UAL Level 3 Diploma in Creative Media Hopwood Hall College Arts and Performing Arts
Introduction to industry design, research, processes and technical skills Learner Name: Assessment Tutors: Mike Simpson, Alex Dobson, Amy Miedzwiecki and James Shenton Units Covered: Unit 1 Introduction to media processes and technical skills Unit 2 Introduction to design and research skills in creative media production Assessment Start Date: Week Commencing: 05/09/16 Assessment Deadline Date: 04/11/16 ASSIGNMENT AIM AND PURPOSE: Provide you with an introduction to a range of processes and skills used in industry and to the particular characteristics and methods of communication you will need to work within games development. You will be introduced to a range of design and research activities as well as related skills workshops centred around games production. In addition you will develop an understanding of the vital role that design and research play in informing and developing your own ideas. ASSIGNMENT SCENARIO: You are a new employee at a 2D Indie games company where they expect you to know and understand all of the different types of production and workflows that happen within the company. Your job is to try working within each area in order to reflect and evaluate on your experiences. This will be in the form of a series of blogs to document your new skills and how you have researched and developed your ideas for task based projects.
UAL Level 3 Diploma in Creative Media Hopwood Hall College Arts and Performing Arts
SUGGESTED RESEARCH & RESOURCES
• It’s Learning materials in Unit 1 Introduction to media processes and technical skills • It’s Learning materials in Unit 2 Introduction to design and research skills in creative media production • Game Maker 8.1 free software download • Game Maker Basic Projects - David Walker (e-book) • Drawing materials and fine liners • A3 sketch pad • College equipment and computer software TASK PROJECT BLOG During this assignment brief you will record, reflect and evaluate your progress throughout a range of game production processes and skills. You will analyse and compare how effectively you have applied each technique and skill via a blog for each task listed on the assignment brief. Primary and secondary sources will need to be documented within your blog to show how they have influenced and informed your work. You also need to critically reflect upon your initial designs and final outcomes. You will be responsible for maintaining your interactive blog to evidence what you have learned, this can be through blog posts, photographs, print screens, drawings, audio and video recordings that documents what you have learned in class and in your own study time. Your tutors will use this to assess your ideas, research and skills, how you have progressed, in addition to observing you in class.
UAL Level 3 Diploma in Creative Media Hopwood Hall College Arts and Performing Arts
ASSIGNMENT TASK 1 - TRADITIONAL DRAWING (Alex and Amy):
PRACTICAL: You will be required to draw: • Minimum of 1 sheet of thumbnail character sketches including colour experimentation • Minimum of 1 sheet of thumbnail environment sketches including colour experimentation • Minimum of 1 sheet of thumbnail related objects sketches including colour experimentation • 1 Final A3 character concept in colour • 1 Final A3 environment concept in colour • 1 Final A3 related object concepts in colour BLOG: • Primary research into 2D games you have played • Secondary research into the style and genre of 2D games linked to your intended character(s), environment and objects • Evaluate all artwork comparing final outcomes to your research references and including how and why you have chosen your viewpoints for your environment EVIDENCE REQUIRED FOR SUBMISSION: • Thumbnail Sheets • Retro Pixel Character(s) • Retro Pixel Environment(s) • Related Character/Environment Object(s) • Traditional Drawing Blog Related Links: https://www.atari.com/arcade http://www.arcadeclub.co.uk/
