Work Finished and More Begins

Ok so I got a bit done this week I finished the ideas for the swamp level and they are posted to our wiki page. Below is the image reference for the type of look and feel we want for the swamp and below that is the level blueprint. I also came up with a good menu system that will add to the story line which are the pictures posted above - NOT A FINISHED PICTURE!!!.  Last I started a 3D model for the level with basic shape fillers until I get art outline concepts from Tom.

My assignment this week is to draw up the exact pieces I want to put in the menu and send them to Tom to be refined to the art style. Also I will be receiving art assets(trees, leaves, ramps) from Tom and as I receive them I will model them and add them to my level.

A Little Stressed

Well the plan for this week is pretty simple for myself. By Thursday I will have a level blueprint for the swamp level with length, obstacles, and suggestions for art assets. I also wanted to be on the Menu art concept so I am linking up with Nick and William to create the menu for the game. I have a pretty good idea for a unique but easy to use menu that still fits our Art style so hopefully Tom will be receptive of it.

What I am stressed about it our visual organization. William has volunteered to create a scrum sheet with the list of sprints I haven't seen anything yet and I don't want to seem like an un-organized group. To make sure that we were all ready without a written plan I made sure to ask each individual from the group if they had an assignment and when the deadline was so at least there wasn't any confusion amongst ourselves.

Still Working

Well this break has been fun but I'm ready to have a full team ready to hit the ground running. Over the break we meet as a semi full team and made some decisions on what hats, levels, and goals we wanted. The goals were just for what those who were willing to work over the break wanted to get done. Tonight I have John creating a plan for what he wants in the works for future sprints. For artists all the concept art is coming together and then Tom will make some decisions, from the art, on whether we can all adapt or whether to create an assembly line type of process. After tomorrow we hope to have all the sprints worked up in writing so we can have a great Alpha by December. I still am concerned though about certain individuals inability to let go of there ideas. I reiterate at each meeting that this is now our game but for some it still seems to be about the way they pictured it. I think after tomorrow if it doesn't get resolved I will have a side discussion with the individual/s and hopefully I don't burn any bridges in doing it. I still am excited and stressed about being a team lead and finally get to some real production.

This weeks work

Ok well again we are still working on a lot to be able to start. The programmers are working on restarting the game from the ground for the basic mechanics. As a group we decided to work on the medieval levels for our Alpha. So the plan right now is to come up with the hat that we want to commit to so that artist and programmers can get to work. Today I created a google doc for the group with the hats we already have for medieval times and its available for additions with both other hat ideas and there mechanics. Tomorrow I will organize a voting with everyone to decide on 6 hats. From there I will work with the  art and tech directors to create groups to begin on working on the game. Greg has already pulled found a scrum sheet template that I will also help organize with the leads. I want to get some good work done over the break as well so hopefully the team feels the same way.

A Switch To Heroes

Ok well this last week we had some really good progress with the group. I'm happy to say that much of the group hasn't had any difficulty discussing ideas or adding on to many good ideas. Everyone also seems to be very receptive of me being the team lead as well. I'm also very pleased to see a large amount of enthusiasm for the game. We have a very long list of hat ideas and came together after tuesdays class to discuss them and story line.

The basis of what we have is that our little Gremlin is a story enthusiast and he becomes so embellished with his book he becomes a part of them. So the books become levels with enemies at the end of each book. We also thought it would be great to move chronologically through books up to the time that is now for the character. At that point he will play his final level which right now is undecided.

I have organized the hat ideas to similar mechanics and level matching so tomorrow in class we will make our general level decisions and from there about six hat for programmers and artist to begin working on. Mostly for my plan tomorrow I want to get our team broken up into smaller groups for individual sections of the game before the break. I asked everyone to in the group to come with there desired time of availability so we can match up schedules and have an idea of specific part they might like to work on more - because we all know we make things much better if we care about them.