To continue on expanding my knowledge for interactive visual design I developed a game through a program called Processing.org I had fun making the game and wanted to share my creation.

The objective of this task was to create a ‘sketch’ using Processing to demonstrate our abilities and techniques learned throughout this unit. We had the option of selecting one of three different design outlines. I selected to do a playful experience; creating a ‘sketch that provides the player/user with playful game like experience. The guidelines where:

•    The ‘sketch’ has to run for 5 minutes
•    The experience must have a distinct set of end/ludus rules
•    The ‘sketch must use at least two input devices
•    The ‘sketch’ must include image and sound

With all these factors in mind I decided I wanted to create an interaction where the main objective was to catch as many fireflies as possible in the time provided. To make the game more substantial thought about including features such as:

•    A score keeper
•    A score detractor for missed fireflies
•    A countdown for time
•    The fading in and out of visuals for the fireflies
•    Flashing and flicking light for the fireflies to make them more realistic
•    Slight inconsistences in the fireflies such as appearance and speed to make for a more enhancing play
•    Different spawning points
•    Background music on loop
•    A anti-attractor of the mouse to make it harder to catch the fireflies

Though I thought these were some very interesting and exciting things that could be incorporated into my ‘sketch’ the reality of the situation was that I just don’t contain that much of the knowledge or skill to effectively execute some of these things so I went about what I could to make my design as creative and fun as possible.

To begin with a created a game shell through the reference of activities performed in class to create a basic structure for my game. One of the first things I wanted to do with my shell was create multiple game states for the player to interact with. The first game state I set up was the start screen.

In the start screen I set a background image that would appear throughout the whole interface. The next thing I did was create a font that I believed went well with the aesthetics I was trying to create for my game. Once these visuals were set I begin embedding the game information I believed was required to display for a basic understanding and set of instructions for the player “Your mission: Catch as many fireflies as possible. Before they fly away. Press RETURN to start” Once the start screen was set up to my liking I moved onto the game play aspect of things.

To set up the game play section of the coding there were many things that had to be embedded. One of the first things I set up was the functions that allowed the program the keep score of the fireflies caught and a timer to show the player how long they have left to beat their previous score. Next was to set the variables for the fireflies themselves such as their appearance, the kill function that allowed the player to catch them and the recycle function that allows the fireflies to be recycled so there are always 25 fireflies active. For the player to interact with the game I made it as simple as I possibly could, to catch a firefly all you have to do is trail the mouse over the firefly and click it. As I finished fiddling with the structure of the game play section I moved onto the end screen.

The end screen was set up very similar to the start screen using many of the same functions. The difference of course being a different message being displayed and that as expected a new code was embedded to display the player’s current score reached from finishing the last round. As all the main functions were complete all that was left was to enhance the overall experience.
To enhance the overall experience I incorporating a music score to a make the game seem more cheery. As I centred this game on catching fireflies I thought that Owl City’s song “Fireflies” would be ideal for the game. After, all that was left was to enhance the game play experience itself. I fiddled with the count of fireflies, the speed, the consistency, placement, the idea negative scoring from any fireflies missed that have bypassed the screen. As I incorporated any creative functions I could get to work I continued on until I was happy with the finally outcome.

 

Creative Influences
When I came to creative influences for my assignment I originally was thinking big like arcade stylized games such as “Pac Man” and “Minion Rush” or “Eufloria” a PC strategy game however I had to readjust my expectations from there as I just don’t have that much skill when it comes to coding, never the less they were still influential concepts for myself as a designer.

 

Evaluation
Considering I have never worked with Processing before I am very happy with the final outcome. Though I had a few issues along the way such as; merging “float” and “int” codes together, looping my music score and getting my fireflies to recycle. In the end I got all the major functions I desired to work and was very pleased with the final game play experience.

 

References
•    assam_rhino. 2015. “Night Lights”. Image. Accessed May 13, 2015.
http://www.zedge.net/wallpaper/10258753/
•    Owl City. 2008. Fireflies. Adam Young. Music score.