demo studios assignment... · task 5: build and test a prototype (this task should take between 4...

1

2016 Suite

Cambridge TECHNICALS LEVEL 3

D Studios

Cambridge TECHNICALS LEVEL 3

IT

Unit 15

Games Design and Prototyping

Demo Studios assignment

Version 2 October 2017

ocr.org.uk/it

2

Contents

Contents .................................................................................................................................................................. 2

Scenario ................................................................................................................................................................... 3

Part A – Job Application .................................................................................................................................. 3

Part B – Recruitment Requirements ............................................................................................................. 3

Part C – Online Portfolio ................................................................................................................................ 3

Part D – Prototype Game ............................................................................................................................... 4

Appendix A – Job Advert .................................................................................................................................... 5

The Tasks ................................................................................................................................................................ 6

Task 1: Key Considerations in Game Design ............................................................................................. 6

Task 2: Compare & contrast the features of games for different audiences ....................................... 7

Task 3: Explain the benefits of prototypes .................................................................................................. 8

Task 4: Create a game design, with alternatives, and justify your design rationale and produce a

logic structure .................................................................................................................................................... 9

Task 5: Build and test a prototype .............................................................................................................. 11

Task 6: Present prototypes to get feedback and make changes, then evaluate ................................ 13

Evidence Checklist............................................................................................................................................... 14

General information ............................................................................................................................................ 16

Notes ...................................................................................................................................................................... 18

3

Scenario

Part A – Job Application

You want to break into the computer games industry so you’re applying for a job as a Junior Game

Developer with a top company called Demo Studios.

As part of the job application process, Demo requires detailed evidence of your knowledge and skills,

with a special focus on your work during all stages of designing and making a prototype game.

So in line with recruitment standards across the games industry, Demo wants you to showcase your

knowledge and skills in a personal online portfolio. This will allow you to present your work at each stage

of the game design process, starting from reviewing existing games and building-up to designing and

developing your ‘final’ prototype game.

Part B – Recruitment Requirements

The job of Junior Game Developer suits you because it’s a broad role that includes design,

implementation and testing but the ‘junior’ status also means that the special focus is on ‘prototype’ as

opposed to ‘full’ games, which is idea for someone just starting their career in the industry.

Demo have produced an ad for the job that has appeared on the studio’s website – see Appendix A.

Reading the job ad very carefully, you will see it gives lots of details for the role, especially the kind

of detailed evidence required for skills and knowledge, which covers several areas but still with

that special focus on developing a prototype game.

Throughout the process of designing your prototype game you will describe the various stages

that your work through and include relevant documentation at each stage of the process.

And in line with recruitment standards across the industry, Demo requires you to showcase all

your work in an online portfolio.

Part C – Online Portfolio

On their website, Demo studios have given advice to job applicants that says: “For any new

recruit wishing to break into the industry it is absolutely imperative that they have an online

portfolio.

A portfolio should showcase a candidate’s best work first, any additional work is also welcome

but the best work should be centre stage.

A portfolio website should also be easy to navigate and don’t forget to include a link to a CV. Any

less then desirable social media links or blogs should be kept off the site. Yes we do check and, we

have rejected people based on what we found!”

4

Part D – Prototype Game

On their website, Demo studios have given this advice to job applicants when it comes to

developing game prototypes:

“When assessing junior candidates, we don’t look for ground breaking game ideas, we look for a

prototype that shows that a candidate can create a simple game loop and wrap it in a user

interface. Something that could be considered a complete and self-contained ‘demo’ that is stable

and demonstrates competencies with core concepts.

“It’s very tempting to over scope a game idea. Games companies do it all the time – but it leads to

lots of content being cut towards the end of the project! So it’s important for candidates to keep

the scope of their prototypes realistic and within the expected level of their ability. Still, the

challenge is to be creative and thrive within these constraints!”

5

Appendix A – Job Advert

6

The Tasks

Task 1: Key Considerations in Game Design

(This task should take between 1 and 1.25 hours)

Learning Outcome 1 (part): Understand the principles of game design and prototyping.

Your task is to outline key considerations that support games design.

Pass Merit Distinction

P1: Outline key considerations

that support games design

Evidence

A written report or presentation – P1

You are required to identify key features in a range of games and describe their purpose. This

could be most effectively achieved by reviewing different types of games with a different focus,

genre or purpose.

