For my case study looking into the gaming industry, I am going to investigate the effect of Cell Shading within video games, I thought this would be a good area to study and find out some interesting finding on as for my current project I am planning on creating a cell shaded environment for my Game Art brief and would be interesting to find out upon a variety of opinions and theory’s on this interesting topic.
I was first introduced to cell shading in video games whilst playing the game XIII on my original x box a few years ago. The game for those who don’t know is a first person shooter however as a twist follows the lines of a comic / graphic novel book which on first play really appealed to me as an artistic point, graphically it was refreshing to play a game with a little difference as first person shooters had begun to feel a little same, like I was playing the same game over and over again , It also added to the game mentally as I felt as if I was more engrossed in the game as it followed a similar feel aesthetically to the original novels, and the cut scenes contained a similar stricture of a comic / graphic novel book proving a good use of media.
Another example of a cell shaded game is The Simpson Game which I played upon the xbox 360
release and demonstrated the improved quality of cell shaded graphics and felt you was playing upon the cartoon world which is show on the TV series. In a comparison between two Simpson games of different forms of media I agree with the statement ''The Simpsons Road Rage would look better cell shaded,'' Having played both games, Simpson’s Road rage doesn’t feel like the Simpson due to it been rendered in 3D. Sure the characters and environment do resemble that of the cartoon but aesthetically it doesn’t feel like your trapped in the game. I don’t want to see Homer in 3D rendered, as to me he's resembling to something of human qualities and upon close look of the characters they look very off-putting as to what they resemble in the cartoon compared to The Simpson game. I just feel they would have got a much better feel by going for Cell shaded graphics similar to XIII.
I am not saying as to every game should be cell shaded as that would be a inappropriate source of media to proceed with in some games and Agree with this quote “For a stealth action game like Splinter Cell then realistic graphics is the only way to go,” If a video game is aimed at going for realism such as the Splinter Cell games, then high rendering 3D modelling is the way to go both upon the characters and the environment, as a cell shaded appeal would ruin the atmosphere it is heading for as the splinter cell relies on a kind of serious and anxious feel as you hide away trying not to get caught, and a cell shaded version whilst might be interesting would defiantly ruin the atmosphere. Another example of games that cell shading would be inappropriate on is sports games in general, from the likes of the Fifa franchise and the Formula 1 Video games, where the idea is to resemble real life events, for example this would be the closest any of us will ever get to race around Monte Carlo in a Ferrari of which you would want as much realism to and feel as close to possible like the actual event.
To me a cell shaded game resembles a kind of light heartened humours atmosphere, one of which is similar to a cartoon feel where everything is over reacted to emphasise things such as enlarged eye balls when the character sees something they like or clouds forming when a character is running to over exaggerate the speed. On the other hand there are games with a more serious note of feel been released such as the likes of Crackdown and Borderlines and even the likes of Street fighter.
“Personally I prefer games working with an artistic style that allows the developers to create anything they want without ruining my immersion”
I agree with this statement fully, In today's market it seems to me as if companies are concentrating too much on the realism feel of the games both graphically and how the characters react through the use of Ai, However it seems the target market is there and something that wont change soon. I have lost interest in my Xbox recently, especially with the amount of First person shooters out there and the amount of games that are focusing on the realism aesthetics. It just feels like I am playing the same game over and over again, the games are getting to realism that its lost all its fun factor as I prefer games where your not just limited to Human qualities and what is achievable. I want to be able to fly, throw fire out my hand for example and be entrapped in this crazy world where the developers are not limited as to what they can design and come up with crazy concepts instead of just using human environments. If I am looking for realism I can just look out of my window. The idea of playing games to me is to escape reality where I am not limited and be reminded on some of the negative things happening on in the world such as war for example. As to which I have found myself enjoying the Nintendo WI recently as I admire the aesthetics greatly and the amount of fun involved on games such as Donkey Kong with crazy concept and game levels.
In conclusion relating this to my game art brief I am looking at a environment with a light hearted and humours atmosphere,one which resembles something similar to a cartoon. I am not saying I will defiantly be using Cell Shaded for my project but its one that is vastly appropriate and will suit the target audience well.
