SWEETNESS OF A JOURNY USING GAME BASED LEARNING

NURUL AIN SYAFIQAH BINTI MAT DESA

BACHELOR OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (INFORMATICS

MEDIA) HONOURS

UNIVERSITI SULTAN ZAINAL ABIDIN

2018

SWEETNESS OF A JOURNY USING GAME BASED LEARNING

NURUL AIN SYAFIQAH BINTI MAT DESA

Bachelor of Information Technology (Informatics Media) honours

Faculty of Informatics and Computing

Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Terengganu, Malaysia

DECEMBER 2018

APPROVAL

I declare that this report entitled “Sweetness of a Journey Using Game Based Learning”

is my own work except as cited in the references. The report has not been accepted for any

degree and is not being submitted concurrently in candidature for any degree or another

award.

Signature: _____________________

Name: NURUL AIN SYAFIQAH BINTI

MAT DESA

Date: ________________________

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

First, I would like to extend my sincere thanks and deepest appreciation to my

supervisor, Dato’ PM Dr Mohd Hafiz Bin Yusof who guide me and give any suggestions

to encounter any problems when I doing this project. Without her, I could not finish my

project.

Besides, I would like to express my sincere thanks to my panels and fellow lecturers

who also had given me some idea to develop my project.

Finally, I would like to say thanks to my parents and my friends for their love and

support. They give me some advice to solve my problems and encourage me during the

period of developing Final Year Project.

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CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

This chapter will present an introduction to the project proposal. It about the background

of the project and goes to the problem statement. In this chapter, you also will know about

the objective that wants to achieve in this project. Besides, the project scope also will

present and you will know the limitation of the work. At the end of this chapter, the

expected result will know from this project proposal.

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1.1 BACKGROUND

Nowadays, in the world of teaching and learning are full of challenges that must

go through. Challenges to students and educators, where at this time student are attracted

to entertainment and they feel bored when they are in class. Educators are faced with

problems to attract students interested in the classroom. In a technology-filled world, there

are too many ways and choices that can be chosen and done among them by providing

exposure through online television, online gaming and all sort of things over the net, so

students are fun and interested in playing an app.

Role-Playing Game (RPG) is a game where gamer takes over the role of avatars

or character and follow along and/or create a story [2]. In other words, gamer allows them

to consider the character role in the game world and to determine the action of their

character-based characterization. This will provide interesting and teach them how

problem-solving skills that they have learned.

Application game "Sweetness of a Journey (RPG Game Based Learning)" is an

app that combines Entertainment and Education in a game. This app is a game that affects

the journey of Prophet Muhammad SAW from the beginning of birth to his death. The

purpose of this application is to see how far the student understands the history of the

Prophet Muhammad SAW. Study findings have shown that the study of the history and the

civilization of Islam in the formation of Muslim teenage identity in school is moderate [1].

So, with the application of this game, it can attract students to know the head of the Prophet

Muhammad and the civilization of Islam.

Application of this game has three levels of the game, first level that is an easy

level. This stage tells about the early head about the birth of the prophet Muhammad so the

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prophet was appointed to be the Messenger. In the second stage, it gives exposure to the

prophecies of Muhammad's prophet in the spread of Islam. At the last level of the game, he

told about the war that was led by the prophet Muhammad until his death. At each level, it

has 10 questions that need to be cleared before the player goes to the next level and each

level measures the speed of the game in answering the questions given.

So, this application can facilitate the learning process for a student and easy for

educators in delivering it. This is the best way to provides interactivity, enjoyment,

communication, criticality required think and practice.

1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT

The game app is one of the additional tools that many teens use it. In education,

this game app can be used as an effective teaching aid tool as students are now more

exposed to the digital gaming world. To play the game app requires expertise in controlling

the controls in the app. There are various problems that can be solved when looking at the

youth situation in this era of modernization.

1) Manual learning

Conventional learning methods are just texts and full of training. By

using a method of linear learning, students can only accept and digest all input

without being able to respond and interact with it.

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2) Lack of Islamic game.

Does not have a game app that gives exposure to the history of a Prophet

Muhammad SAW.

3) Lack of motivated.

Most students are interested in learning but they prefer to ask or forced

by each other.

