The Snow has Buried My Mind and Froze My Soul

In other words, I have no idea what to write about. With the weather draining out all my mental and physical energy I am at a loss at thinking of a meaningful topic to write about. So I am going to write about a game I purchased and played (for research purposes, of course) called Thief Gold, developed by Looking Glass Studios. The game is one of, if not the first, first person game that revolved around stealth. Before this,  first person games were essentially shooters (FPSs). This game threw the whole notion running and gunning thing out the window and instead focused on the fact that a good thief should be able to get into any place, rob them blind, and get out without even being seen. Personally, I love stealth games like this, spending hours  crouching in shadows timing the patrols of guards, swearing under your breath the moment a guard so much as breaths in your direction, and crapping your pants when he starts moving in your direction. The game came out years ago for PC, and by years I mean 1999. Though despite its age, it made a great use of shaders, mainly lights and shadows but they really enhanced the atmosphere. Which was very much needed given the quality of graphics at the time.

Now, this would be the part in the blog where I put screenshots of the game and talk a little bit of whats happening in the shots. But unfortunately the game doesn't seem to want to cooperate ( in other words it wont let me print screen). Which is really unfortunate because there was one happening that I really wanted to show. In my quest to obtain screenshots of the shaders used in the game, I had unwittingly woken up a zombie, but because I was hidden in the shadows it did not attack me but instead attacked a nearby guard. The guard immediately tried to defend himself but couldn't because his weapon kept hitting the wall. Oh the AI of that time, creating hilarious happenings around every turn. So as consolation I have drawn you all a happy face! May it bring you warmth in these cold times! Till next time! Laters!

Lights! Camera! Action! and Shaders!

Last week we were introduced to basic lighting and shading techniques such as the use of Phong and Blinn equations. Lighting and shading has been essential to fully expressing the vision of the designer creating vastly different moods from the same model or level with a simple change in lighting, immersing the player deeper into the world which you created.

Modern techniques mainly use 3 kinds of lighting/shading ambient, specular and diffuse that when combined create a realistic interpretations of real life lights and shadows.

Within the game Guild Wars 2 it is possible manipulate the level of shading within the game for purposes such as for improved computer performance or personal preference.

As can be seen in the image above there is no shading on any of the character within the scene but the buildings possess some diffused shading.

Where in this image all characters and buildings posses very clean well defines shadows. Here the developers use multiple passes to create these dynamic shadows, first from  the light's perspective and the second from the camera's perspective.

A Whole New World

Last class we were shown a little bit about shaders, and quite frankly it was a little much to take in at one time. But hopefully as time goes on and I continue to explore the world of shaders I will come to understand what the strange man at the of the class is talking about. Though some of what I did understand was vertex shaders, or at least the theory regarding them.

From what Professor Hogue (aka Shaderman) taught us last week, vertex shaders dont actually change the vertices or geometry of the objects in any way but instead change the characteristics of the object to achieve numerous different effects. One such effect, or technique, is bump mapping which does not change the shape of the object but instead changes the data of the normals of the object to give it the illusion of having all these additional details such as cuts, cracks, and bumps when in reality it is just a simple shape.

I took a couple of screen shots from a game I am currently playing called Guild Wars 2 while playing around with the options to see all the different shaders they implemented within the game and I found that the following two shots best show the effect of bump mapping.

This shot was taken with all the setting on low or off

 Now as can be seen in the image above the terrain is as more or less flat, even the stone walkways seem flat but look what happens when the shaders option is cranked up to maximum.

Shaders!

Now look at that! Now the terrain way more interesting, the sand looks wavy and uneven and the walkways have some depth to them. I am definitely looking forward to implementing this technique within our game, though it is unfortunate that I do not have any code to show just yet as I am still trying to wrap my head around how this works. Anyways, till next time! Laters!

Yo bro, I heard you like shaders. So I put shaders on your shaders!

So its the new semester, cold as hell, and morning classes still suck. Sounds like a great time to learn shaders!

Last friday we were introduced to the wondrous world of shaders and the immense power they hold. We saw many examples of how shaders could greatly improve the aesthetic of our games allowing us to provide greater graphical fidelity within our work. In order to give us an idea of how much shaders could help the appearance of our games we were tasked with taking screenshots of our game and going at it with Photoshop in order to make it look "pretty". 

The game, Luna, takes place over the span of a day so we really want to take advantage of the shading and and lighting effects that shaders grants us to really show the progression of the day through the changing of these effects to create visually interesting levels and to really immerse the players into the beautiful world of Luna. 