Common key features include:

• purpose of a game

• audience of a game

• common features in games

• first/third person

• player characters

• non-player characters

• sprites

• achievement attainment

• maintaining a player’s interest

• player interaction/controls

• player immersion

• progression

• competition (e.g. highscore)

The evidence for this could be presented as a written review or report, or a presentation.

This work must be in your own words & provide a comprehensive summary of your findings.

It is important that you correctly reference all sources used, following appropriate conventions.

7

Task 2: Compare & contrast the features of games for different audiences



Your task is to compare & contrast the features of games for different audiences.


M1: Compare and contrast

the features of games for

different audiences

Evidence

A written report or presentation – M1

You are required to identify the features of games for different audiences.

You are required to compare the use of features and comment on the suitability for different

audiences and genres.

As mentioned in P1, the common key features include:

• purpose of a game

• audience of a game

• common features in games

• first/third person

• player characters

• non-player characters

• sprites

• achievement attainment

• maintaining a player’s interest

• player interaction/controls

• player immersion

• progression

• competition (e.g. highscore)

The evidence for this could be presented as a written review or report, or a presentation.

This can be an extension of P1.

The work must be in your own words & provide a comprehensive summary of your findings.

It is important that you correctly reference all sources used, following appropriate

conventions.

8

Task 3: Explain the benefits of prototypes



Your task is to explain the benefits of developing game prototypes.


P2: Explain the benefits of

developing game prototypes

Evidence

You are required to explain the benefits of developing a prototype for a game considering

these criteria:

• types of prototyping e.g. visual/representational (non-working) & proof of

concept (working)

• testing concepts

• gauging player interest

• skill level required

• gauging difficulty of achievement

• clarity of interface

• clarity of understanding of gameplay/goals

You should also consider the benefits of building a prototype, such as:

• ensures the design does what it is supposed to do

• helps to identify and address problems at an early stage

• gives the client and end-user an appreciation of the final product

• allows developer to explore ideas and obtain feedback with the client and end-user

The evidence for this could be presented as a report or a presentation (either videoed or with

detailed speaker notes).

This work must be in your own words & provide a comprehensive summary of your findings.


conventions.

9

Task 4: Create a game design, with alternatives, and justify your design rationale and produce a logic structure


Learning Outcome 2: Be able to develop game concepts

Your task is to:

Create a design for an identified game concept


P3: Create a design for an

identified game concept M2: Prepare alternative

interface designs for the

identified game concept

D1: Justify the design

rationale for the identified

game concept P4: Produce a logic structure

for the identified game

concept

Evidence

Design for an identified game concept - P3

You are required to create a design for a game concept. You need to produce full design

documentation that includes chosen game elements and relevant interface designs, stage

designs and character generation, in addition to the core considerations and purpose for the

game. Your design should cover key features of a game, such as:

• Game elements, including:

- navigation

- scoring

- movement

- interaction/controls

- conveying information

- sound

- levels

- enemies

- problem solving

-

• Interface design, including:

- layout

- colour palette

- text styles

- sound

- stage/scene

- actions (e.g. menus/buttons)

• Stage design, including:

- perspective e.g. 2D or 3D

10

• Character generation, including:

- bitmaps

- wireframe

Your designs in each area must contain enough detail to enable them to be understood by a

third party. Classic design documentation includes the following:

• requirement specification

• design specification

• project plan

• system flowchart

• top-down

• JSP

Alternative interface designs – P4

You are required to prepare alternative interface designs to the one identified in P3. The

alternative designs must contain enough detail to enable them to be understood by a third

party. Evidence can be an extension of P3 and be presented as additional visualisations or

written explanatory designs, or a combination of both.

Justify the design rationale - D1

You are required to justify your design choices and explain why they are suitable for the

identified audience and purpose of the game concept. Evidence can be an extension of P3 and

M2, and can be an addition to the design documentation, a presentation or a report, but

should reference the designs submitted.

Logic structure - P4

You are required to produce a logic structure for your game concept. Evidence would be the

completed documentation, which may include diagrams, etc. You should use suitable

documentation, such as:

• a clear definition of objectives of game

• a flow chart showing the ‘flow’ of the game through single or multiple layers with

single or multiple players

The evidence for your design documentation should include visualisations or written

explanatory designs, or a combination of both, and including alternatives, together with

diagrams, such as flowcharts.

All this work must be in your own words & provide a comprehensive summary of your

findings. It is important that you correctly reference all sources used, following appropriate

conventions.

Your designs in each area must contain enough detail to enable them to be understood by a

third party.