1.3 OBJECTIVE

The objective or this project have been defined as we can know whether the goals

of the system have been achieved. There is the following objective the determine the

success of the system:

1) To develop interesting applications using RPG Game-Based Learning and

accelerate the learning process of students into a particular syllabus.

2) To purpose an app that can help educators in the teaching process of a subject

Pendidikan Islam and facilitate the teaching of the students.

3) To test the functionality of the game using window platform and benefit to

the user.

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1.4 SCOPE

Gaming application is an application that gives a new trend in the education

world. This game will ensure the student has the necessary skills and student need

understand the fact and theories of the game and comprehend into an interesting

storyline. The storyline that can help the student to solve the problem and challenges

arise as they play the game.

With this game, the student needs to complete the challenge either with a

time limit or by fulfilling the limitation of the challenge. It can know the level of an

understanding student about this topic. The usual method of learning and teaching

can be applied in this game, where the educator remark and advise the correct

evaluate and apply the best skills and fact during the gameplay.

1.4.1 TARGET USER

The target user of the application Sweetness of a Journey (RPG Game Based

Learning) is the student and educator of the subject Pendidikan Islam. The range of

student is around 13-17 years old. The contains in this game are follow the syllabus

in the textbook that provides from the Ministry of Education Malaysia and uses a

book from Rusydi Ramli Al-Jauhari as a reference about the history of Prophet

Muhammad SAW.

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1.4.2 LIMITATIONS OF WORK

As by doing this project, I found there are several limitations of the work

1) This game using windows platform only

2) The user can control this game using console or keyboard

3) This game limit for 3 levels only

4) This game focus on Sirah Nabi Muhammad SAW

1.5 EXPECTATION RESULT

1) Allows educators to teach Islamic education easily and effectively.

2) More interesting using RPG Game-based learning the concept.

3) Functionality in the game can be used properly by using the window platform.

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1.6 GANTT CHART

Activity

Month

(week)

September

October

November

December

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

Topic Discussion

and Determination

Project Title

Proposal

Proposal Writing -

Introduction

Proposal Writing –

Literature Review

Proposal Progress

Presentation and

Evaluation

Discussion and

Correction

Proposal and

Proposed Solution

Methodology

Proposed Solution

Methodology

Proof of Concept

Drafting Report of

the Proposal

Submit Draft of

Report to

Supervisor

Seminar

Presentation

Correction Report

Final Report

Submission

Table 1.1: Gantt Chart

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1.7 REPORT STRUCTURE

The first chapter of the report is the introduction to the project which includes an

introduction, problem statement, objective, scope, limitation of the works and planning for

the project. The overall logic of the system is stated here. The second chapter is a literature

review. This chapter provides better understanding based on the explanation of related

research done in the related field. The third chapter describes the methodology used in this

game. It discusses the project and requirement of software and hardware that guide the

system development, it deals with the game design and modeling which is the core part of

the development process. The navigation map and storyboard for this game shown. The

fourth chapter will explain the function and the flow of the game with the interface provided

and a few tests are done. In the last chapter which is the conclusion, the result has been

discussed concluded and summarized.

1.8 CHAPTER SUMMARY

This chapter basically deliver the early stages about project development. It

explains more about the initial project development process.

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CHAPTER 2

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 LITERATURE REVIEW (BASED ON JOURNAL)

2.1.1 Role-Playing Games-Based Learning in Mathematics

Math Quest has been developed using the role-playing game. This game

incorporates the RPG genre with the teaching of a mathematics subject for a primary

student. According to Mitchell, A., and Smith (2004), a computer game can be

divided into six key elements, when the six elements combine into a game, that can

strongly engage with the player. This element rule, conflict, goal and objective,

interaction, outcome, and feedback, representation or story.

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In designing based on learning, is very important to an educator with

learning material in form of narrative and storytelling. With the narrative, the gamer

can learn through the game and study the properties and behavior of in-game

component and at the same time gamer can able to solve the problem in the game.