Resources : http://www.idevgames.com/forums/thread-5306.html
http://www.neoseeker.com/forums/2414/t96934-would-game-look-better-cel-shaded/
http://arcadeberg.com/causerie/pretty-art/
Thursday, 17 February 2011
Friday, 11 February 2011
Game Art Design Year 2 Part 2, - Buildings.
Was just looking around at some jungle huts / cabins on the web. I found some very interesting results which I can take influence from and develop.Also I noticed a lot of my results came from Thailand, so potentially that has led me to do some more research on at a later date, possibly on foliage maybe. For my island theres going to be a few buildings Im hoping to construct. Firstly Ill talk about the buildings Im hoping on constructing in which the resident monkeys of the island will be situated. My initial idea is to have the buildings located at tree level, heres an interesting picture of a similar kind of aesthetic appeal i am hoping for on my game level as shown below.
Really like this image and its a great place to base some of my ideas on. I like the way the hut is kind of hibernated in the trees which is something i am aiming for which my concept as I want the idea of a deep tropical rainforest, similar to the Amazon. I'm not too keen on the idea of square huts though So i am thinking in something more like a Circular round hut. One of the reasons is Im planning on having the cable car station / hut as a square footing and I don't want the island to be to repetitive. Im undecided at this point as to how interactive I want the monkey huts to be. Im thinking maybe just have one where you can enter and look around the interior, but i'm undecided, thats an idea to develop in at a further date. I'm also thinking of connecting the monkey huts through a kind of tree path / bridge but again not such on how much interactivity i am going to include. Im planning on having a few buildings. There all gonna be the same building with maybe a little alterations. as I don't want to leave myself too much to do. Here below is a good image I found which I can base my ideas on for a round hut.
Just an idea of the kind of feel of the idea i am going for with the round hut. Should be easy to construct on Maya and texturing should be straightforward and for the interior, i am planning to have a couple of things to interact with, as to now i am not sure what but a few ideas I though of. Maybe turning on the television for the latest news on the island or even the radio which would properly be a more appropriate and easier option, what with been on a island. I plan on developing these ideas more within my concept art.
As aposed to my idea of having the huts located within three height. within my research I came across this image as shown below of having located within the water and been surrounded by beautiful landscraping around, the image is absolutly beautiful and has really opened up the idea of including water, but more than likely still having the huts at tree height. I think it would also add more apeal to the island, with the idea of including plenty of tropical trees within, I think it would make a nice different to include a lake, of which I could react with to get some lovely reflections of the water. quite like an idea of interacting with the buckets win which they go down and collect the water. I belive the addition of the lake would add so much more apeal to the island, and is a direction im more than likely going to include how im going to use it, im not sure as to this state. On another note I really like the shapes and textures of the buildings, the kind of triangle effect buildings which seems to be very poular and the textures of straw / palm roofs is very popular, and also bright and would greatly apeal to the younger audience.
Thought it would be a great part of research to actually look at a building similar to the kind of feel which im going for which has already been rendered through using maya. The main think I picked upon is that the design of the building is very simple however the right use of the textures really makes it stand out as something very interesting, which is something I should definatly consider, sometimes its more effective to have simple designs but get a beautiful texture which will stand out more compared to the vice versa. Whilst the building is a little to huanoid for me I really like the idea of having overgrown folliage, which is something to take forward and would react well upon the setting and the textures.
Just a few more buildings which grabbed my apeal. Im not sure in my design whether to have a kind of step walkway to reach the first hut, or to just gradually increase the size and have the first hut land level. I do like the idea of having a kind of rope to climb up as it liks withing the criteria of a monkeys behaviour as ther a re good climbers, but could be potentially trick executing when getting into unity but its an idea.
Really like this image and its a great place to base some of my ideas on. I like the way the hut is kind of hibernated in the trees which is something i am aiming for which my concept as I want the idea of a deep tropical rainforest, similar to the Amazon. I'm not too keen on the idea of square huts though So i am thinking in something more like a Circular round hut. One of the reasons is Im planning on having the cable car station / hut as a square footing and I don't want the island to be to repetitive. Im undecided at this point as to how interactive I want the monkey huts to be. Im thinking maybe just have one where you can enter and look around the interior, but i'm undecided, thats an idea to develop in at a further date. I'm also thinking of connecting the monkey huts through a kind of tree path / bridge but again not such on how much interactivity i am going to include. Im planning on having a few buildings. There all gonna be the same building with maybe a little alterations. as I don't want to leave myself too much to do. Here below is a good image I found which I can base my ideas on for a round hut.
