Week 4 Homework

• The devlog described in the devlog section
• Upload a working prototype of your midterm to a new Itch.io project
• What do I need to put in the prototype? See details below
• Link to your project and repo
• Use version control from the beginning
• Push your repo to a new GitHub repository

Send me a message on Slack when you turn in your prototype

We will playtest your prototypes in class next week!

First prototype expectations

The goal of your prototype is for you to figure out all of the million bad ideas you have and why you shouldn't do those, and then for you to finally pick one idea that is maybe okay.

Once you figure that part out, your next goal is to make the simplest version of your entire game that you can, while still communicating the critical elements. The objective is quantity, rather than quality.

Fast, fast, fast (but you still need to spend time working on it).

So, what should you put in the build?

• A crude character controller
• The general shape of your environment
• Placeholder assets
• Placeholder mockups of mechanics (if important)
  • e.g. Say you want to make a puzzle for your game, but you don't know what that puzzle will be. Use a button that says "Solve puzzle" and make the player sit there for a few seconds. Then you move on and make the rest of the prototype
• The general idea of the total gameplay experience, e.g.:
  • A vague idea of beginning middle and end
  • You can kinda tell what the game is about without explaining? Maybe?

If you implement all of the above, and you feel like your prototype is "okay", you should playtest it first, before starting another iteration.

Devlog - Midterm idea

Add a 200+ word post to your devlog detailing your idea for your midterm project, a breakdown of your major features, and your plan for implementing these ideas. Make sure that you also include details (a list or whatever, example pictures, references) about the models that you're probably going to make for your game.

I also recommend using sketches or other examples for your own benefit.

Project Links

Put your projects and GitHub repo links on Midterms

Midterm Details

A short, 3D character-based autobiographical game.

Constraints

Team size

• Solo project

Platform

• WebGL player on Itch.io

Target playtime

• 2-5 minutes

Input

• You must play the game with a player-character that moves via player input
• Keyboard or mouse input only

Assets

• Character-based game (move a character around in a world)
• in Maya:
  • make 1+ "player character assets"
  • make 1+ "environment assets"
  • make 1+ "gameplay objects / powerup"
• Code most of it yourself
• regularly update your GitHub repo throughout development
• must use keyboard and/or mouse, must build out to WebGL

3D Models

• Models must not be composed of (unmodified*) primitives
• Models must be representative and non-abstract

*Basic transform transformations don't count as modifying a primitive.

Version Control

• A working GitHub repository is required
• You must demonstrate knowledge of version control best practices
• You must actually use version control, not just pretend to use it

Restrictions

All standard assignment restrictions apply, in addition to:

• No weapons
• No licensed IP
• No comics, anime, manga
• No sci-fi or fantasy
  • i.e. you can't make a game about that dream you had that one time
• No Unity Standard Assets
  • This includes character controllers