11

Task 5: Build and test a prototype


Learning Outcome 3: Be able to develop game prototypes



P5: Build a prototype using core

programming techniques and

test for functionality

Evidence

Build & test a prototype – P5

You are required to understand different ways that a prototype can be produced using bespoke

software for game development.

You are required to build a prototype for the game concept, whole demonstrating demonstrate

these programming techniques:

• variables/constants

• strings

• inputs

• outputs

• sequence

• selection

• iteration (e.g. counting/conditional)

• subroutines (e.g. functions/procedures)

• conditions

• counting

• totalling

• data structures (e.g. arrays/lists)

• file handling

• maintainable code

• libraries

Your prototype could be a particular level or module of the full game concept. Evidence of the

prototype could be presented in the form of annotated screenshots or as a video of a working

prototype, or the prototype itself.

You are also required to plan and carry out testing of their prototype. Testing must be thorough

enough to prove the prototype is functional and meets requirements. Classic testing techniques

include:

• test plans • test data

12

• black box • white box • alpha • beta • user testing

All this work must be in your own words & provide a comprehensive record of the development

and testing of your protoype.

It is important that you correctly reference all sources used, following appropriate conventions.

13

Task 6: Present prototypes to get feedback and make changes, then evaluate


Learning Outcome 4: Be able to present and evaluate game concepts



P6: Present the prototype to

stakeholders to obtain

feedback on the games

concept

M3: Make changes to the

games design and prototype

based on stakeholder

feedback

D2: Evaluate the game design

and prototype against the

identified game concept

Evidence

You are required to

Present Prototype and Obtain Feedback - P6

You are required to present the prototype to stakeholders to obtain feedback on the games

concept. Your evidence could be in the form of a video of you demonstrating the prototype to

the stakeholders and receiving feedback. Evidence could also be documented feedback from

the stakeholders supported by a detailed witness testimony explaining how you delivered the

presentation and the reaction from the stakeholders.

Make changes to the design & prototype based on feedback - M3

You are required to analyse the results of the feedback from the stakeholders and make

changes to the games design and prototype based on the feedback provided.

Evaluate the game design and prototype - D2

You are required to evaluate the game design and prototype against the identified game

concept. You should evaluate each stage of the design and provide a rationale as to how your

game design and prototype reflects the original game concept.

This work must be in your own words & provide a comprehensive record of your evaluation

work.


conventions.

14

Evidence Checklist

OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technicals in IT

Unit 15: Games Design & Protoyping

For PASS have you:

(as a minimum you have to show you can meet every pass

criterion to complete the unit)

Where can your tutor find the

evidence? Give page

no(s)/digital timings, etc.

Outlined key considerations that support games design (P1)

e.g. A report or presentation.

Explained the benefits of developing game prototypes (P2)

e.g. A report or presentation.

Created a design for an identified game concept (P3)

e.g. Detailed design documentation with annotated

diagrams and/or visualisations

Produced a logic structure for the identified game concept

(P4)

e.g. Flow chart

Built a prototype using core programming techniques and

tested for functionality (P5)

e.g. A prototype and testing evidence

Presented the prototype to stakeholders and obtained

feedback on the games concept (P6)

e.g. A video of you demonstrating the prototype to the

stakeholders and receiving feedback plus documented

feedback from the stakeholders supported by a detailed

witness testimony explaining how you delivered the

presentation and the reaction from the stakeholders.

15

For Merit have you: Where can your tutor find the

evidence?

Compared and contrasted the features of games for

different audiences (M1)

e.g. A report or presentation comparing and contrasting

different games

Prepared alternative interface designs for the identified

game concept (M2)

e.g. Additional visualisations or written explanatory designs,

or a combination of both.

Made changes to the games design and prototype based on

stakeholder feedback (M3)

e.g. Analysis of feedback from stakeholders plus detailed

evidence of changes made to design & prototype, such as

updated visualisation and annotated screenshots

For Distinction have you: Where can your tutor find

the evidence?

Justified the design rationale for the identified game concept

(D1)

e.g. Extended commentary to diagrams (P3 and M2) with

supporting justification

Evaluated the game design and prototype against the

identified game concept (D2)

e.g. Feedback analysis and implementation audit

16

General information

Q What do I need to do to pass this assignment?

A You need to produce evidence to meet the requirements of all the pass criteria for the unit this

assignment relates to. If you miss just one pass criterion, you will not achieve this unit and will receive an unclassified result.

Q What do I need to do if I want to get a merit or distinction for this assignment?

