Exercise 4

Exercise 4a:

Game Design Document: Elements
Elements is a Side-Scrolling 2D Puzzle Platform Shooter using the UDK engine. Players will control three characters to interact with their surroundings to get out of the maze/level. Use these characters and save them in multiple stages with an entertaining cartoonish visual theme.

Back-story
The three main characters (Earth Wind and Fire) are warped into a different universe due to their curiosity. In order for them to get back home they have to venture through this new world to find the actual teleport ring that will take them back home
Characters:
The Wind character is the only jumper in the game. He is the only character that can jump around to high places to activate switches. Can only trigger wind triggers.
The Earth character is unable to jump and can break objects. He is invulnerable to enemy attacks. Use his “break object” ability to break through rocks and door to progress through the level. Can only trigger earth switches.
The Fire character is unable to jump and can shoot projectiles. He is very weak. Position him behind the earth character to shoot enemies. Enemies will not be able to hurt him for the earth character in front of him will absorb all the damage. He can only trigger fire switches.
Each character has different switches to trigger throughout the level. This helps guide players to use the correct characters to progress.
Key Features
Three characters with different abilities: Control three different characters and use their abilities to get through each level
Simple and Easy: Navigate through levels and use the characters with their simple abilities to help you get through. Very straight forward
Cartoonish level: We give a simple cartoonish level which is easy to the eye and entertaining in most ways (Looks a lot like a child’s story book style)
Controls
Move Left / Right: “A” / “D”
Jump: Spacebar
Aim: Mouse
Primary Action: Left Mouse Button
Secondary Action: Right Mouse Button
Genre
Side-Scrolling Puzzle Platformer
Platform
UDK(Windows)

4b

Week 5: 16th Aug - Level decoration

Week 6 23rd Aug - Particle effects

Week 7 30th Aug -  Simple maze design

Week 8 6th Sept - Touch up and make video for 2^nd presntation

write time: 10min

4c

From the article: http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/1886/production_values_the_value_of_.php

It is stated in the article that good communication needs to be practiced when working as a team. It is also mentioned that "the producer must explain to the team why the method is necessary and get buy-in from them, otherwise the process will fail" which I believe is very important. I have had experiences where certain ideas from group members did not get across properly which led to confusion and thus certain concepts and models did not get done and the schedule being further delayed. It is too often that issues are not dealt with, questions not being answered. The article also provides great advice about the producer acting as a facilitator more than a dictator. Listening to each other and working things out together will enable the team to progress faster, produce better results and prevent any future dilemmas. In my opinion, having a WBS would help to get things done on time. Weekly meetings also allow the team to deal with any problems that the team can identify thus fixing them faster.