UAL Level 3 Diploma in Creative Media Hopwood Hall College Arts and Performing Arts
Assignment Week
Suggested Assignment Tasks
WEEK 1 05/09/16
Induction and introduction to assignment brief Primary and secondary research into 2D pixel game art
WEEK 2 12/09/16
1 sheet of thumbnail character sketches 1 sheet of thumbnail environment sketches 1 sheet of thumbnail related objects sketches
WEEK 3 19/09/16
1 Final A3 environment concept in colour
WEEK 4 26/09/16
1 Final A3 character concepts in colour 1 Final A3 related object concepts in colour
WEEK 5 03/10/16
No traditional drawing class tasks
WEEK 6 10/10/16
No traditional drawing class tasks
WEEK 7 17/10/16
No traditional drawing class tasks
HALF TERM WEEK 8 31/10/16
Deadline week - Finish EVERYTHING
WEEK 9 07/11/16
Assessment week and TRIP :)
UAL Level 3 Diploma in Creative Media Hopwood Hall College Arts and Performing Arts
ASSIGNMENT TASK 2 - DIGITAL DRAWING (Alex and Amy):
PRACTICAL: Using Photoshop recreate your character, environment and related objects from your traditional drawings. • 1 Final character concept in colour (portrait) scaled to fit in environment • 1 Final 1920 x 1080 environment concept in colour (landscape) • 1 Final related objects concepts in colour (landscape) scaled to fit in environment BLOG: • Evaluate all digital artwork comparing your final outcomes to your traditional artwork and original references • Evaluate and compare the effectiveness of digital tools that you used to create your artworks EVIDENCE REQUIRED FOR SUBMISSION: • • • •
Digital Digital Digital Digital
Retro Pixel Character(s) Retro Pixel Environment(s) Related Character/Environment Object(s) Drawing Blog
All files need to be JPEG format and appropriately named e.g duke_nukem.jpg Related Links: http://www.spriters-resource.com/ https://www.atari.com/arcade http://www.arcadeclub.co.uk/
UAL Level 3 Diploma in Creative Media Hopwood Hall College Arts and Performing Arts
Assignment Week
Suggested Assignment Tasks
WEEK 1 05/09/16
Induction and introduction to assignment brief No digital drawing class tasks
WEEK 2 12/09/16
No digital drawing class tasks
WEEK 3 19/09/16
No digital drawing class tasks
WEEK 4 26/09/16
No digital drawing class tasks
WEEK 5 03/10/16
1 Final A3 environment concepts in colour
WEEK 6 10/10/16
1 Final A3 character and objects concept in colour
WEEK 7 17/10/16
No digital drawing class tasks
HALF TERM WEEK 8 31/10/16
Deadline week - Finish EVERYTHING
WEEK 9 07/11/16
Assessment week and TRIP :)
UAL Level 3 Diploma in Creative Media Hopwood Hall College Arts and Performing Arts
ASSIGNMENT TASK 3 - GAME DESIGN DOCUMENT AND 2D GAME ENGINES (Mike):
PRACTICAL: You will be required to make and complete 6 mini games using GameMaker: • Evil Clutches - Basic Shooter • Galatic Mail - Top down Asterioids-style game • Lazarus - Simple platform • Super Rainbow Reef - Breakout-style game • Wingman Sam - Multi-player, top down, scrolling shooter • Tank War - Multi-player, split screen tank game with mini map Before you start you will need to download the following resources from It’s Learning in Unit 1 Introduction to media processes and technical skills 2D game engine: • Download the game assets provided • Download and install the free version of Gamemaker 8.1 • Download the ebook ‘GameMaker Apprentice’ These games will teach you different skills and techniques used in popular 2D games and apps. You will need to think critically about their approaches and how to use the game engine so that you can start to learn how to make your own 2D game. When you have completed these mini games you add at least one extra level to the game of your choice. Using your primary research (the mini games) and secondary research into other similar games and genres you will create a Game Design Document (GDD) for one of the above games in the style of your own choosing. BLOG: Analysis and reflection on the production of each mini game, extra game level and GDD which can include written notes, print screens, audio commentary, or video capture. EVIDENCE REQUIRED FOR SUBMISSION:
• 6 mini games (exe GameMaker files appropriately named e.g duke_nukem.jpg) • One extra game level • GDD • 2D game engines blog
UAL Level 3 Diploma in Creative Media Hopwood Hall College Arts and Performing Arts
Assignment Week
Suggested Assignment Tasks
WEEK 1 05/09/16
Induction and introduction to assignment brief Introduction to GDD and Gamemaker
WEEK 2 12/09/16
2D Games Engines - Games 1-2 - Evil Clutches and Galatic Mail
WEEK 3 19/09/16
2D Games Engines - Games 3-4 - Lazarus and Super Rainbow Reef
WEEK 4 26/09/16
2D Games Engines - Games 3-4 - Lazarus and Super Rainbow Reef
WEEK 5 03/10/16
2D Games Engines - Games 5-6 - Wingman Sam and Tank War
WEEK 6 10/10/16 WEEK 7 17/10/16
2D Games Engines - Games 5-6 - Lazarus and Super Rainbow Reef 2D Games Engines - Own game level & GDD
HALF TERM WEEK 8 31/10/16 WEEK 9 07/11/16
Deadline week - Finish EVERYTHING
Assessment week and TRIP :)
UAL Level 3 Diploma in Creative Media Hopwood Hall College Arts and Performing Arts
ASSIGNMENT TASK 4 - 2D ANIMATION (Alex):
PRACTICAL: Using your own choice of sprites from Spriters Resource, you will be required to create as a minimum the following animation sequences in Fireworks or Photoshop: • Walk cycle • Run cycle • Jump sequence • Explosion • Death sequence Before you start you will need to download all of your chosen sprites from: http://www.spriters-resource.com/ (or your own chosen website) BLOG: Critically evalaute the effectiveness of your animation sequences using the following criteria: • • • •
Timing Smoothness Weight Believability
EVIDENCE REQUIRED FOR SUBMISSION: • All 5 animation cycles to be saved as an animated gif from Fireworks or Photoshop, appropriately named e.g duke_nukem.jpg • Animation blog
UAL Level 3 Diploma in Creative Media Hopwood Hall College Arts and Performing Arts
Assignment Week
Suggested Assignment Tasks
WEEK 1 05/09/16
Induction and introduction to assignment brief
WEEK 2 12/09/16
No animation tasks
WEEK 3 19/09/16
No animation tasks
WEEK 4 26/09/16
No animation tasks
WEEK 5 03/10/16
No animation tasks
WEEK 6 10/10/16
No animation tasks
WEEK 7 17/10/16
Create sprite animation cycles
HALF TERM WEEK 8 31/10/16
Deadline week - Finish EVERYTHING l
WEEK 9 07/11/16
Assessment week and TRIP :)
UAL Level 3 Diploma in Creative Media Hopwood Hall College Arts and Performing Arts
ASSIGNMENT TASK 5 - Sound Effects (Amy):
PRACTICAL:
Using your own choice of sounds from sound libraries, you will be required to replace the sound effects and music in at least 1 of the games that you have made in the practical 2D game engines task. You will need to produce an audio board for your game to establish what sounds are required, however you will want to consider a range of sounds such as: • • • • • • •
Looped in-game music Walking/running Jumping Pick-ups Death Game over Menu/button selection
Before you start you will need to download all of your chosen sounds from a free sound library: • www.soundsnap.com (use username salfordsoundsnap and pasword audiopost) • http://www.freeplaymusic.com/index.aspx • http://www.soundboard.com/ • http://soundbible.com/free-sound-effects-1.html BLOG: Critically evalaute the effectiveness of your sounds using the following criteria: • Timing with on screen motion • Suitability of fade in and fade out timing • Volume levels for individual sounds and priority over other in game sounds • Believability of sounds • Tone and suitability of sound EVIDENCE REQUIRED FOR SUBMISSION: • All raw and edited sounds to be saved as a wav or mp3 appropriately named e.g duke_nukem.jpg • Gamemaker Exe file with integrated working sounds • Audio Blog
UAL Level 3 Diploma in Creative Media Hopwood Hall College Arts and Performing Arts
Assignment Week
Suggested Assignment Tasks
WEEK 1 05/09/16
Induction and introduction to assignment brief
WEEK 2 12/09/16
No audio tasks
WEEK 3 19/09/16
No audio tasks
WEEK 4 26/09/16
No audio tasks
WEEK 5 03/10/16
No audio tasks
WEEK 6 10/10/16
