This part of my blog will show my day to day reflections on how I consider the work to be going, progress made and in general my thoughts. I had the idea to keep a day to day journal when I was looking over some old work and I came across a book I had kept while I was on my Art Foundation year at Portsmouth University. It was clear to me instantly that the book had most certainly influenced my work flow in a positive manner, I mean by this that my ability to constantly reflect on what I was doing kept everything in perspective and I was also able to see my project from in some respects a third person viewpoint. In short having a diary keeps things relative to me, and furthermore keeps important issues fresh in my mind.
It is also good for me to look over what I have said in the past and see if I have developed or progressed on in the chosen way I wanted too and if I haven’t, then why so? Keeping a video diary will one, ensure I keep up to date with my work flow and two; give me clarity to see that the project is developing in a logical way meaning A leads to B leads to C.
As stated these will be Video journals using Jing with me talking about what has been on my mind, what im worried about, whats going well, whats going bad etc. I will make one every day and they will span between three to five minutes long.
**Due to the amount of videos appearing on the page, it may take a couple of seconds to load, please be patient and we apologize for any inconvenience this may of caused**
Video: One – January 1st 2010
KEY ISSUES: Comments on starting the diary, pixel art and furthermore starting the blog. Reflecting on the final piece from the specialist project.
Video: Two – January 2nd 2010
KEY ISSUES: Comments on the upcoming year and work process. Furthermore considering consistency between the specialist project and the extended major.
Video: Three – January 3rd 2010
KEY ISSUES: Reflecting on the essay and how it relates to my project, moreover how I intend to approach it and get it done.
Video: Four – January 4th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Considering how I’ve changed and how that has effected the development of my work. Reflecting on how I’ve grown from the specialist project and furthermore how the idea has changed.
Video: Five – January 5th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Comments on beta testing, what works well, what doesn’t work well. Looking at the interactive narrative side of my game and questioned if it works.
Video: Six – January 6th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Further comments on beta testing, developing the pixel art, snow day.
Video: Seven – January 7th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Reflections on planning, aspects regarding the months of the year, what to do in Jan,Feb, March etc Comments again on beta testing and issues regarding interactive narrative.
Video: Eight – January 8th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Commenting on the day in work-relation, considering the concept of the project.
Video: Nine – January 9th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Mention PHD, considering what I like about it, what it means to me and how it relates to the project.
Video: Ten – January 10th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Considering how the project will develop, linking the blogs together and comments on experience gained in the last project.
Video: Eleven – January 11th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Reflections on the PHD, comments on how we learn as individuals, considering how recreation effects work.
Video: Twelve – January 12th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Issues on compiling work together for the specialist and reflecting on extended major.
Video: Thirteen – January 13th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Comments on ideas and concepts relating to inspiration.
Video: Fourteen – January 14th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Further comments on the essay and how in regards to the work day, it took precedence over the extended major.
Video: Fifteen – January 15th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Talking about the hand in and how all that is left now is the PPRD and the EMP.
Video: Sixteen – January 16th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Reflecting on planning concepts and learning the harmonica.
Video: Seventeen – January 17th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Comments on diary entries, not lists and building upon the schematics page to enhance it from the specialist project.
Video: Eighteen – January 18th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Further reflections on getting the PHD sent off and acquiring references.
Video: Nineteen – January 19th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Issues on research videos; commenting on the characteristics of making computer games for the iPhone.
Video: Twenty – January 2oth 2010
KEY ISSUES: Comments on getting my personal statement completed for the PHD and furthermore getting it sent off.
Video: Twenty one – January 21st 2010
KEY ISSUES: Aspects regarding the development of the pixel art, commenting on ways in which of making the characters portray emotion. Designing them away from being robotic and trying to make them seem more human. Finally comments on designing a new header.
Video: Twenty two – January 22nd 2010
KEY ISSUES: *ILL* Reflections on how to proceed with the project in relation to the application.
Video: Twenty three – January 23rd 2010
KEY ISSUES: Comments on the need to make the narrative and how to make it original. Issues regarding techniques I could implement in the game to enforce this. Considering ways of implementing game over screens.
Video: Twenty four – January 24th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Reflecting on setting up a good work area; having my room more spacious to help inspire me. Furthermore considering the need to sort out my certificates in Xcode to start designing apps in the builder.
