Getting Close To an Alpha

Ok so this week I finished a lot - I built the three enemy characters, animated them with a run, jump, die, static, and a hit animation. I also created a Viking Charge, Refined a jump, Created an Attack, and built the basis for a few more animations - but I need to fix some problems with the rig because I have no control of the elbow at the moment. I also finished the elf hat and did a lot of work with john to try to trouble shoot so exportingmodel issues.

For this week we will be working on a lot of polished items, Tom is on background, James is on weapons and enemy attacks, Greg is putting the level assets together, and I am working on the Texture layout of the user interface, I need to create a single document with all the hat, button, character, health bar, and UI icon representation in a graph layout, then once the character rig is fixed I will be trying to finish making at least one movement for each hat.

Games "they are a changin"

Ok so again some more big cuts to the game. In an after class meeting the decision was made to stick with a standard platformer game so that we can concentrate on gameplay and not visual stimulation. Although we can create somewhat of the same visual effect with background PNG items and very simple looping animations.

My progress - This last week had a lot of work. I concepted an enemy character, cleaned it up in photoshop, then created a 3D model of it. I also cleaned up the Main character - since the original was a bit feminine. I also created a basic tunic for the goblin and created the 3D hats for him. After i fixed the character I sent him to Ryan who rigged him for me and then I animated a run, jump, and static animation. The only thing I did not get done was the decisions on the text but I did take on a few things that weren't planned so they were pushed back.

This weeks sprint I have a lot as well. I know it's a holiday but this is my baby and it will be the best game EVER!!! I need to start creating a basic attack animation for the main character, and once my other tasks are done, create specific animations for the hats. My other tasks are to create more assets for the forest level, create the other two enemy 3D characters, and animate a run, static, and two attacks for the enemy, a impact, and a die animation. It is a lot but I have been doing a lot of similar forms of animation this semester with another game I have been working on called 'Fat Knight' I don't think i can do more though. The list of the hat animations is a little daunting so I will taking it one step at a time. 

Big Cuts

Ok so this week we have made the decision to cut the alpha down to one level with all the functionality in hats that we would have had in all the levels we had planned. It was a hard call because I know that it is possible to do that much work if this was everyones priority but with the rate of production it seems far fetch to produce more than just one level at this point.


This week I did a lot. I created a flipping page book for the pause menu and the level selection menu. I also researched a bunch of texts to see what we might like for the UI. Last I took Greg's outline for the forest level and input a lot of art assets and color. Last I hounded a lot of people about there progress particularly the artist who have the least marginal amount of progress completed.

For this sprint I will be converting the hats to 3D models for the new completed characters. I will also clean  up Greg's Goblin model and as a side wish add clothing for each hat (but that last part isn't part of the sprint). I will also be adding some more text to the menu and pause menu assets. The programmers are holding off on the menu till next week so after we begin on that then I will make whatever improvements are needed to the current system. Last on my docket - I will be doing concept enemy characters for the forest and once they are cleaned up by Tom to the art style I will model and animate them.

This Sprint

Ok so this week I have a lot to work on but let me first cover what I have done. This week myself and John created a finalized Player icon for the four corners of the screen. Also I finished the 3D model for the menu and mapped the menu including text, title concept, and animations, as well as pause menu concepts - so in a sense the UI is completely decided on.  I also have been harassing people about the scrum sheet - but due to some confusion William will be looking into a new style of scrum sheet and have a new system by tomorrow.

Menu Bedroom without textures

Title in works this need E,O obects

This was another concept that may be play tested for player display in case the current version is  intrusive.

Finalized version of the player display although we have not made the decisions on points or XP, and the pages are collectables that are going to be placed in the game.

For this week like I said there is alot. I need to create the final texture for the bedroom, create the animation for the pause menu, once I receive the main character rigged I will be animating a run, static, and attack sequence. Greg is mapping the sizes and shape of the swamp level and will be done thursday so I can begin doing some art for it. I will continue to keep on individuals in the group about the scrum after the new system is up tomorrow. Also greg will be sending me the main character model so that I can finish his hands and send him to chris for rigging.

We are still on track to a good alpha and I'm continuously talking with my leads and other individuals to ensure that we are create the essentials and working on a cohesive product.

Sprint

This last week wasn't as successful as I would have liked. I did accomplish a lot but I think I could have done more. I finished a 3D (not final product) model of the menu start screen - I also created a bedroom for the Play,Options,Exit screen and books that could work well opening and closing

















For this weeks sprint I need to create the animations for the books to open with a pop up and if I can get to it a page turn for level selection. Also I will be building a quick model with a skeleton - with a run and static animation for the programmers to start working with. Also I will be doing a lot of research and hopefully have a pinned down UI design by Tuesday.