Figure 2. 1: Main interface

The purpose that game development is to introduce a supplementary

material in teaching mathematics subject in particular topic based on mathematics

primary school syllabus. In this game, a gamer is given the main mission to bring

peace to the land by bringing back the knowledge of Mathematics. The player also

needs to master at each aspect of Mathematics throughout the journey inside the

game. This game gets positive feedback from the heuristic evaluation. This game

also has the improvements that are suggested to develop better games such as single

player will be extended to multiplayer.

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2.1.2 Students Perceptions of Using Educational Games to Learn Introductory

Programming

Educator believes educational game (EG) can give a lot of benefits for the

student based on motivating nature of the computer games because of the behavior

of the generation of learners (Chang & Chou, 2008), (Rajaravivarma,2005). Using

educational games, a learning approach can enhance a student’s learning of various

learning domain: namely cognitive, effective as well as psychomotor skills (Garris,

Ahlers & Driskill, 2002). According to them, game motivates learning, offer

feedback, support skills and influence change in behavior and attitude. Thus, the

motivation provided by game should be taken the opportunity to further explore in

education.

Programming is among the most important subject for computer science

students. A group of researchers found the reason why students always failed in

subject programming. The reasons stated by the student are: did not understand

lecturer’s explanation and copying from a friend

Based on this study about the lack of motivation to study programming and

high motivation to play the game. So, the purpose to develop this game is to

understand user invitational perception regarding the use of the game in the student

learning.

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Figure 2. 2: Example game interface

This educational game is the best game for self-study of the subject of

Introduction to Programming. These characteristics are then combined with the

Input Process Output Model by Garris et al (2002) to encourage motivational factors

into educational games. Findings show that most students are keen to use the game

as one of their learning approaches as this may be due to interactivity as well as

game design features embedded with scaffolding concept that offers instant

feedback to students. In addition, this is an entirely new experience for them like us

never introduce games to complement their usual way of learning in the past.

Furthermore, Programming Subjects are found to be difficult and boring subjects;

Therefore, learning with the game seems to develop students, motivation on this.

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2.1.3 Framing Islamic History through Interactive Game (Case Study: Ibn Battuta

Game)

The game becomes an interesting phenomenon not only because of its

ability to create a fantasy world but it also potential to be learning media for various

activities form the simulation game. The game is not only about entertainment value

but it’s a media platform to improve the user’s knowledge and skill in every aspect.

Ibn Battuta game in RPG genre (Role-Playing Game), which designed in

detail way, including narration idea, characterization, gameplay, and audiovisual

based on the journey of Ibn Battuta. The character, social arrangement, building

form and also map used in the game based on the history of Ibn Battuta, taken from

the various resource. The purpose of Ibn Battuta game development is to represent

history through interactive multimedia. In Ibn Battuta games, the gamer is

positioned to experience a piece of history of the Ibn Battuta journey.

Figure 2. 3: The interface of Ibn Battuta Game.

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A history-themed game like Ibn Battuta game is like a trip through the

debris of the past and a combination of various aspects of aesthetic and imagination

that can be accepted by the ability of the human mind. Game developer intentionally

combines fiction and reality elements in order to present a world that can fulfill the

desire of the player in time traveling, exploring Ibn Battuta and 14th-century virtual

world that probably has existed only in our imagination when we read the history

books of Ibn Battuta. This game is the best because this game is the best game, in

which this game gives a revealing of the history left by Ibn Battuta. this game

provides solutions to the problems of people who do not care about history and say

history is a boring subject.

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2.1.4 Comparison of the Existing Project (Based on Journal)

No Title Author Year Method Discussion

1 Role-Playing

Games-Based

Learning in

Mathematics

Wan Fatimah Bt Wan Ahmad,

Afza Bt Shafie,

Mohd Hezri Amir Bin Abd

Latif

2009 Spiral

methodology

Positive feedback has

been obtained from

the heuristic

evaluation. For

further

recommendation, the

game which is

currently single

player will be

extended to multi

players. The storyline

will also consider

using a nonlinear

rather than a linear

structure.