Video: Twenty five – January 25th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Commenting on sending off the PHD; taking out a camera and tripod to analytically film and research games already made on the iPhone. Hopefully from this I will gain a better understanding of the best way to proceed.
Video: Twenty six – January 26th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Looking at the research videos I have made; considering how in relation to the project they are justified and an important part of my study. The research should lead my design methods.
Video: Twenty seven – January 27th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Commenting on compressing the videos and posting them up on the blog. Furthermore issues regarding beta testing and designing a custom header. Finally mentioning the “touch ups” I have made and what my plans are for the next couple of days.
Video: Twenty eight – January 28th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Reflecting on the beta testing I had done; working on editing within iMovie and comments on how the day had played out. Considering on how it had been a good day while at the same time a bad day in regards to work relation.
Video: Twenty nine – January 29th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Again comments on tidying up the blog bringing it up to date, while at the same time trying to write more relevant pages and posts in regards to the application I am working on. Issues revolving around headers, schematics, the design journal and the diary.
Video: Thirty – January 30th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Cracking on with application; considering on how words can become forgotten over time and wanting to incorporate that into my interactive narrative. Further comments on the pixel monsters and the need to come up with a strong narrative for my game.
Video: Thirty one – January 31st 2010
Video: Thirty two – February 1st 2010
Video: Thirty three – February 2nd 2010
Video: Thirty four – February 3rd 2010
Video: Thirty five – February 4th 2010
Video: Thirty six – February 5th 2010
Video: Thirty seven – February 6th 2010
Video: Thirty eight – February 7th 2010
Video: Thirty nine – February 8th 2010
Video: Forty – February 9th 2010
Video: Forty one – February 10th 2010
Video: Forty two – February 11th 2010
Video: Forty three – February 12th 2010
Video: Forty four – February 13th 2010
Video: Forty five – February 14th 2010
Video: Forty six – February 15th 2010
Video: Forty seven – February 16th 2010
Video: Forty eight – February 17th 2010
Video: Forty nine – February 18th 2010
Video: Fifty – February 19th 2010
Video: Fifty one – February 20th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Comments on the camera view and how this relates to the project as a whole. Further speculation on how the game may work in relation to how the camera view works in Xcode.
Video: Fifty two – February 21st 2010
KEY ISSUES: Comments on the design journal, looking at the visualization and development of my images towards the overall design of my game.
Video: Fifty three – February 22nd 2010
KEY ISSUES: Reflections on the work progress within the blog, focusing mainly on the Panic volumes and the recently written analysis regarding the development of the pixel monsters.
Video: Fifty four – February 23rd 2010
KEY ISSUES: Experiments with painting, stencils etc looking at new ways of exploring the design process via a range of different mediums, comments on the continued work on blog and thoughts regarding the camera view.
Video: Fifty five – February 24th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Comments on design theory, how my work could be applied as art, considering spacial awareness, colour composition and transition. Further comments on beta testing; what worked well, what didn’t work well.
Video: Fifty six – February 25th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Reflections on code; collision detection and buttons. Mixing the two to make a button that shake; further comments on the need to experiment with code and issues regarding the x,y and z views.
Video: Fifty seven – February 26th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Comments on design practice and the need to stay fresh. This video focus’s on several new ideas I have had that are changing the way the overall design is going and in some respects the project as a whole.
Video: Fifty eight – February 27th 2010
KEY ISSUES: My Birthday!!
Video: Fifty nine – February 28th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Comments on rewriting the essay and how this will effect my time spent on the EMP. Further comments on where to go in regards to the EMP and how I plan to approach the overall product I will be making.
Video: Sixty – March 1st 2010
KEY ISSUES: Reflecting on February as a month, what I achieved. Comments on what I hope to get done in March and time planning what needs to be done in relation to Xcode tests. Camera view commented on.
Video: Sixty one – March 2nd 2010
KEY ISSUES: Comments regarding the layout orientation and interface coherency. Further issues regarding the implementation of user ease of use on the aspect of holding the phone.
Video: Sixty two – March 3rd 2010
KEY ISSUES: In this video I comment on the aspect of rewriting my essay; focusing on the first part of my essay regarding the issue of augmented vision and what it actually is.
Video: Sixty three – March 4th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Comments on the Friday critique, creating a sideshow to highlight the progression of my work. Reflecting on the need to bring people up to date on how my project is progressing.
