APD- Play and Stillness- Week11

By Ashley (Chun-Yu Chen)

Play and Stillness- Week11

Play and Stillness- Week11

Theme

In response to the theme of " Play and Stillness", I made a first perspective game in which the player explores three buildings and shot the enemies. The three buildings are made based on my studio1 project, adding the interior that initially the models in Studio1 are only walls and a door. The buildings are designed for three purposes, a diner, a pawnshop and hot spring house. The players are encouraged to explore the place by finding and shooting enemies.

Method

I started with the sketches, made in procreate, which shows the detail and the organization of furniture and appliances. I built the interior to make the place look like a functioning location, just without people. The idea is similar to the opening of the animation Spirited Away, in which the protagonist and her parents go to a strange place, seeing no one until all creatures come out after the sun goes down. After that, I modelled the scene and the props, and import them into Unreal. Before making the game, I use the modeling system in Unreal which can help unwrap UVs and bake the textures. After all were done, I import the scene and make mechanic for the shootable items, men and chairs.

Context

Vickerius’s (2006) study reflected that when it comes to play, the environment round play is something that does not appear enough in discussions around play and its significance. Play has to be looked on in the context of the environment in which it takes place, both the physical and the social environment. It is also important to gain knowledge about how a stimulation of play can take place in the environment. In week10, I learnt the importance of  how an environment helps contextualizes the given information in a play. The player can observe, utilize, and interact with the environment, which can therefore influence the direction of the game.

Reflection

I very much agree with the importance of the environment. Although still, it exerts its influence all the time. In my future works and exercises, I would make sure that as a medium, it adequately communicates the context and purpose to the audience.