PROJECT TEAMJui-Ling (Raye) Chiang (Project Manger)Matt Guttman (Script Writer)Philip Pellicore (UI Artist)Greg Remiasz (Programmer)

PROJECT TEAMEric Bellefontaine (Programmer)Rebecca Fassola (Illustrator)Peter Hamlin (Sound Effects/Dialogue)Thomas Helms (Programmer)Philip Pellicore (UI Artist)Johnnie Tran (UI Artist)Jim Westerkamp (UI Artist)

SPRING 2012 (DESIGN) FALL 2012 (DEVELOPMENT)

ASSISTANT COACHEric Russell

COACHESHayley MayallCindy York

ASSISTANT COACHJui-Ling (Raye) Chiang

COACHWei-Chen Hung

Agenda

• Project Overview• Game concept & requirements• Game technology & development• Game structure & story

• Team Contributions• Game identity & media assets• Sound effects & game programming

• Conclusion• Usability findings & future work• Demonstration of game’s educational strategies• Q&A

Game Concept: Design Stage

• What is Literacy in Motion: Bunnies in Space?• Educational Game• Focus on Literacy• Physical Interaction

• Who is it for?• N.I.U. Literacy Clinic• 4th - 6th graders

• Project Purpose• Introduce or reinforce tier two vocabulary• Release energy • Avoid competition

Game Design & Development

GraphicAssets

Content

Programming

UserInterface

Testing

Field Trials(STEMfest, AECT)

Spring, 2012 FALL, 2012

Design Document

Game Concept: Design Requirements

• No Shooting• No Violence• No Competing• Consistency of graphics, animations and script• Spoken Dialogue• Background music

Kinect Technology & Building Tools

• What is the Kinect?• Physical properties• Software development kit• Interfacing with the game• Gesture recognition-connecting to characters

• Game Building Tools:• Visual Studios, XNA, C#, .Net Framework• 3D Studio Max, Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash

Game Structure & StoryVideo

IntroductionGame

TutorialVideo

LandingGame

CollectionVideo

Power SourceVideo

Cave (Generator)GamePuzzle

VideoEnding

Games

Game Development: Game Identity

• Developed game identity• Created various digital

assets• Created promotional

print work

Game Development: Scene Drawing

• Collaboration• From sketches to digital graphics

Game Development: Characters

• Character Evolution• Personality

Spring 2012 Fall 2012 Present

Game Development: Mini Games

• Creative Solutions• Purpose• Environment• Creatures

Spring 2012 Present

Sound Effects & Dialogue

• Recorded audio in the field • Various organic sounds manipulated to achieve

designated sound• Several hours of audio to create 15 short snippets• Recorded script in sound-proof booth• Mixed and Mastered vocals to match db• Eliminated ambient noise

Game User Interface: Game Controls

• User friendly interface• In-Game Controls • Menu Controls

Game User Interface: Game Tutorial

• 2D Animation• The character Animations• The grasping hand• and others

• 3D Animation• Space Ship• Asteroids

Game Programming: Game Tutorial & Menu

• Tutorial • Ship• Asteroids• Kinect movements• Timing and dialogue

• Menu• Creating controls that match other Kinect games• Structuring menu for easy additions and removals of components

Game Programming: Collection & Puzzle Games

• Easy to customize and change• Kinect & player scaling• Graphics scaling• Mini game independence

Game Programming: Background Programming

• Code for:• Playing videos• Kinect controls• Audio engine• Animations• Collision detection• AI• Splash screens• Story progression

Field Trial: STEMfest

• October 20th, 2012 at NIU Convocation Center• Findings from players

• Natural interaction• Desire to complete the game• Attention to game visual representations• Word choice (catch vs. collect)• Game usability

• Closure & transition• Personalization

• Characters• Objects• Scenes

Future Work

• Implementation • Literacy clinic, schools

• Support• Website• Update/prelauncher

• Teacher Resources• Pre/Post game worksheets• Printable reference materials• Online resources

• Research

Demonstration

Game Educational Strategies:Use of visual effects, audio prompts, and feedback

Q&A

650 hours spent on game design…1,450 hours spent on game development…

Thank You

Dr. Laurie Elish-PiperDr. Suzi Hinrichs

Matthew GuttmanDigital Convergence Lab