2 Students

Perceptions

of Using

Educational

Games to

Learn

Introductory

Programming

Roslina Ibrahim

Rasimah Che Mohd Yusoff

Hasiah Mohamed@Omar

Azizah Jaafar

2010 Input-

Process-

Outcome

Game Model

This game is the best

solution for students

to learn. With this

game, students show

positive feedback

using this game as

critical thinking and

challenging

themselves to

understand the

subject

3 Framing

Islamic

History

through

Interactive

Game (Case

Study: Ibn

Rahina Nugrahani

Wandah Wibawanto

2017 - This game represents

the nonlinear history,

the narrative

becomes very

dependent on which

route is selected by

the players and

climactic factors they

face. Players are not

treading on the real

history, but running

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Battuta

Game)

over the course of

history

Table 2.1: Comparison of Existing Project

2.2 LITERATURE REVIEW (BASED ON EXISTING PRODUCT)

2.2.1 Yash Math Adventure Elementary

Figure 2. 4: Interface Yash Math Adventure

Yash Math Adventure is an educational math game to encourage kids to practice

their arithmetic skills while taking a hero into an adventure through an exciting jump and

run 2D platform game. The player must find their way out by using logic, solving math

puzzles and collecting coins. This innovative game is designed to be a fun learning

experience for kids from ages 6 and up and aligns to the Common Core Mathematics

Standards for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade.

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2.2.2 Super Jim Jump

Figure 2. 5: Pixel Style Platform Game Super Jim Jump

The best platform game Super Jim Jump in a pixel style, jump to have a great

adventure! From the developer game, one of super jabber jump Pixel Style Platform

Game Super Jim Jump is ready to surprise you! Are you ready to take an adventure in

this side-scrolling game Super Jim Jump? Brave boy Jim’s hometown was invaded and

destroyed by some unexpected monsters. They rob Jim’s ancestral gem. Jim gets angry fire

into his mind, then goes deep into the cave and strive to take it back! Jim needs your

assistance badly. Help him to become the real SUPER JIM! Control buttons to run, jump

blocks and explore the arcades. Travel across the dangerous jungle, desert, machinery base,

Collect coins, gold, acceleration props to help you defeat the Monster!.

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2.2.3 Kangaroo Run: Wild Jungle Adventure Platform Game

Figure 2. 6: Interface Kangaroo Run

Kangaroo Run is an amazing 2D side-scrolling runner and platformer game where

you take the role of an Australian Kangaroo and hop your way over exciting hurdles in your

path. Run, Jump, Bounce and Dash your way through numerous hurdles and wild animal

enemies. This game brings back the memories of old school retro arcade games filled with

amazing adventures. If you are a 2D platformer games lover, then this is just the right game

for you. The world of this 2D game is set in the vast land of wild African jungles and the

scorching deserts of Australia. Take control of a wild kangaroo who got separated from its

family and herd. The goal of the game is to reach your family while avoiding obstacles and

enemy predators in your way. Experience the Super adventure in this fun land of wild

animals. Tap on the screen to Jump over obstacles. Hop along the way as you face mega

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animal predators, try your best to evade them. Bounce from one platform to another while

collecting coins and crushing the high scores. Smash hit the boxes for some extra loot along

the way. It is one of the best 2D side-scrolling platformer jumps and runs game experience

you can find on google play store for free. It is a super addictive non-stop old school arcade

jungle adventure game.

2.2.4 Comparison of Existing Project (Based on Multimedia Elements)

No Title Text Image Audio Animatio

n

Video

1 Yash Math Adventure

Elementary

2 Super Jim Jump

3 Kangaroo Run: Wild Jungle

Adventure Platform Game

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Table 2. 2: Comparison of Existing Project

2.3 CHAPTER SUMMARY

this chapter discussed literature review that has been reviewed during feasibility

studies. the literature review helps a developer to discover the problem of the previous

research or exciting project which is needed to improve and overcome in this game

development. furthermore, it also helps to gain understanding about the game that

undergoes the development process.

As a conclusion, the Game Development Life Cycle (GDLC) is the most suitable

method to use in developing this game. GDLC is new methodology to implement in the

game industry. GDLC has 2-time maintenance it helps to fix al the problem in the game.

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CHAPTER 3

METHODOLOGY

3.1 INTRODUCTION

In this chapter, we will discuss the methodology that will be used in developing the

game. The methodology is an important element because its act as a guide throughout the

game development to produce a complete and functional game. There are several

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methodology models that can use when to develop a game such as ADDIE and waterfall

model.