We also want to take advantage of normal mapping for our models, specifically for our character and enemy models, so as to create detailed and visually pleasing models while not sacrificing processing speed. We also want to make use of bloom which will help in creating a softer, almost magical, look to the world. 

Hopefully when it's finished it will exceed, or at the very least resemble, these pictures. 

Race To Market!!

Due to international trade and green houses the vast majority of fruit and vegetables are available year round so the average person has no knowledge of when these fruits and vegetables are available locally. We have been tasked with creating a game that teaches players when fruits and vegetables are available locally (within Ontario).

We decided to go with a card game as it seemed the most capable of handling the multitude of different fruits and vegetables that are grown within Ontario. We wanted to make the players remember the months in which certain fruits and vegetables are available within Ontario. We wondered how best to do this and decided that the best way would be to make the game fast paced in some way. So that the players would find it in their best interest to memorize when these vegetables and fruits were available. The team decided to make the game about matching the produce to the months in which they are available with a time limit which would drive the players to memorize when vegetables and fruits are available so as to make themselves more  proficient at the game. 

Design wise, we wanted to keep to a simple layout for the card design so as to not take away from the focus on the matching aspect of the game. We wanted players to recognize right away the things depicted on the cards so we decided to go with a white background and a solitary image of the fruit or vegetable in the center with its corresponding name underneath. The design is the same for the months only that they just a say a month, the months run from May to December as the fruits and vegetables we have chosen for the game are available within those months. 

Hopefully this game teaches players when Ontario produce is available fresh and bring recognition to the farming industry within Ontario. 

Game Pieces:

• 1 x Produce table
• 1 x Produce/Month card deck (60 cards)

Set Up:

1.         Shuffle the deck
2.          Deal out 5 cards to each player
3.          Place the rest of the cards face down in the center of the four players and spread them out to make a pile
4.          A timer is set for 5 minutes, or shorter for a higher difficulty.                                                                                         

-          Game Play

•      There are no turns; all players begin at the same time the timer is started.
•           Players must match the cards of the fruits and vegetables to the cards of the months of which these fruits and vegetables are available.
•           A fruit or vegetable card can only be matched to one month card and vice versa.
•           When a match is made, those cards are placed in front of that player face up.
•          A player may take a card from the pile and place it in their hand at any time
•           A player may also discard a card at any time but must then draw two cards.
•           The goal is to match all the cards in your hand before the timer runs out. 

Party! Chaiya ChaiYEAH!

The team, Jazz and Awol, and I have recently been called upon to create a party game revolving around the a certain scene in the Bollywood movie, Dil Se. the scene is more commonly know the Chaiya Chaiya scene.
The scene involves a man and a woman singing to each other all the while they and just about everyone else with them is dancing on top of a moving train as it travels through the country of india. We discussed what made a game a party game and came to a conclusion that a good party game involved the possibility of a lot of players, a lot of interaction, and quick pacing. We then discuss how best to to incorporate the the elements provided by the the chaiya chaiya scene and incorporate them successfully into our definition of a good party game.

Initially, we came up with the idea that players would perform for the other players, either dance or sing or whatnot. But the goal was to perform badly, so badly that the other players would throw tokens at the performing player to make them stop and that the person with the most tokens at the end of the game wins.

But this idea didn't sit too well with me. I like the idea of players performing silly things for others but i don't like how the focus is on bad performance and how much of it players can take. Performing badly in front of others may be a little embarrassing, annoying, even a little amusing but I doubt it is enough to FORCE players to give you their tokens. So the performing player must keep performing worse and worse until they cross the line and resort to screaming and even invading the personal space of players just to make them flinch . This not ok for a party especially if its between complete strangers. So ultimately we scrapped that idea.

Our second idea more closely adheres to the elements of chaiya chaiya by having the game revolve around dancing. All the players must dance to the chaiya chaiya song according to cards drawn by ta dealer. every turn the dealer draws a card  and the dance becomes longer by one dance move, which is depicted on the cards. When players make mistakes they are out of the game and join the dealer in keeping an eye on the other players making sure they they get kicked out of the game when they make a mistake. So the game revolves around players dancing this silly random dance. We liked it and decided to go with it.

We decided to go with a deck of cards as oppose to a spinner because with a deck of cards it is easy to keep track of which moves are to be performed next where a spinner requires an outside material to keep track of its outcomes. The split the concentration of the players as they not only have to memorize the dance moves but also keep track of the beat of the song as well as keep an eye on the other players just in case they can call them on losing. This makes players prone to making mistakes, and it only gets harder as the dance gets longer and longer with every turn.