Video: Sixty four – March 5th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Issues regarding the beta testing, comments on taking out a camera and getting more research videos recorded. Comments on the frustration with wanting to do work but also considering the need to document work and finding the balance within.
Video: Sixty five – March 6th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Comments on getting the visual side of my game down, wanting to compile the hub of my game to save time later on. Issues mainly commenting on the design side of my game while also considering how I would be coding certain aspects of my game.
Video: Sixty six – March 7th 2010
KEY ISSUES: In relation to the 7th; comments on application building and what I had focused on in the last day, issues regarding code and buttons, page linking and designing the credits page. Comments on the programming and the designing of the app are the main issues here.
Video: Sixty seven – March 8th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Comments on the building of the blog, the need to structure and plan the majority of March to achieve what I have set out to achieve. Issues regarding Graduation, ordering the Interactive narrative books, working on the design journal and continuing to focus my efforts on the camera view.
Video: Sixty eight – March 9th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Reflecting on the need to continue and finish my beta testing soon, commenting on the test with Richard Pipes. Further comments on receiving the Ian Livingstone books on the aspect of developing my game in a more puzzling based style.
Video: Sixty nine – March 10th 2010
KEY ISSUES: (IMPORTANT) In this video I comment on the reason as to why augmented reality won’t work in regards to what I want overall, I further comment on the video within and how it reflects my research, tests, notes and examples and how when all compiled together and seen logically; the implementation of AR just won’t work. This is mainly due to several reasons; my knowledge of coding, the way the UIViews work in interface builder and moreover on how the pulling in of the cameraview makes image encoding near on impossible for the knowledge I have on coding.
Video: Seventy – March 11th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Working on redoing the essay; irritating at this point as I comment on the need to start rapid prototyping gameplay elements now that I am not implementing AR.
Video: Seventy one – March 12th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Comments on finishing the essay and sending it off, reflecting on hoping that it will be passable so I can continue working on the EMP and begin to start prototyping gameplay ideas.
Video: Seventy two – March 13th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Comments on considering as to why I wanted to implement AR in the first place and what I really want out of the project. Showing an example of an idea in regards to the new gameplay (secret passage) and the way in which I want to implement it, comments on the structure of my overall game and some ideas I have had.
Video: Seventy three – March 14th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Reflections on designing the gameplay, comments on what I accomplished the day before and how I built upon the design and style of the gameplay. This video looks at dragcable objects, collision detection and how I had encoded them to make a “hidden pathway” gameplay dynamic. I also further reflect on work done in Interface builder, Photoshop and Xcode.
Video: Seventy four – March 15th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Looking at the Accelerometer and designing gameplay around it. This video focuses on a simple word puzzle game I developed, programmed and designed. Its not great but at this stage it was more about getting the coding down, I comment on this in the video. I further reflect on the need for people to test my game, to find out if they are easy to pick up and play.
Video: Seventy five – March 16th 2010
KEY ISSUES: In this video I comment on developing the style of the accelerometer game, in essence making it easier but actively doing so to convey clearly what the game does. I further go on to comment on the first gameplay example I made, reflecting on how it was buggy thus scarping it for a new idea. I then comment on and show the new gameplay idea; talking about how it works and the way in which I hope to implement it in the entirety of my overall game.
Video: Seventy six – March 17th 2010
KEY ISSUES: This video comments on the use of shake API’s and my third gameplay idea. I talk about developing the gameplay idea after I had struggled to come up with a concept of how to implement the shake feature. Additional comments relate to the design, code used and the element and introduction of the riddle based gameplay within this application.
Video: Seventy seven – March 18th 2010
KEY ISSUES: This video comments on the development of the puzzle game and the implementation of the shake API. Comments revolving around making a non linear puzzle are key here. Furthermore comments relating to the code used within this application. Finally reflections on the next puzzle I could be making.
Video: Seventy eight – March 19th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Comments regarding a new gameplay idea, reflecting on the style of game I will be developing within my application. Issues regarding the design style and capturing the feel of the game in the imagery I will be creating. Furthermore comments on the implementation of the interactive narrative.
Video: Seventy nine – March 20th 2010
KEY ISSUES: This video looks at the fourth gameplay variant, a simple memory game utilized with my pixel graphics. Examining how the user would play this game and considering some of the pros and cons of this particular gameplay style in my overall game.
