Sound Selection

Selected sounds are as according:

Tujiko Noriko - Endless End

We All Inherit the Moon - When We Finally Fall Asleep. Part II, Part III

Tujiko Noriki - Give Face

New Discovery

I was exploring the arcade in Sunway Pyramid while waiting for my friend. I've found an interesting music arcade game with a very attractive visual that caught my attention. After I went home i started to research on arcade game created by Taito as that is the only element I remember from the game.

After further research I've found out the game is called Groove Coaster and it it also available on mobile phone. Therefore I've downloaded it and try out the game play and observe the visual of the game.

The visual of the game is more flat and more textured based.

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2011/aug/14/groove-coaster-hungribles-apps-review

I think the visual will be less heavy for the game compared to the visual I've done before. Therefore this could be an alternative way for me to explore the visual.

I've further research on books with pattern and texture related to further inspire myself:

From the book: Cutting Edge Pattern

Video Prototype

After researching for the particle effects/ VFX. I've generated some of the assets for me to try out the effect of my own on Adobe Flash by animating it.

Assets:

VFX Video mock-up

Visual Effects & Exploration

I have explored on different visual effects on different flash games and mobile games. Also I have learn some of the key thing that might be needed to create an effect for the game

For example: a simple enlarge and fade off.

http://www.spriters-resource.com/pc_computer/magebros/sheet/36419/

Crumble Zone

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rebeltwins.crumblezone

This mobile game inspired me on the exploding particle. When two object collides, it creates an exploding particle effect feedback for the user showing that the object has been hit.

Stardunk

http://www.slidetoplay.com/review/stardunk-review/

This game inspires me from the small circle particle effect that shows the ball touched something. While the large circle particle effect covers the whole screen indicating the ball has entered the ring. The large circle particle effect inspires me to make use of it as the enemy has been eliminated.

UI Design

Tutorial 2

During tutorial 2, I've showed my assigned specialists the paper prototype and also talked about the feedback give from my 3 personas. They suggested me to rather developed a narrative based game with a lot of levels into developing a single survival level game. Besides that, the feedback includes the combination of beats tapped is currently too plain. Lastly I am to decide which aspect of the game am I more focusing on? Art style or the game experience?

By having my target audience defined, I've decided to develop the mobile game into a survival/ highscore-based game. A faster gameplay that suits casual gamer. In terms of the combination of combos, I've decided to make the skills to be stronger if the combo did not break. If possible I may also include more types of attacks with the combining combination beats tapped. Lastly the aspect I've chosen to focus on is the visual of the game. Casual gamer prefer a more relaxing and less aggressive type of game play, therefore I will create a game which let the user to enjoy the visual of the game. In the interval cooldown of the 4 beats will be playing the animation feedback.

Specialist recommended me to research more on experimental game which has nice visual effects. And to further understand how the coding of the game will work, I am adviced to create a video prototype of the visual effect.

I have research on Flowers, game developed by thatgamecompany. It has a very nice visual and animation feedback. It is engaging and at the same time peaceful. I've also researched games developed by thatgamecompany and I've found Flow. The visual of the game inspires me to create something like it.

Before I started on the VFX prototype, I've tried to design some of the element for my UI and the game. The graphics are the assets for my VFX prototype and gameplay.

Sketches

Digital UI mockup:

http://thatgamecompany.com/games/