A For a merit, you need to produce evidence to meet the requirements of all the pass criteria for

the unit this assignment relates to and you need to produce evidence to meet all the merit criteria.

For a distinction, in addition to the above, you also need to meet all the distinction criteria .

Q What help will I get?

A Your tutor will support you when completing this assignment and will make sure that you know

what resources or facilities you need and are allowed to use. We’ve given your tutor information about how much support they can give you.

Q What if I don’t understand something?

A It’s your responsibility to read the assignment carefully and make sure you understand what you need to do and

what you should hand in. If you are not sure, check with your tutor. Q I’ve been told I must not plagiarise. What does this mean?

A Plagiarism is when you take someone else’s work and pass this off as your own, or if you fail to

acknowledge sources properly. This includes information taken from the internet.

It’s not just about presenting a whole copied assignment as your own; you will also be plagiarising if you use the ideas or words of others without acknowledgement, and this is why it’s important to reference your work correctly (see Q&A below for more information on referencing).

Plagiarism has serious consequences; you could lose the grade for this unit or you may not be allowed to achieve the whole qualification.

Always remember that the work you produce must be your own work. You will be asked to sign a declaration to say that it is.

Q What is referencing and where can I find out more information about it?

A Referencing is the process of acknowledging the work of others. If you use someone else’s words

and ideas in your assignment, you must acknowledge it, and this is done through referencing.

You should think about why you want to use and reference other people’s work. If you need to show your own knowledge or understanding about an aspect of subject content in your assignment, then just quoting and referencing someone else’s work will not show that you know or understand it. Make sure it’s clear in your work how you are using the material you have referenced to inform your thoughts, ideas or conclusions.

You can find more information about how to reference in the The OCR Guide to Referencing available on our website: http://www.ocr.org.uk/i-want-to/skills-guides/.

http://www.ocr.org.uk/i-want-to/skills-guides/

http://www.ocr.org.uk/i-want-to/skills-guides/

17

Q Can I work in a group? A Yes. However, if you work in a group at any stage, you must still produce work that shows your

individual contribution. Your tutor can advise you how to do this.

Q Does my work for each task need to be in a particular format? A You can present your work in a variety of ways – it can be handwritten, word-processed, on video

or in digital media. What you choose should be appropriate to the task(s) and your tutor can advise you. There may be times when you need proof that you have completed the work yourself: for example, if you do something during work placement that you want to use as evidence, the tutor might ask the employer to provide a witness statement.

Make sure you check the wording in each task carefully. For each task, we’ll tell you if your evidence has to be in a specific format:

If we say use the word ‘must’, for example ‘You must produce a report’ or ‘Your

evidence/work must include a diagram’, then you must produce the work in the stated format. If we use the word ‘could’, for example ‘You could include sketches of your ideas’ or ‘You could

do this by annotating your diagram’, this means that you are not required to follow the format we have given, but you must make sure that the work you do produce allows you to demonstrate the requirements of the grading criteria.

If you are unsure about what evidence you need, please ask your tutor.

Q Can I ask my tutor for feedback on my work? A Yes, but they can’t give you detailed feedback.

We have given your tutor instructions on what kind of feedback they can give you. For example,

they are not allowed to tell you exactly what to do to make your work better, but they can remind you about what they’ve taught you and you can use this additional learning to try and improve your

work independently. They can say what they’ve noticed might be wrong with your work, for example if your work is descriptive where an evaluation is required, but your tutor can’t tell you

specifically what you need to do to change it from a description to an evaluation – you will need to work out what you need to do and then do it for yourself.

Q When I have finished, what do I need to do? A If you have included the personal details (such as name, address or date of birth) of someone

other than yourself in your work, this must be blanked out (anonymised) – your tutor will tell you how to do this. You don’t need to do this for information contained in references.

You can complete the evidence checklist to show your tutor where they can find the evidence for

each grading criterion in your work.

You should make sure your work is labelled, titled and in the correct order for assessing.

Hand in the work that you’ve completed for each task to your tutor. They might ask to see your

draft work, so please keep your draft work in a safe place. Q How will my work be assessed? A Your work will be marked by someone in your centre who has been authorised to do so. They

will use the information in the grading criteria to decide which grade your work meets. The grading criteria are detailed in each unit and are also given in the tasks within this assignment. Please ask your tutor if you are unsure what the grading criteria are for this assignment.

18

Notes

demo studios assignment... · task 5: build and test a prototype (this task should take between 4...

Documents