We had a hard time coming up with what to call our game. The title still had to tie into chaiya chaiya yet be different enough not to have exactly "chaiya chaiya" in it. The one of our friends suggested the name "Chaiya ChaiYEAH!" and it just stuck.

Game Set:

-          Dance move card deck

-          Chaiya chaiya music CD

-          Cd player and speakers (not included)

Game Rules:

1.  Place CD in CD player
2.   The group of players decides who of the group will become the dealer
3.    The dealer shuffles the card deck and places it face down in front of him/her
4.     The rest of the players line up side by side, at arm’s length away from each other, in a semicircle in front of the dealer.
5.     The dealer then draws a card and places it face up in front of him/her
6.     The dealer then demonstrates the dance move depicted on the card in front of the other players
7.      The dealer then starts the music from the beginning
8.     The players start to dance on the 4^th beat after the beats begin in the song
9.      The players then dance the move on the card while keeping to the beat of the music
10.   When the move has been performed the turn is over
11.    Repeat from step 5

Additional Rules

•        All proceeding cards after the first card is placed to the right of the previous card drawn
•        The players must perform all the moves in the face up cards in the right order
•        The players must keep to the beat of song while dancing
•        If a player does not keep to the beat they are out of the game
•        If a player does not perform the dance moves correctly, they are out of the game
•        The job of the dealer is not only to draw cards and demonstrate the dance moves but to also watch the other players and kicking them out of the game should they not follow the beat or perform incorrectly
•        A player wins when they are the last player standing 

A Wonderful Rogue

This is an interview between my character, James Alexander Filigree, and an independent reporter who just so happens to be named after me.

James typically wears a cotton button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. The shirt is tucked into a pair of black wool pants which are held up by black suspenders. Over the shirt, he wears a black silk vest with a gold pocket watch and chain tucked in its pocket. He is also often seen wearing black leather gloves.

So without further ado, let the interview begin.

Jonathan:    Hello, my name is Jonathan and thank you for taking time to see me for a interview. I have heard you name passed around a few times but just for the record what is your name?

Filigree:   My name is James Alexander Filigree, I am a man of 22 years and... hmm... there was a fancy word for it.... hmm....oh yes, that's right... Caucasian.

Filigree:   Is there anything else?

Jonathan:   Oh no no we will start the more serious questions now.

Jonathan: Oh bugger, I forgot to write down the date, do you happen to remember what the date is today?

Filigree: Yes, it is November 9th,1875.

Jonathan: Ah, thank you. Now that everything is finally in order, lets begin.

Jonathan: Where were you born, Mr. Filigree?

Filigree:   Mind you, due to the manner of which I came to inhabit this isle I can not be sure as to where exactly I was born, though from what little i could find I know that I was born somewhere during the journey from Paris, France to London, England.

Jonathan:   That seems like quite the trip for an infant, what did your parents think?

Filigree:  They're dead.

Jonathan: Are they still alive?

Filigree: ...didn't i just say they were dead?

Jonathan: Where, if i may ask, do...umm... where do they lay?

Filigree: somewhere at the bottom of the English Channel, I think.

Jonathan: What?!

Filigree: Well, I told you that I was born while traveling from Paris to London correct?

Jonathan: Yes, of course.

Filigree: Well, in order to reach London you must first cross the English Channel. I have my doubts that my former parents were able to purchase space on those large ocean faring ships and instead chose the more economical choice, to their undoing, as I'm sure that the day they embarked  was a particularly stormy day.

Jonathan: But how did you survive?

Filigree: Luck! Good sir. Blind bloody luck! You see, when I was born  my parents had the good sense to purchase some sort of covered basket to put me in, and it just so happened that that basket floats. Though how I got shore is nothing short of miraculous.

Jonathan: What happened after that?

Filigree: Well I washed up onto the shores of Brighton, and there I was found by a Madam Archer, the owner of a relatively well know bordello, here in London. Whom, out of the goodness of her own heart, took me in and raised me as her own.

Jonathan: hmm... I wonder, what was Madam Archer doing in Brighton when her business was in London?

Filigree: hahahaha! Yes well... Whenever I asked her that, she would say that she was on vacation! But I am pretty sure that the only reason she was there was to recruit new girls for the business. hahaha!

Jonathan:  Must have been hard for you while growning up.

Filigree: You do remember the part where I said I was raised by a Madam and her girls right? So of course it was! Don't think that they mistreated me or anything like that, they raised me as their own and I love them as my mother and aunts. I had quite the "colourful" upbringing, as I learned quite a number of things from not only the girls at the brothel but from their patrons as well.They were eager to teach when they were "satisfied" and in a good mood. Much of what I learned was absolutely necessary for my current occupation. 

