Synoptic Project – Starting the Pre Production

Before meeting the Client Ben had researched into some Art galleries and collected a small collage of photos as a reference of what we are looking to create. This was the first stage in the pre production phase and the Client agreed with the concept research that we showed him.

We had chose to stick with the style that our previous pitch was based on. This was a minimalist approach to a real world environment which will look like what it is supposed to however it will be more simple in nature. I personally think this style will also go well with the VR Art Gallery as it will not take emphasis away from the pictures, if anything they will stand out more because of this.

Using the feedback and the information from the client we could begin to really flush out our pre production, as I am the project leader I began to create a production schedule. I added any jobs I could think of to the schedule, I also asked my team mates to add anything if I had missed something. This schedule may change over the next week as different jobs may be added or removed. Jobs like 3D modelling will be done right up until the final deadline but all of the High priority models should be done by the MVP deadline. The client states things like animations and interaction within the scene would be more of a stretch goal due to him wanting the main gallery and the display of the images to be number one priority. Other than this a main menu for possible navigation will be required as well as music to set the mood of the level. Another stretch goal would be to add a cafe area or lobby to the scene to add to the immersion of the level. We will have to take the VR into account for all of these jobs to make sure it will work correctly.

While I was making the production schedule Luke began to make a create the Job List as well as the Asset list. This list would include all of the individual jobs that are on the production schedule but with a more in depth look. I slightly changed the layout of the list so it was a bit more clean and the whole group will be adding to this list so that we can get the Art Gallery fully planned out before the main production begins.

Other than these lists Kurtis began to do some research into the programming that will go in the game so that the mechanics work and Ben has started to create the level block out as well as the blueprint.

Synoptic Project – Meeting the client

This morning we met with the Client that would like the VR art gallery creating for his website. Through this meeting we got a solid idea of what our minimal viable product is as well as what sort of things he would like included. The primary take away from this meeting was that he wanted a simplistic building that would have plain walls with places to put the art. Some of the art will be given to us to put in ourselves and we will be creating frames to the correct size for each picture to go in. However one key part is that the pictures need to be easily changeable by anyone who opens the software, this is the allow accessibility so when a new art exhibition is on they can implement the new images and possibly remove the old. Another key part of this project will be the lighting in the scene, he emphasised on using spotlights to nicely light each piece of art work as well as making the scene appealing. These are the primary points that stood out and the Client did have other input which Kurtis noted down during the meeting. 

Synoptic Project – Pitch Submission

Download Link – Synpotic Presentation

Synoptic Project – Introduction and Pitch Preparation

Now that the class has completed the imagine worlds project we have been tasked with doing some research into a new idea that will be pitched in front of the class. The ideas will be chosen by the lecturers and my peers and this will be used as the final project of the Next Gen course. From My research I have looked into some different ideas that I think would be fun to do as well as something that is achievable. My original idea was to just create a multiplayer environment that could be used in a game like Unreal Tournament. The environment itself would have been based off a Hollywood movies studio. This idea then developed into a single player puzzle game that would include different levels all based around movies. For a day or two I thought this would be my final idea however I had changed my mind again, me and Ben also began to work on the Pitch together so we pooled some of our ideas together.

The idea that I will be pitching is a walking simulator type game that will be set in a retro styled cinema. This idea came from sticking with the idea of the map revolving around movies. The cinema would allow us to show off our 3D modelling skills; as 3D modelling is my specialisation for the course. The cinema will also allow full exploration and there will also be items within the scene that can be interacted with by the player. Other than this the cinema will act as a hub, meaning that we would like to add some mini games that will be different levels that the player access. These mini games will require a programmer on the project, but if the idea does get chosen and no programmers had picked this pitch as their option we may still be able to create a simple mini game or put more time into the cinema level.

As for the imagine worlds project my team had created a cabin that included many different horror aspects such as the gloomy atmosphere as well as tension I wanted to try and pitch something a little different. This small game would be on a completely different end of the scale to this as it will have a more feel good and casual vibe. For the cabin we also went for a realistic overall view, I wanted something more minimalist, such as the Stanley parable.

As for the target audience I want this game to be based towards young adults such as someone my age but the game will be suitable for all ages due to the nature of the gameplay being simplistic in nature and more of a casual experience.

When it came to story boarding the concept due to it being an explorable area I showed this off by showing a route that the player may take when looking around. The player will start in a main menu which may be an overview of the map or environment. The player can then start the game and they will spawn into the lobby once the game has loaded.

Once the loading is complete the player will have numerous areas that are open for exploration. 

One of the main concepts for this game will to implement different smaller mini games that will be accessed through the screening doors. 

Another key component of this pitch was coming up with a rough production schedule, this includes different jobs big and small. The job title will be listed and there is an estimated time plan for how long a job should take and when it should be finished. Below is a list of jobs that will need doing, this list may grow in the pre production stage as more thoughts and ideas may be put into the game due to different people having input.

As I had an idea of the different jobs that would need to be undertaken for this project I had an idea of what sort of roles would be available in the team. The team should consist of 2/3 3D artists to create the assets that will make the main environment, as well as a 2D artist to create some assets for the mini game as well as a programmer to code the game. If a programmer does not choose to do this project I believe that we could still get a simple working mini game completed and if not we will put more time into the level design.