiring leadership.
ENTJ
Frank, decisive, assume leadership readily. Quickly see illogical and inefficient procedures and policies, develop and implement comprehensive systems to solve organizational problems. Enjoy long-term planning and goal setting. Usually well informed, well read, enjoy expanding their knowledge and passing it on to others. Forceful in presenting their ideas.
Post-apocalyptic Fiction
Post-apocalyptic fiction has been of great interest to me for a long time. I have been a fan of Terminator since I was 13, and I am also a big fan of the Fallout games, which are perhaps the most well known Post-apocalyptic survival games.
Post-apocalyptic fiction has appeared in various forms and in nearly every single medium. Rising to prominence in the 50's with the very real threat of nuclear destruction influencing various stories, each one being a commentary to varying degrees on modern day life.
One of the earliest post apocalyptic stories I've known is H.G Wells' War of the Worlds, telling the story of Martians invading and destroying earth.
Sunday, 20 May 2012
Batman as Transmedia
A character I've had a massive interest in since a very young age has definitely been Batman. I grew up with the 1990's animated series, but never really pursued my interest until I started reading comic books seriously, which was roughly when the Nolan films were released.
I have also become a massive fan of the Arkham series of Batman games, and as such I have come to realise how effective Batman is as a transmedia character.
Batman has been featured across many different mediums, most notably the comic books, but the other media has allowed for the character to be explored in many different styles. Each version gaining its own following.
The animated TV series, Batman Beyond, which ran from 1999 - 2001 presented the Batman story in a unique way to most incarnations of the character. This time it was about Bruce Wayne's successor to the Batman name. This version was the most influential to my love of the character.
Arguably the most well known incarnation of Batman, and one of the earliest on-screen portrayals of the character is the 1960's TV series with Batman portrayed by Adam West. This version is noticeably different to most comic and film versions of Batman, such as the most recent Christopher Nolan film series, in that it follows a camp style and aesthetic.
The most recent Film run of Batman is Christopher Nolan's Batman Trilogy, comprised of Batman Begins, The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises. These bare a stark distinction from other Batman stories in that they aim for a far more realistic feel. The films also present the darker aspects of the Batman mythology, creating a stark contrast to the Adam West TV series.
Batman has been featured across many different mediums, most notably the comic books, but the other media has allowed for the character to be explored in many different styles. Each version gaining its own following.
The animated TV series, Batman Beyond, which ran from 1999 - 2001 presented the Batman story in a unique way to most incarnations of the character. This time it was about Bruce Wayne's successor to the Batman name. This version was the most influential to my love of the character.
Arguably the most well known incarnation of Batman, and one of the earliest on-screen portrayals of the character is the 1960's TV series with Batman portrayed by Adam West. This version is noticeably different to most comic and film versions of Batman, such as the most recent Christopher Nolan film series, in that it follows a camp style and aesthetic.
The most recent Film run of Batman is Christopher Nolan's Batman Trilogy, comprised of Batman Begins, The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises. These bare a stark distinction from other Batman stories in that they aim for a far more realistic feel. The films also present the darker aspects of the Batman mythology, creating a stark contrast to the Adam West TV series.
Thursday, 10 May 2012
Development of assets
For the development of my environment I needed to create object to populate my environment with. Because of the steelworks theme, I had to consider what a steelworks on a backwater planet would have on it. I figured that the objects would be built sturdy, yet suffer from wear as a consequence to constant use. The workers would also live on site in prefabricated dwellings built from cheap materials. Domestic items such as handheld radios would be large and clunky, and built to survive damage.
To reflect this I chose textures that suited this worn and lived in environment, nothing being clean or looking new. Not all of the following textures were used in the final environment, but all were chosen for their rough appearance to be used on a variety of objects.
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