3.2 THE METHODOLOGY

The method that can use in game development life cycle followed by a different

individual to meet their requirements. In general, GDLC is iterative in nature and GDLC

focus on the quality of the product as their prime focus. There is a great area of intersection

between SDLC and GDLC, so the benefits provided by SDLC are implicitly inherited by

GDLC models. (Patel, 2017)

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Figure 3.1: Game Development Life Cycle (GDLC) Model

GDLC Model is divided into six different phases:

3.2.1 Initiation

In this process which involves drafting a high level of the game concept. This

phase processes involved:

A. Building a story and script

A theme or concept of the game will revolve is defined here. The theme or

concept is targeted to an audience of the specific age group. The main and side

characters are decided after the plot is defined for every state of the game. The plots

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of the game divided into the script and it is made there is a continuation of the game

from one level to another.

B. Feasibility Study

A feasibility study is the possibility to develop the defined game above

within the give constraints. All the requirement is gathered such as scope, platform,

interface and other.

3.2.2 Pre- Production Phase

Pre-production is the first phase of the production cycle. It involves mainly game

prototyping and game design. A working prototype of the game is created using the design

concept which involves the core feature of the game such as fun elements, layouts, texture,

and animation. Various tools used to create design elements are Adobe Photoshop and

Adobe Illustrator.

A. Character Design

It is important to design a strong and convincing character that is suitable

for the given context and looks visually appealing. Expressions and posture should

also match with the theme of the game, especially role-playing game. In this project,

the character of the game is drawn manually and traced by using adobe illustrator

software to get the character line to facilitate the texturing process and simplify the

process of character development.

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B. Set and Props Design

Set and Props designs include materials other than characters that should be

displayed on the screen at a right away. This corresponds to the time and place

where the game story was modeled. In the design and design of props in this game

use pyramids and Arabic designs to reveal the concept of this game.

C. Background Designing

It is important to keep the background as possible so that the attention of the

player remains on the gameplay without any distraction. A good background design

will convey the context very easily and may sometimes show a 3D effect on a 2D

screen. The background of this game uses the elements of the desert and the pyramid

to give a sense to the user in playing this game. Among the props used in developing

this game are deserts, camels, old paper and wood elements that show the desert

environment. If the element is used up to the user, the game developer can attract

users to play.

Figure 3.2: Designing background gameplay

D. Texturing

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It is the process of adding minute details and providing the surface

texture to the characters, props, and sets so that the game looks realistic. In this

game, character dresses are colored with white and green because these two colors

are The Prophet Muhammad favorite colors and the colors used are the colors that

bring the mood of Islam in this game.

Figure 3.3: Character design

E. Animation

The animation is a process of giving a sequence of action of the character of

the game. The flow of the game is not linear mesh methodology is used to give the

animation, with the animation we can show the deformations like rib movement,

Animation is further classified as motion capture animation and keyframe

animation.

F. Music and Sound

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Apart from animation, music, and tone play a great role in enhancing the

overall gameplay. The sound is used to show exaggerate the effect shown in the

motion.

3.2.3 Production

Production phase comes when the prototype is already designed and approved. It is

a process where the actual back end, as well as fronts, end programming is done, game

assets are created and merge are together. Here the previously test interfaces are used and

if they are not available then they create and add to the existing repository of the interface.

The game is actually in a Game Engine which is general purpose game development tools

to assist rapid game development. We need to decide which is the programming language

and game engine to use in order to implement the code and develop the game. Usually, the

game engine that used in game developing is Unity and Adobe Flash, the programming

language used in that game engine is C# and Java. The production phase is also an iterative

process in which after each iteration the formal detail like game balancing is refined by

adding new features, resolving bugs and improving overall performance. Apart from that

game is constantly polished to make it more challenging and fun elements are enhanced.

3.2.4 Testing

Testing is an integral part of the software development life cycle and it becomes of

utmost importance when it comes to game development. As it has shown from past

experience that games are the only software’s in which major bug fixes are reported. Due

to the complex nature of the game would run perfectly but when played with intense care

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it would affect the gameplay. Game testing is performed in a well-structured manner for

each and every games ranging from small games to a multiplayer game.

