Draft #1 Paper Link

Link:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1It4CPZF9nTviprNZNiQ89BX4bD7cFSOQDnAuibG6QGk/edit?usp=sharing

2/26 Update

Overview

Studying game design and exploring the possibilities of what motion based video games can provide.

My goal is to learn the basics of game design and pair it with research on motion based controls.

I want to explore how games with motion can provide motivation to enhance an experience or situation
for the player.

Project Objective

1. Utilize a simple game objective as a means to explore game design and improve skills in unity and
2. coding

2. Turn a simple game into a fun and engaging/motivating experience

3. Hook up basic head movements to control the game

Goal of Game:

• Collect energy orbs to fill the player circle
• Fill up the circle to win
• Collide with enemy orbs and lose a certain amount of energy
• Lose all energy and lose

The circle will be constantly falling downward. The player will use A&D to tilt the ball into position
(left and right head tilt). The more energy you have in your circle the heavier the circle becomes
and the faster it falls down. Collide with gray barriers to slow yourself down and/or orient yourself
to collect and avoid objects (possible break here if head movement becomes overwhelming).

Motion Dimensions

• Left & Right Keyboard Movements
• Left & Right  Head Tilt Movements

Speed Control

• Player fully controls the rotation of the Ball
• The ball will be constantly moving downward in a falling motion
• Gravity will affect the movement
• A & D to control the rotation/direction the ball moves in
• Left and Right Head Tilt Movements

Camera Perspective

• 3D
• Side Scroller

Motion

• Holding A & D will result in ball tilt
• Releasing A & D the ball will continue to fall straight down based on the position the player moved the ball
• Holding head tilt position will result in the same movement

Game Duration

• As long as it takes the player to Win or Lose.
• Level based

Background

I believe games can be utilized in other areas rather than for just pure entertainment. We can utilize games as a tool for motivation and encouragement.  Based on studies, motion based games greatly increase motivation when applied in a physical therapy session. I believe this motivation can also be true for other environments.

• Why do we need motion controlled games?
• A Kinect-based system for physical rehabilitation: A pilot study for young adults with motor disabilities
• Participating in repetitive exercises can help people with motor disabilities overcome the limitations they experience. However, one study indicates that only 31% of people with motor disabilities perform the exercises as recommended (Shaughnessy, Resnick, & Macko, 2006), which can result in negative consequences such as obesity-related chronic health conditions. People often cite a lack of motivation as an impediment to them performing the exercises regularly (Lloyd-Jones et al., 2010).

2/20 Smart Shirt

https://www.theverge.com/2018/1/8/16861860/xenoma-e-skin-smart-shirt-video-game-motion-controller-ces-2018

2/20 Motion Based Video Games

Game Design

• A Theory of Fun for Game Design: https://www.amazon.com/Theory-Game-Design-Raph-Koster-ebook/dp/B00GK5SRFY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1518987325&sr=8-1&keywords=a+theory+of+fun+for+game+design

• Rules of Play: https://www.amazon.com/Rules-Play-Design-Fundamentals-Press/dp/0262240459

• Level Up! The Guide to Great Video Game Design: https://www.amazon.com/Level-Guide-Great-Video-Design/dp/1118877160

• Designing collaborative serious games : ftp://ftp.kom.tu-darmstadt.de/papers/WGGS13-1.pdf

Motion based games

• A Kinect-based system for physical rehabilitation: A pilot study for young adults with motor disabilities                     https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0891422211002587

• Motion-based Video Games for Stroke Rehabilitation https://books.google.com/books?id=xDGAAQAACAAJ&dq=video+games+and+motion&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiGtNCsxbXZAhWEMd8KHTRxA_MQ6AEIOzAD

Exploring motion-based touchless games for autistic children's learning https://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=2485774

Motion-Based Serious Games for Hand Assistive Rehabilitation https://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=3040977

2/20 Nintendo's Arms

Nintendo's Arms - really excited about trying this.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/nintendos-arms-is-the-motion-control-fighting-game-weve-been-waiting-for

2/19 Readings

Video Games and Rehabilitation: Using Design Principles to Enhance Engagement in Physical Therapy
https://journals.lww.com/jnpt/Abstract/2013/12000/Video_Games_and_Rehabilitation__Using_Design.4.aspx

Towards pervasive physical rehabilitation using Microsoft Kinect
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/6240377/?reload=true

2/18 Books to Look Into

A Theory of Fun for Game Design
https://www.amazon.com/Theory-Game-Design-Raph-Koster-ebook/dp/B00GK5SRFY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1518987325&sr=8-1&keywords=a+theory+of+fun+for+game+design

Rules of Play
https://www.amazon.com/Rules-Play-Design-Fundamentals-Press/dp/0262240459

Level Up! The Guide to Great Video Game Design
https://www.amazon.com/Level-Guide-Great-Video-Design/dp/1118877160

2/18 Prototype Spreadsheet Draft #1

Draft #1 of the spreadsheet. More work coming.

2/18 2D & 3D Movement Tests

2/13 Movements and Update

Today, I'm diving into unity and prototyping a few of the ideas posted previously. I'm also reading up on physical therapy movements for adults with cerebral palsy. I want to make sure I better understand the movements incorporated into physical therapy sessions.

These prototypes will help me further visualize what kind of physical movements would be acceptable for each prototype.

I found a blog that was helpful so far and its sources are conveniently linked:
https://blog.madeformovement.com/physical-therapy-for-adults-with-cerebral-palsy

Exercise recommendations:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/dmcn.13053/full

2/9 Prototype Overviews

Draft #1 - Prototype Ideas

Prototype # 1: 2D Top Down

The player will control a ball like character. Navigate the ball through the level upwards toward the objective point. An enemy will be throwing projectiles down at the player. When colliding with the player, they will shoot the player back down to where they started.

