Video Game

I have no idea how to upload a powerpoint so as I try to figure it out heres the link to it on Andrew Kellogg's blog.

http://awkellogg.blogspot.com/2011/03/game-powerpoint.html

Freak Factor

The article “Freak Factor”, by David Rendall discusses how people’s peoples strengths and weaknesses and how they effect a persons success in life. He writes than many people attempt to both build on their strengths as well as work on their weaknesses. Rendall believes that this waste too much energy, in that in the end it has very little success. He argues that instead people should realize that weaknesses are apart of everyone and that they accentuate our strengths. Additionally, he writes that we should focus only on bettering our strengths rather than worrying about hard to fix weaknesses.

            I find this an interesting take on ways to better oneself. For most of my life I have heard that being well rounded is key, and that working on weaknesses is an important part of life. I’m not sure if I completely agree with the author because I feel that working on weaknesses can be successful and make people more well rounded. However, I do like a couple of things that he writes about, most notably the sections Flawless, Foundation, and Putting your Quirks to Work.

I enjoyed the section Flawless because I like Rendall’s take on how people’s weakness don’t make them flawed. He writes that everybody has there own set of strengths and weaknesses, and that each strength is connected to its own weakness. I thought that his list strengths and their comparative weaknesses was very insightful, and I see both of this in myself. I think that people should start to see weaknesses in a way such as this. Nobody can be perfect, and the chemistry of our brains only allow for so many strengths. For example, I can’t think of many creative people that I know who are organized. Even now as I look around my room there is shit everywhere, I know where nothing is, and I just cleaned. However, one thing I disagree with the author on is that I should work to make my self more organized. If not just to have my room look presentable to friends.

A second part of this article that I liked was section five, Foundation. I think that people are happier when they are doing things they love, and usually people love doing what they’re good at. This is the same principle that the author is getting at in this section of the article. He writes that people have the greatest potential for success in their strengths (duh), and that building on these strengths gives people the ability to become great at something. Additionally he writes that sometimes strengths can make up for ones weaknesses. Lets go back to the creative vs. disorganized issue. It may piss people off that your office looks like shit, but if you always have great ideas that make the company money, I think they might forgive you.

A final section of this article that I liked was Putting your Quirks to Work. He writes that we sometimes exhaust ourselves doing things that we aren’t very good at, and that this gives us less energy to do stuff that we excel in. For example, why would I waste my time trying to figure out the next big formula for math or physics? I at suck at math and I hate it, so it would be just a waste of time. I’m not to bad at making music so why wouldn’t I spend more time becoming great at that. Additionally, he writes that we should all find the freak in others. I really enjoy this idea because I think that’s what makes life interesting. If we all had the same strengths and weaknesses life would suck. I love finding people who have quirks and do interesting things because it throws a twist into life. 

Trans Media Overview

                       

My Audio is being funky so I decided to just write about this one.

When I first began “playing” Collapsus I was kind of put of by the style of game play, only because it isn’t like a traditional video game. However, as the story line went on I became very interesting in the story line and the mechanics of the game. The reason I liked the story so much, is that it really addressed problems that we are having in this world today and raises important issues that we need to discuss as humanity. Additionally, I think that trans media part enforces the message more than a regular game would. As we see clips from real people and see them react to what happens in the game, it makes it feel like the problems could actually be unfolding right in front of you.

            Another aspect that I enjoyed was the news coverage. I think it brought the game together because it gave an overview from an international standpoint letting you know everything that is going on.

            As far as trans media in our class, I think that effect may be limited. For me, the way I approach my musical creativity probably will not change due to this class, only because I already have techniques and processes that are effective for me. I am however, interested in working outside of the music industry at some point in my career, and I think this class has given a good overview of ways to tell stories that I had not experienced before. 