3.2.5 Beta Testing

It is performed by the tester outside the development team, a few groups of end

users are given the feature complete game for beta testing and the feedback is noted to

resolves the bugs. The main feature of beta testing is that the tester can explore every part

of the game as the gameplay, music, and animation.

3.2.6 Release

In many situations due to some hard deadlines, it is possible to exhaustively test

the game. So final version of the game is sometimes released which may contain one or

two minor bugs. So the development team then solves the bugs and releases the bug fixes,

update and patches for the game that is installed by the ends.

3.3 REQUIREMENT ANALYSIS

In developing game applications, various aspects need to be addressed, among

others, in terms of project requirements for the process to run smoothly. The project

requirements are software requirements and hardware requirements.

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3.3.1 SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS

The main software used to develop this game is Unity. This software is required to

organized, animate the image and insert coding to move the character in this game as well

as the entire game “Sweetness of a Journey”. In addition, there is other software used in the

process of developing this application. The other software used by this game is:

Table 3.1: Software Requirement

3.3.2 HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS

In the process of developing this game, the hardware requirements are also needed.

During the development process, hardware and software compatibility is important to avoid

No Software Description

1 Unity

Used to animate the game, insert coding to

the game and create the platform of the

game.

2 Adobe Photoshop

Used to edit images and graphics in this

game.

3 Adobe Illustrator

Used to illustrate, edit and texturing

images and graphics in this game

4 Adobe Audition

used to trim audio, change the audio

format and remove noise in the audio.

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undesirable problems. Among the tools that help simplify the application development

process are:

No. Hardware Description

1 Intel i5 Processor Chips

NVIDIA GEFORCE GT920M Graphics Card

CS900 SSD 120GB

DDR 8GB

Develop a game, create, edit,

view the storyboard of the

game.

2 Pen drive Apacer 8GB

External Hard Drive Touro 1 TB

Backup data

3 Printer Canon MP258 Print document

Table 3.2: Hardware Requirement

3.4 GAME DESIGN

The development of the Sweetness of a Journey game has been using various type

of approach. The approach that has been used are:

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3.4.1 INSTRUCTIONAL APPROACH

Through this approach, the instruction can give by text usage. The briefing

instruction provided to help the user understand the content of this game. The description

in this help module also uses the same method and briefly explains the mission that needs

to be done by the user.

3.4.2 HELP APPROACH

Through this approach also, users can know about this application by simply

reading on the module. In this app also, users are provided with the instruction at the

beginning of the game with this, it facilitates the user to understand the game's needs and

information.

3.5 NAVIGATION MAP

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In developing this project, a navigation map was created to illustrate the continuity

between one interface and one another. In addition, the navigation map also serves to give

you an overview of what is contained in this project.

Figure 3.4: Navigation Map

3.6 STORYBOARD / PROOF OF CONCEPT

In developing games, storyboard should be prepared in advance before the

application of this game. It is very important to facilitate the development of this application

as a reference and it is used so that it is in line with the navigation map made. The

storyboard is based on the selected topic and it does not run away from the navigation that

has been made. With this storyboard, the entire interface can be built from the beginning to

the end.

Sweetness of a Journey

Play

Level 1 (Easy)

Level 2 (Medium)

Level 3 (Hard)

Score

Leader Board

Options

Introduction

How to Play

Credit Quit

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Figure 3.5: Storyboard

Figure 3.6 Proof of concept (Loading interface)

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Figure 3.7 Proof of concept (Main menu interface)

Figure 3.8: Proof of concept (login interface)

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Figure 3.9 : Proof of concept (question interface)

Figure 3.10: Proof of concept (Score interface)

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Figure 3.11: Proof of concept (Leader board interface)

3.7 CHAPTER SUMMARY

This chapter fully describes the methodology that used to develop the game,

software and hardware requirement for this game, the approach used in this game, the

navigation map to show the continuity the interface and the storyboard to show the flow

game and the proof of the concept of this game. The GDLC is chosen based on the

complexity of the game through the developing process. In the game design, it shows the

navigation map. Navigation map used to show the flow of the game design starts from the

main menu interface.