Though not all of it was good, my mother wanted me to get something of an education and so sent me to school. You can imagine how the other children treated me when they found out that I was raised by prostitutes. It was then that I learned how to defend myself, and defend myself well.

Jonathan:After all that's happened, do you believe in any religion?

Filigree: well I was raised protestant, but honestly i don't know how anyone could adhere to that hogwash

Jonathan: At a glance how do people stereotype you?

Filigree: well I would like to believe that people see me as a common bloke making his way in the world. But, as you can see (gesturing to a gold pocket watch and chain)… my occupation is incredibly lucrative and hence have taken part in some of the privileges of the rich. Which do not really fit the image of the common man.

Jonathan: do you have a romantic partner?

Filigree: Sigh… no…. no I do not. But regardless of whether I had one or not, I would not tell you.

Jonathan: Why?

Filigree: Because, my good man, my occupation, though lucrative, is very dangerous and has a tendency of making people rather cross with me.

Jonathan: So you wish to spare them from being used to get to you.

Filigree: Precisely.

Jonathan: Surprising... I didn't think of you as the noble type.

Filigree: Hmmpff!

Jonathan: Oh! I’m sorry; I didn't mean to insult you.

Filigree: No, of course not.

Jonathan: well, instead of a lover, how about a best friend? Do you have a best friend?

Filigree: Yes, I do. But due to the same reasons as before I cannot divulge that such sensitive information.

Jonathan: Oh don’t be like that. At least tell me what they are like.

Filigree: Well… (his eyes drift to some distant part of the room, focusing on nothing in particular. A small smile upon his face). She is... like fire, beautiful and warm as a well lit fireplace, yet can be as fiery destructive as the most hottest infernos. 

Filigree: (focusing once more as if coming out of a trance) Quite frankly, she is and annoying woman who does not seem to know the meaning of "no" and "go away!". 

Filigree: (Once again, looking off into the distance) And yet.... I cannot see my life without her. 

Jonathan: Could it be that there was a lover after all? 

Filigree: (Looks at Jonathan with eyes showing slightly veiled anger) ....

Jonathan: Umm... moving on....What is your economic situation?

Filigree: I do not like publicizing my "economic situation" as you put it, it's bad for business.

Jonathan: But... before you said... sigh. You have often mentioned you "occupation", what is your occupation?

 Filigree: Lets just say I provide a service to those looking to... "relieve" others of their unneeded goods, if you know what I mean. heh heh heh

Jonathan: Would you steal?

Filigree: Obviously, you didn't know what I meant.

Jonathan: How do you feel about lying?

Filigree: I feel absolutely awful about it. I would never lie. I am a very honest man. really.

Jonathan: Do you have any other vices?      

Filigree: What man doesn't ?

Jonathan: What makes you happy?

Filigree: What makes ANY man happy? what IS happiness? can any one of us ever truly obtain it? But if you ask me, a nice sum of money, a high class whore, and some wonderful wine seem to do the job quite well. hahaha

Jonathan: Then what makes you unhappy?

Filigree: (His eyes wander once more, his mind drifting to some other... to some other person) Losing something valuable. 

Jonathan: What is the one secret that no one must know about you?

Filigree: If I told you it wouldn't be a secret now would it? hahaha And if I did tell you I'd cut your tongue out and nail it to your head.

Jonathan: ...uh

Filigree: (a sinister smile creeps across his face)

Jonathan: Are...Are you afraid to die?

Filigree: Die? no. Leaving things unfinished or unfulfilled, yes.

Jonathan You must be afraid of something, a phobia perhaps?

Filigree: Hmm... not that I know of, no. But then again, I have always felt uneasy around water. I mean, I'll touch the stuff, I even know how to swim. But I have always felt a little off whenever I am around it.

Jonathan: Are you quick tempered? or patient?

Filigree: HAHAHAHAHAHA! I'm sorry, I was just laughing at how droll that question was. My good sir, if I was quick tempered, you would already be on the floor basting in your own blood! HAHAHAHA!

Jonathan: Oh...um... colourful. Well that concludes our interview. Thank you once more Mr. Filigree for taking the time to see me... and for not...umm....basting me in my own blood as you say. 

Jonathan: (He shakes Mr. Filigree's hand, packs up his things and turns away towards the door is about to leave the room when he notices that he feels lighter. Patting himself down to find what was missing) Umm... I appear to have misplaced my wallet... Mr. Filigree have you, per chance, seen it anywhere? 

Jonathan: (Turning around only to see an empty room) Mr. Filigree?