Sunday 10 January 2010

Christmas break?

I think creativity can be shown in any form of day to day life and isn’t necessarily artistically or scientifically based. Creativity is defined as the creation on original ideas that have value. I don’t think creativity is hindered by technical constraints. Leonardo Da Vinci designed the hang glider during his lifetime 1452-1519. His drawings were not made into reality as no material light and strong enough existed at the time. But in recent years as we have discovered new materials people have constructed the hang glider and found that it does indeed work. The same applies for his submarine he designed.

Creativity in the computer game industry can be seen in all elements of a games construction. The initial idea for the game requires creativity. Making the ideas come to life on via drawing requires creativity. Creating something that represents the ideas on a computer program requires creativity. Anyway my point is in an industry that requires new ground breaking ideas to make money. It would seem silly to employ people who had no original ideas and no way of portraying them. If this was so this would have left the gaming world with pong to play for the next 5 billion years until the sun burns out.

Creativity in a game I feel is measured in the overall product. A game that has the same story but changes the artwork is still essentially the same game (Dynasty Warriors). You could argue that a game with new game mechanics redefines the game. So moving a game to Wii from Xbox 360 changes the game. However the underlying foundations remain the same and not making it an original idea. I may contradict myself now by saying that Assassins creed 2 is creative response to the first game but I’ll try and explain myself. As a sequel the game can’t share the same story as it would then be classed as a remake (Dynasty warriors). With the change in story comes a new character set in a different time to the original. The appearance of the character is new whilst keeping certain traits. Problems and actions missing from the original have been added to improve the gaming experience making for original ways to act in game. Sorry if it seems I’m working for Ubisoft promoting this game. I just wanted to show that creativity can come from previous ideas and be developed as a separate product.

I see myself as more of and artist at this moment in time as it is what I am most familiar with, I think I haven’t shown much of my creativity as such so far on the course. I’m trying to improve my skills so I can portray my ideas better in a style and manner I consider to be representational of my myself, otherwise I’m just going to be using someone else’s style and ideas that have already been used and won’t be wanted or that have no interest to the gaming world.

So yeah, creativity in a entry hopefully

week 11

Hello, hello. This week I’ll be sharing my views on game play and what it is too me. I had feeling that I had already written something on this subject before but I could find anything to copy from so here I am (smiley face).

My thoughts are that game play is the choice and role the player has within the game. So, game play can almost be classed as the genre of the game in question. If the player is interacting with the game in a first person perspective, then the game is a first person game. If the player acting out a role in a story, then the game is a role playing game (RPG). Now I’m not saying I’m right and I’m most probably wrong. I’m going on the idea that if you can class a game as a genre you can probably assume, what sort of interactions between gamer and game are possible. For example if you where playing a first person shooter. You wouldn’t expect to perform action to replicate the art of clothes ironing? Same for solving puzzles and riddles in a Farm simulator?

Game play is something that is determined in the story of the game and role of the player. Interactions and game mechanics don’t make the game play, they merely set the boundaries at what is relevant to the genre…. I think.

week 10

Going to cut the poop and just jump into this discussion this week. I’ve never been a big reader, I tend to get bored or annoyed at the amount of effort I have to put in. For these reasons I find most of my character and story experiences have come from film and games. One of my favourite films (like many other people) is Forest Gump. I don’t share any of the experiences that the character has experienced in the story but I can relate to the humanity that faces him. The way he is treated by people in his younger years makes you very empathetic to his character. When Forest starts to have some results in life, you as the viewer can’t but feel pleased and relieved for the guy. So creating a successful character is about creating someone that people can have genuine emotions for. If no one cared for Forest Gump the story itself would fail.

The Story in Forest Gump In my opinion is a near perfect story. It is full of twists and turns with some great highs and lows for character and viewer alike. The story intertwines with iconic moments in the mid 20th century. As far fetched as it maybe that a single man could have been involved in so much in his life; the story is believable due to the age and manner of the character. As for games, I think the best story I have come across in a game is Mass Effect or Assassins Creed, both easily capable of being films or books in their own rights. I wouldn’t say I was into Science fiction but there is something about the events in these games that border closely on the lines of being possible. These stories appeal to our (humans) natural curiosity of our world and how we got here.
I don’t know how to articulate further my ideas on what makes a good character and story, all I know is that I know a good Film or game when I see it. Since starting this course I have found it comforting in finding others who can appreciate good Films and games.