Just an idea of the kind of feel of the idea i am going for with the round hut. Should be easy to construct on Maya and texturing should be straightforward and for the interior, i am planning to have a couple of things to interact with, as to now i am not sure what but a few ideas I though of. Maybe turning on the television for the latest news on the island or even the radio which would properly be a more appropriate and easier option, what with been on a island. I plan on developing these ideas more within my concept art.
As aposed to my idea of having the huts located within three height. within my research I came across this image as shown below of having located within the water and been surrounded by beautiful landscraping around, the image is absolutly beautiful and has really opened up the idea of including water, but more than likely still having the huts at tree height. I think it would also add more apeal to the island, with the idea of including plenty of tropical trees within, I think it would make a nice different to include a lake, of which I could react with to get some lovely reflections of the water. quite like an idea of interacting with the buckets win which they go down and collect the water. I belive the addition of the lake would add so much more apeal to the island, and is a direction im more than likely going to include how im going to use it, im not sure as to this state. On another note I really like the shapes and textures of the buildings, the kind of triangle effect buildings which seems to be very poular and the textures of straw / palm roofs is very popular, and also bright and would greatly apeal to the younger audience.
Thought it would be a great part of research to actually look at a building similar to the kind of feel which im going for which has already been rendered through using maya. The main think I picked upon is that the design of the building is very simple however the right use of the textures really makes it stand out as something very interesting, which is something I should definatly consider, sometimes its more effective to have simple designs but get a beautiful texture which will stand out more compared to the vice versa. Whilst the building is a little to huanoid for me I really like the idea of having overgrown folliage, which is something to take forward and would react well upon the setting and the textures.
Just a few more buildings which grabbed my apeal. Im not sure in my design whether to have a kind of step walkway to reach the first hut, or to just gradually increase the size and have the first hut land level. I do like the idea of having a kind of rope to climb up as it liks withing the criteria of a monkeys behaviour as ther a re good climbers, but could be potentially trick executing when getting into unity but its an idea.
Wednesday, 9 February 2011
Contextual Influences Year 2 - Essay Ideas
Here are some Ideas I thought of for my essay. I though with my interest been with illustation / concept art it was best focusing on this aspect towards my essay. I was reccomended to look into the uncanny valley within games and film. So I just made a quick brainstorm of potential areas to develop into within my essay
Contextual Influences Year 2 - Writing and Being
For this lecture we were introduced to thories of writing, what with us having to ride an essay in the near future is was definatly an apropiate lecture. All forms of writing are a kind of story telling form, whether it be about ourselves or someone else, negative or positive. Most of the time its regarded as verbal communication with friends, family, boss whatever. However we always talk in our minds too asking for self assurance or thinking whether its the right thing to proceed in or asking for advice maybe, which is a weird one to answer as how can we ask ourself for advice, but sometimes I think we regard our mind as another person and ask our inner voice for advice. Our inner voice acts as a narrator and from this we learn how to react do certain situations which other a period of time becomes its on chracter in a way and when we come to a finish ie stop writing, we are able to retuen to ourselfves and have possibly contrasting opinions in some cases to what we have just said, we let our mind come into this character when writing.
Michael Gazzaniga's view is that of an interpreter within us which creates a unique feeling to make onesself unique and this is through the interpreter having separate knowledge on our lives and our inner voice from our previous character become a history to seep into our current understanding and damage to the area of the interpreter can result in narratives created by people who have an unfixed perception of reality.
Michael Gazzaniga's view is that of an interpreter within us which creates a unique feeling to make onesself unique and this is through the interpreter having separate knowledge on our lives and our inner voice from our previous character become a history to seep into our current understanding and damage to the area of the interpreter can result in narratives created by people who have an unfixed perception of reality.
Making Notes In Relation To Text
In this weeks lecture we read 'The Medium Is The Massage' by Marshall McLuhan which is a book from 1947, which takes an in depth sight at the way technology will improve and how it will effect our lives and how we will view things. The book is an example of a really graphic book and very interesting use of imagery as demonstrated below and looks way ahead of its time which relates to the subject matter well.