Find the game @www.Collapsus.com

Game Reflection

      I think that one thing that didn't come across very well in our game presentation was the silence aspect. I think we over enforced the fact that remaining silent was an important part of the game, and this caused the audience to think the game was only based on sneaking around and had no real action. In actuality, the game is based mostly on story line and combat. We just thought that adding the aspect of keeping a low profile would make the game more interesting.
    One thing that I think we did well in our game presentation in developing a story. I think that our story was unique to video game platforms, and offered a unique set of tasks for players to participate in. For example, there are a wide range of paths that one can take to get to the final goal. Additionally, I think we did a good job of developing details such as weapons and tools. We had a vast array of optional and original weapons that would be involved in the game. Additionally, we developed original tools to make our game different than other RPG games.
   I think that GOALS are the easiest aspect to discuss with people. I believe this because everybody has goals and wants, so people can easy relate to discussions about this. In reference to a video game I think that people want the goals to be similar to those that they have. Goals in a video game may be on a much larger scale, however many of the the characters problems reflect everyday things. This brings fans into the game so they feel more connected to the characters.

     The second hero villain combo that I am critiquing is by Dan Wanio. This set of characters was one of the most interesting in class because of the sort of twisted plot that surrounded them. For me, the characters personality CONTRASTED their appearance. The Creep looks like an evil monster to me, but I like the fact that he is actually the good character. Also at first glance the Ringleader looks like a possible debonair hero, however, he is a seedy, evil man.
    I think the shading of the characters is key to their development. The shadows on both characters gives them a dark look which goes along with the story of both characters. Additionally, I think that shading is a form of symbolism as well. For the ringleader I think that the shading may symbolize that he has a secret dark side that at at first may not be apparent. This CONTRASTS the color scheme of his outfit that is very bright and vibrant. This contrast between personality and appearance can put the viewer in an uneasy MOOD because one is not sure whether to trust or shun this man.

The first character that I'm critiquing is created by Vic Sherrick and can be found at http://sagevic.blogspot.com/. This hero is actually a team of characters named Wiz and Oz, in which Wiz stumbles upon a magical magicians hat that gives him the power to summer the giant bunny, Oz. The pair go on family friendly adventures solving problems and getting into trouble.
        One of my favorite parts of this combo of characters is the color scheme. The Hues of each character are mostly yellow, red, and blue, with a little black thrown in. Additionally, most of these colors are high in SATURATION giving both characters a bright and vibrant look. I think Hue's of each character complement the other well and that the AFFINITY between each character lets us know SUBCONSCIOUSLY that they are on the same team. I especially like the placement of the black magic wand and sunglasses on Wiz and how it goes with the black belt on Oz. I think the placement of the small things on characters is what can make them more interesting and I believe that has been done well on this duo.  The Brightness of the characters let us know that they are good natured and mostly likely the heros of any situation.  

Joke Comparison

            There are many differences between these two videos even thought they both convey the plot of the same joke. Both jokes express a United Way workers attempt to gain financial aid from a wealthy local attorney. After the United worker asks for a small donation the wealthy man spits off a string of very unfortunate events that have recently occurred in his family that are keeping him from donating. After this, the United Way worker feels guilty and apologetic, only to hear that the attorney is making things up and has no desire to give money to anybody.  Even though these movies have basically the same plot, both have some aspects that CONTRAST each other.

            In the first joke, we use LINES, in order to SUBCONSCIOUSLY, direct the viewer’s attention to the clearly more powerful attorney. For example, the sequence in which the attorney exits his house, the lines from the stairway and porch all point to the door in which the rich man is framed. This causes us to be directed to him whether we like it or not. In addition to the lines pointing us to him. Most of the movie is shot so that the camera is looking down on the United Way worker and looking up at the attorney. This shows us that the attorney has the power in the situation.

            In the second joke we used RHYTHM within the frame in order create affinity between the United Way workers, and to contrast the attorney. The rhythm of the shots with the United way workers are very similar to show that they are on the same side, while the shot of the attorney ‘s office is somewhat difference to show his lack of a desire to donate money.

The Videos can be seen below the Hero picture.