The player cannot move down. The only time they can be sent down is when they collide with an enemy projectile. The level will have power-up items and power points. Collect enough power points to destroy the enemy.

Prototype # 2: 2D Side Scroller

The player will control a ball like character. Navigate the level undetected by the enemies and avoid obstacles in the environment. This will be level based. Each level will incorporate harder and different obstacles. The player must quickly react to the environment in order to move forward.

Prototype # 3: 2D Top-Down Pinball

The player will be able to control the starting bumpers as well as the left and right movement on the way up and down. A more flexible movement will be given to the player on the way down. The goal is to position the ball and use the environment around you (spring yourself back in a circle or bounce off another bumper) to avoid enemies and collect points.

Prototype # 4: 3D Isometric Gravity Ball

The player will control a ball like character. Control the velocity of the ball and try not to fall off the platform. The longer you hold down the forward button, the faster it will go. Navigate level situations and make your way to the end. Dropping down to the next level.

Prototype # 5: 3D Endless Runner

The player will control a ball like character. The ball will constantly be moving forward in a sky environment. Control the ball using left and right movements in order to avoid enemies and collect rings. These rings will speed you up as the player collects them. Miss enough rings and you come to a stop resulting in a loss. The objective is to complete the level as fast as possible.

  

2/8 Project Scope

For this post, I wanted to create a detailed scope of the project I'm working on. I hope to get feedback on this next Monday and see if I need to update anything before I start pulling together prototypes.

Here are the categories I am considering: 

Motion Dimensions (1 or 2 degrees of freedom)

• Left and right movement
• Forward and back movement

Speed control

• Ball constantly moving forward
• Gravity rolling
• Speed is fully controlled by the player 

Camera Perspective

• Sidescroller
• 3rd person
• Top-down

Single event or gradual motion

• Single button press
• Button hold
• Full control over position
• Partial control - the game automatically changes position for you during an event?

Failure Penalty

• Lives
• Health
• Penalties
• Restarting

Game Duration

• Levels
• Endless runner
• Timed

Goal:
The goal is to create 3 working prototypes combining research and inspiration that has been collected. Keeping in mind how the player controls can be translated to Kinect Movements (head, hand or torso movement). After 3 prototypes have been created, I would like to choose 1 of the 3 to add Kinect movements to and balance further into a more complete game.

I plan on playtesting throughout prototype development as well as do a more formal playtest before choosing a final prototype to further develop. If time permits, I'd love to test the final prototype at a therapy session. I'm not sure if this is in scope or not.

2/4 Game Inspiration

Pinball

I've played a lot of classic pinball games (digital and arcade). Reviewing how the ball could possibly interact with fun/silly environment items.

• Bumpers
• Shooters
• Knobs

Classic Donkey Kong

Classic Donkey Kong. Reviewing the enemies here. I like how there is one central point or enemy that shoots projectiles. I like the idea of having the option of going up, down, and jumping.

Frogger

Another example of a classic game. The top-down view is really nice here. The player reacts to patters in the traffic to get to the other side.

Isometric Puzzle Game

 I like the idea of "don't fall off". Control the balls momentum and positioning in order to make it down the level. This would be great to design different platforms and challenges.

Maybe there is an ice level where the ball is extra slippery. Or a muddy level where you use the mud to slow yourself down.

Ball Race

3rd person view is kinda fun here. It may be interesting to create an endless runner game. Constantly moving forward.

Sonic Generations

I love this game. This is an interesting idea, maybe the player is rolling away from something. Adjust your movement in order to avoid attacks all while collecting coins or some other items.

2/4 New Media Project Overview

For my New Media class, I'll be working towards creating a simple Ball Game for people suffering from Cerebral Palsy. The goal is to tie together acceptable movements in a physical therapy session and the game I help create using the Kinect System. For example, a patient could move their head side to side in order to control the ball movement or possibility the game environment. Note: When ready, I'll need to investigate appropriate therapy session movements that I can use. The hope is to create an engaging and motivating experience for the user so that it doesn't feel like a typical therapy session.

Here is a quick visual of the ball game as it currently is (yep, not that exciting... for now):

Simple Ball Game

The challenge for me is making this simple game of "move the ball to the other end" interesting and unique. My current objective is to create a prototype of this game and apply the prototype in different ways to test/find a fun experience. For now, my prototype will function with keyboard controls. After an appropriate direction is approved, I will then move to implementing the Kinect.


Some rough ideas going through my head:

• The ball moves at a constant pace. The player will need to move the environment blocks (left and right) to allow the ball to pass through.

• The player moves the ball through the level collecting orbs (?). The player needs a certain number collected in order to unlock the "win" area.

• Possible enemies:  enemy patrols, shooting bombs or blocks, bombs constantly rolling down the level, etc.

• Ball racing game- The ball rolls through 3D environment, move the ball out of the way of obstacles. The ball speeds up over time or goes faster downhill, etc.

• Maybe the ball is a character that can respond to player controls.

Next Steps:

I'll be investigating other games to collect some inspiration. I'll also work towards creating a simple prototype: movement script and basic level. The hope is to reuse these in order to test out different game ideas.

2/4 Introduction

Hi,
My name is Jen and I'm a graduate student at Drexel University. I'm focusing on learning all I can about game design. Why? Games are more than just a pastime; they're a highly immersive medium for storytelling, learning, and entertainment. I aim to create interactive experiences for:

• Education and learning

• Games for the disabled 

• Games for the neurodiverse

To boil it down, I simply want to design awesome game experiences for topics that matter.

I'll be using this blog for my New Media Class. Look for daily posts on project updates, thoughts, and interesting finds pertaining to game development.