No audio tasks
WEEK 7 17/10/16
Sourcing sounds, editing and inserting into GameMaker
HALF TERM WEEK 8 31/10/16
Deadline week - Finish EVERYTHING l
WEEK 9 07/11/16
Assessment week and TRIP :)
UAL Level 3 Diploma in Creative Media Hopwood Hall College Arts and Performing Arts
TASKS ASSIGNMENT TASK 6 - VIDEO PRODUCTION (James)
TASK 1 - CAMERA SHOTS, ANGLES AND MOVEMENTS: PRACTICAL: • IN PAIRS shoot a sequence demonstrating a diverse range of shots angles and movements • INDIVIDUALLY photograph 6 pictures that reflect the diverse nature of Rochdale. You must include shots with a long depth of field and shallow depth of field. • Working in GROUPS OF FOUR you will storyboard and script a meeting between to people and shoot the scene using principles of the 180 degree rule. This scene must have a variety of shots and be no longer than 1 minute in length. Planning and time management is crucial. BLOG: • Descriptions of your shots, angles and movements covering lower third descriptions and transitions • Critically evaluate the production process for each photograph. You will need to discuss the reasons for your choice of shots, reflecting on their meaning and their effectiveness. • Reflect and evaluate the production process for the 180 degree rule and analysis of how your production and final result demonstrates your knowledge of this subject. EVIDENCE REQUIRED FOR SUBMISSION: • Edited 1 minute video of your shots, angles and movement sequence in H.264 format • 6 Photographs of Rochdale in JPEG format appropriately named e.g duke_nukem. jpg • Script and Storyboard for meeting and 1 minute edited video in H.264 format • Video Blog
UAL Level 3 Diploma in Creative Media Hopwood Hall College Arts and Performing Arts
Assignment Week WEEK 1 05/09/16 WEEK 2 12/09/16
Assignment Tasks
Induction and introduction to assignment brief
Induction, blogs and introduction to assignment brief Assignment Task 1 - Camera Shots, angles and movements
WEEK 3 19/09/16
Assignment Task 2 - Composition
WEEK 4 26/09/16
Assignment Task 2 - Composition
WEEK 5 03/10/16
Assignment Task 3 - The Meeting
WEEK 6 10/10/16
Assignment Task 3 - The Meeting
WEEK 7 17/10/16
Assignment Task 3 - The Meeting
HALF TERM WEEK 8 31/10/16 WEEK 9 07/11/16
Deadline week - Finish EVERYTHING
Assessment week and TRIP :)
UAL Level 3 Diploma in Creative Media Hopwood Hall College Arts and Performing Arts
This assignment covers the following grading criteria: Unit Unit 1 Introduction to media processes and technical skills
Learning Outcomes 1 Understand processes and technical skills used in creative media production.
Assessment Criteria 1.1 Apply understanding of a range of processes to support media activities.
1.2 Apply media processes and skills safely and appropriately 2 Understand the characteristics and methods of communication within a media context. Unit 2 Introduction to design and research skills in creative media production
1 Understand design and research tools, methods and skills used in creative media production.
2.1 Critically compare a range of communication methods used to convey meaning in creative media production. 1.1 Critically compare a range of research tools, methods and skills.
2 Understand primary and secondary research sources.
2.1 Critically compare a range of primary and secondary research sources.
3 Be able to use design and research tools, methods and skills to inform ideas for creative media production.
3.1 Apply design and research tools, methods and skills to record and interpret information and develop ideas for creative production. 3.2 Evaluate the effectiveness of design and research tools methods and skills to develop ideas for creative production.
UAL Level 3 Diploma in Creative Media Hopwood Hall College Arts and Performing Arts
This brief has been verified as being fit for purpose by:
Assessors: Amy Miedzwiecki, Alex Dobson, Mike Simpson and James Shenton
Date: 02/09/16 Internal Verifier: Amy Miedzwiecki, Alex Dobson, Mike Simpson and James Shenton Date: 02/09/16