Heres A few notes I took from the lecture. Im not the biggest fan of note taking, because for me I try writing down stuff and end of not hearing what is been said but I understand it is a good form of remembering key infomation, and I did learn a few things from the lecture and from my notes I can go back and revisit which is useful.
Overall from what I remember the book was a very interesting read indeed and even from its time You can really relate to the book and the changes that have happened which the book as predicted. Just look at how easy it is to keep in communication with someone, and how easy it is to track someone down say on Facebook which was mentioned in my notes, which may be regarded in both a positive and negative factor .Also alot of people tend to see no reason as to go outside ie been stuck inside and you can no alot about certain people without even meeting them such as music taste, hobbies without even speaking to them which could be regarded as knowing to much linking to the book.
Heres A few notes I took from the lecture. Im not the biggest fan of note taking, because for me I try writing down stuff and end of not hearing what is been said but I understand it is a good form of remembering key infomation, and I did learn a few things from the lecture and from my notes I can go back and revisit which is useful.
Overall from what I remember the book was a very interesting read indeed and even from its time You can really relate to the book and the changes that have happened which the book as predicted. Just look at how easy it is to keep in communication with someone, and how easy it is to track someone down say on Facebook which was mentioned in my notes, which may be regarded in both a positive and negative factor .Also alot of people tend to see no reason as to go outside ie been stuck inside and you can no alot about certain people without even meeting them such as music taste, hobbies without even speaking to them which could be regarded as knowing to much linking to the book.
contextual Influences Year 2 - Communication Theory
This week we looked into a little of communication theorys and were introduced to these seven types and these are either Transmissional or Constitutive theories and we looked at the Transmissional Theory of Cybernetic or Information Theory of Communication.
Transmissional theory is the technical side of sending and receiving messages and the unknowing of getting the messages wrong.
Constituitive theory is how messages are seen and how the message is similar to the sender as well as the receiver. Receiving a message from someone with a different cultured background which is viewed in a different perpsective.
Cybernetic theory is the steps of the transmission process into detailed steps and there are three sets of problems:
1.Technical is the coding of the transmission in terms of codes and the systems usage.
2.Semantics is the language of the message and how they it would be a problem if part of the message was lost
3.Effectiveness is the message giving the right mood through the messages wording
The Constitutive theory breaks into sub-categories that are part of the traditions
1.Semiotics-language being precise to become a clear message
2.Phenomenological Tradition-the repetitive use of a message through the understanding of physical life experiences
3.Classical Phenomonology-the viewers subjective analysis is not considered
4.Phenomonology of Perception-our knowledge is through our choices from views
Semiotics are a form that is best recieced in the advertisement industry which is used as a form of a clear message with the aim of grabbing the audiences attention by making the message apeal to the target audience by hooking them in and using the form of text and image as a clear message which is interpretated such as good quality, buy this and so on.
WEEK 2
Ill keep this post to one as it carries on from the previous week. In this wwks lecture we looked at a futher four more theories relating to communication, thhese were:
Rhetorical-this theory is one which provides much more of a viewpoint on the communcation process and is a process which isn't a single one but is a circular process in one which when sent a message you will get a reply and even forwarding particular messages to others thus creating a process which carries on.
Socio-Psychological-this theory is the scientific understanding of how the thought, behaviour and feelings of people are influenced by other peoples presence through actual, imagined and implied presence. e.g. From someone thinking of another person doing a terrible act influences you behaviour or thought towards that person.
Socio-Cultural-this theory revolves around how society contributes towards individuals development from teacher to student. e.g. A student developes by being around a teacher someone intellectual to teach the student and the students society developes them with cultural beliefs being and strong point or a negative one.
Critical-this theory is an understanding of being criticised and allowing negative feedback to be a form of positive feedback.
Transmissional theory is the technical side of sending and receiving messages and the unknowing of getting the messages wrong.
Constituitive theory is how messages are seen and how the message is similar to the sender as well as the receiver. Receiving a message from someone with a different cultured background which is viewed in a different perpsective.
Cybernetic theory is the steps of the transmission process into detailed steps and there are three sets of problems:
1.Technical is the coding of the transmission in terms of codes and the systems usage.