Video: Eighty – March 21st 2010
KEY ISSUES: Comments on using this day to accomplish several aspects of the project. Considering the music in my game and how me and Holley (more Holley than me) have developed the style of music but how it could still be incorporated into certain parts of my game. Issues on touching up some of the older gameplay, making it user friendly. Comments on writing the weekly plan and finally reflecting on some of the work I have been doing overall.
Video: Eighty one – March 22nd 2010
KEY ISSUES: Comments on the combining the accelerometer with the collision detection code to implement a simple titling game to show at the crit tomorrow. Reflecting on the code used and style of the game I want to consider.
Video: Eighty two – March 23rd 2010
KEY ISSUES: Reflections on building upon the actual game and the need to get it under way and finished. Designing a flier to accompany the game at the end of year show and finally the redesigning of the Panic front page to incorporate the idea of it being a quest.
Video: Eighty three – March 24th 2010
KEY ISSUES: In this video I comment on looking into NSTimers to implement basic animations into my game. I also comment on designing a new icon, making a couple of new UIViews for the hub and finally commenting on talking to Holley about the music I want to incorporate into the game.
Video: Eighty four – March 25th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Comments on the need to progress quickly, building a page(UIView) a day, including design, code and programming. Reflecting on the possible look for the interactive narrative design and some of the comments I have had via showing people.
Video: Eighty five – March 26th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Reflecting on issues of basic design while also considering the need for ergonomics and anthropometric design to be implementded into the redesign of my main menu image. Comments relating to wanting it to be more coherent to the overall design while also being comfortable to the user while also making the functionality easy for the user.
Video: Eighty six – March 27th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Continued work on designing the main menu(Hub) layout. Issues around buttons, transitions and effect implementation.
Video: Eighty seven – March 28th
KEY ISSUES: Comments on the possible style for the story introduction and start of game images. Looking at the possible effects I may use to start the story i.e shake API’s and drag-able objects to make the narrative more interesting and fun.
Video: Eighty eight – March 29th 2010
KEY ISSUES: No EMP work achieved, work considered, but no work done.
Video: Eighty nine – March 30th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Comments on developing the story in a innovative way while keeping it interesting and fun. Further comments on the development of style and creating a learning curve for the user. Testing on using the accelerometer and why it isn’t helpful in creating a learning curve.
Video: Ninety – March 31st 2010
KEY ISSUES: Continued efforts on developing the story and still considering ways to make it interesting and different from other game intros.
Video: Ninety one – April 1st 2010
KEY ISSUES 
1/5) Comments on the new approach and how it affects the game. The new style used within the story mode.
Video: Ninety two – April 2nd 2010
KEY ISSUES 2/5) Reflecting on understanding the narrative, considering HUD (heads up display) ideas and creating a tutorial t start the game with.
Video: Ninety three – April 3rd 2010
KEY ISSUES 3/5) Further comments on the development of the start-up tutorial, considering what it is that the user actual needs to know!!
Video: Ninety four – April 4th 2010
KEY ISSUES 4/5) Additional comments on building up the tutorial. Mainly focusing on the scrolling feature and the menu button attached to the hud! Further reflections on transition styles and code related interaction.
Video: Ninety five – April 5th 2010
KEY ISSUES 5/5) reflections on catching up with the diary videos, and planning the week ahead. Comments also reflecting on the work I hope to get accomplished!!
Video: Ninety six – April 6th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Comments on finishing the tutorial and creating the first ViewController of the actual game. the tutorial pages comment on scrolling, the menu button, the cross, the “interactive” buttons and finally some hints. Slight comments on transitions again as well as comments on the intro to the game.
Video: Ninety seven – April 7th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Comments focusing on the interactive story, tidying up the text and sorting out some of the graphics, i.e buttons etc. Further comments on the use of the cross to reflect what is happening in the story. Finally reflections on the quality of the writing.
Video: Ninety eight – April 8th 2010
KEY ISSUES: [IMPORTANT]!! Comments on changing the game, this is due to wanting to make a game that is accessible to everyone. Other issues backing this are the need for the game to be fun, not wanting to put too much into it as to over complicate the design, and furthermore understanding that the interactive story detracts from the gameplay.
Video: Ninety nine – April 9th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Comments on the development of the menu system. Tweaking the accelerometer code so the tilting image completely hits the majority of the screen. Finally comments on level building and collision detection.
Video: *100* – April 10th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Comments on bug fixing, focusing on the problems I have had during the day. Problems concerning CGRectintersects and collision detection. Further comments on frame rates and finally issues regarding the accelerometer.
Video: 101 – April 11th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Issues relating to general bug fixes, focused comments on accelerometers as well as frame rates and ways of implementing transitions to cover them. Finally comments regarding to collision detection and trying to get the functionality working at a higher spec.
Video: 102 – April 12th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Comments relating to level designing, making the style coherent justified and ergonomically correct. Also trying to implement a correct learning curve that works in relation to the game. Further comments on wanting to make the gameplay fun while also considering the need for the style to be visually pleasing.
Video: 103 – April 13th 2010
KEY ISSUES: [IMPORTANT] Comments on changing the style of the game to make a “style” more apparent, wanting to use the game to showcase my design skills while also wanting to make the game more interesting and enjoyable. Adding a more childish tint to the game; by doing so creating a very nice but stylized format for the game.
Video: 104 – April 14th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Sick day!! [ill]
Video: 105 – April 15th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Comments on the creating and implementing of the new design style, creating a more effective button system while also considering the context of the game itself and in doing so deciding to change from a easy medium hard setting top a more character defined one. Finally comments on the implementation of animations into the game.
Video: 106 – April 16th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Comments on catching up with some much needed blog work. Further reflections are focused on the diary page and the schematics.
Video: 107 – April 17th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Comments on redesigning the layout, pushing the design further making the style stronger while also considering why to have a game set in the clouds. Comments on animations and accelerometers and general testing.
Video: 108 – April 18th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Reflections on the icon, credits page and the level select. Further comments on the chosen style and the icons I will be using throughout the game. Lastly comments on wanting to destroy any sense of boundary within my game.
Video: 109 – April 19th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Further comments on the design style and issues relating to the way the levels are built commenting on the design, programming and bug testing process.
Video: 110 – April 20th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Comments on the production and development of the first four main levels. Final comments relate to that of the next four levels.
Video: 111 – April 21st 2010
KEY ISSUES: Comments on the next four levels, building up to the “easy” section boss. Further comments on transitions and the level-fail page, final comments on a couple of issues I need to tweak.
Video: 112 – April 22nd 2010
KEY ISSUES: Issues regarding the development and finalization of the first game (story) and comments regarding the final boss for that section and further comments on the final completion page.
Video: 113 – April 23rd 2010
KEY ISSUES: Comments on considering several aspects of the game, such as the transition and implementation of the fail page. Secondly the entrance of the boss; ways to make the introduction more exciting and finally re-evaluating the amount of music I will need to be using, i.e jingles for winning losing etc.
Video: 114 – April 24th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Reflecting on the need to keep the game interesting in the different stories. Comments on cropping the second character to make him fit into the scene. Further comments on continuing to develop the visual style while also continuing to make the game harder by upping the sensitivity of the accelerometer.
Video: 115 – April 25th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Comments on the building of the first three levels, the implementation of the new bad guys and furthermore comments on the structure of the medium story. Finally further reflections on when I hope to have the game completed.
Video: 116 – April 26th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Reflections on the first four levels of the medium difficulty, comments on wanting to implement a learning curve properly while also understanding the need for it to be fun.
Video: 117 – April 27th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Comments on the next four levels in the medium story.
Video: 118 – April 28th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Comments on the boss page and the completion page, the game over page has been tweaked, further comments on considering the transition before the boss page and finally considering the design implemented.
Video: 119 – April 29th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Comments on the possible interview coming up tomorrow and the need to keep focused as the provisioning profile associated on my phone is coming to an end.
Video: 120 – April 30th 2010
KEY ISSUES: Reflections on having the interview and commenting on how it went. Further reflections on the music being presented to me via Holley and the stylization used. Final comments on the need to implement the music while considering the best way to do this.
Video: 121 – May 1st 2010
KEY ISSUES: Comments on the implementation of the music and wanting to get the sound right however having to consider the best way to code the sound and while also focusing on the style of the game.
Video: 122 – May 2nd 2010
KEY ISSUES: Reflections on the expiration date of the provisioning profile while also considering going back over what I have created and tweaking some of the earlier code and designs.
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