2.Semantics is the language of the message and how they it would be a problem if part of the message was lost
3.Effectiveness is the message giving the right mood through the messages wording
The Constitutive theory breaks into sub-categories that are part of the traditions
1.Semiotics-language being precise to become a clear message
2.Phenomenological Tradition-the repetitive use of a message through the understanding of physical life experiences
3.Classical Phenomonology-the viewers subjective analysis is not considered
4.Phenomonology of Perception-our knowledge is through our choices from views
Semiotics are a form that is best recieced in the advertisement industry which is used as a form of a clear message with the aim of grabbing the audiences attention by making the message apeal to the target audience by hooking them in and using the form of text and image as a clear message which is interpretated such as good quality, buy this and so on.
WEEK 2
Ill keep this post to one as it carries on from the previous week. In this wwks lecture we looked at a futher four more theories relating to communication, thhese were:
Rhetorical-this theory is one which provides much more of a viewpoint on the communcation process and is a process which isn't a single one but is a circular process in one which when sent a message you will get a reply and even forwarding particular messages to others thus creating a process which carries on.
Socio-Psychological-this theory is the scientific understanding of how the thought, behaviour and feelings of people are influenced by other peoples presence through actual, imagined and implied presence. e.g. From someone thinking of another person doing a terrible act influences you behaviour or thought towards that person.
Socio-Cultural-this theory revolves around how society contributes towards individuals development from teacher to student. e.g. A student developes by being around a teacher someone intellectual to teach the student and the students society developes them with cultural beliefs being and strong point or a negative one.
Critical-this theory is an understanding of being criticised and allowing negative feedback to be a form of positive feedback.
Contextual Influences Year 2 - Start Of A New Phase film noir
This weeks lesson was just considered as a general catch up and trying to get us all to catch up and start blogging and joing in which online conversations about certain areas of contextual studies. However we did talk about pacific genres, and the kind of style they use in relation. However we also had a little look back at some previous lectures that we had been recieving in relation to the brief we had just completed which was the title sequence and looking ahead to the two parellel briefs. We were just looking at and reminded of certain theories which we could relate to a draw influence from for the briefs.
I believe that running these lectures in parallel to the title sequence worked out really well and in generall was greatly received. It gave us a good insight into certain areas of title sequences such as imagery, typography and sound and helped us to understand and influence how to tackle these areas in apropiate to the mood and genre we were trying to set within. I found the Cinema door theory very interesting and helped me greatly with my project, as sound is a major part of the cinema door it helped me create an apropiate atmosphere and also set the story and genre and get the audience gripped, probably more than the use of images in a way. I created A kind of suspense uneasy tone as that relates well to my sequece of a crime / gang graphic novel. I was also given a great insight into the use of typorgraphy and really enjoyed the lecture before of how certain typography may be seen from a negative view because of there past connections.
Heres A few theories I have been looking at depending on the brief.
Title Sequence
- The Cinema Door
- The Emdodied Mind
- Use Of Typography
Game Art Animation
- 7 Basic Story Lines
The Quest
Voyage and Return
Rebirth
Comedy
Tragedy
Overcoming the Monster
- The Uncanny Valley
Music Video
- Discord
- The Embodied Mind
I think all these theory's could influence me on the respected brief
I believe that running these lectures in parallel to the title sequence worked out really well and in generall was greatly received. It gave us a good insight into certain areas of title sequences such as imagery, typography and sound and helped us to understand and influence how to tackle these areas in apropiate to the mood and genre we were trying to set within. I found the Cinema door theory very interesting and helped me greatly with my project, as sound is a major part of the cinema door it helped me create an apropiate atmosphere and also set the story and genre and get the audience gripped, probably more than the use of images in a way. I created A kind of suspense uneasy tone as that relates well to my sequece of a crime / gang graphic novel. I was also given a great insight into the use of typorgraphy and really enjoyed the lecture before of how certain typography may be seen from a negative view because of there past connections.
Heres A few theories I have been looking at depending on the brief.
Title Sequence
- The Cinema Door
- The Emdodied Mind
- Use Of Typography
Game Art Animation
- 7 Basic Story Lines
The Quest
Voyage and Return
Rebirth
Comedy
Tragedy
Overcoming the Monster
- The Uncanny Valley
Music Video
- Discord
- The Embodied Mind
I think all these theory's could influence me on the respected brief
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