Here is a screenshot from the game Fable 2 produced by Lionhead Studios. Peter Molyneux, a genius game designer places a strong emphasis on the realism of his games. The attention to detail is great in this game. Not only do they place many depth cues but they also add details like shadows and lighting that make the game very realistic. The game uses a lot of texture gradient, for example we have it here in the wood as well as the water. Also the buildings in the background get lighter as they reach further back. The game also uses linear perspective with the buildings and the player has the option to "see through the character's shoes" which only intensifies the feeling of "being" the character. They also use relative size, and since it is in a 3D world the player is level with the ground acting as a depth cue for enemies and other characters. This game also has plenty of flow patterns into other portals or areas of the game. Flow patterns, are used in many different video games to enter in other parts of the map of the game.

Tone, in this example, is the effect of the water falling down the conch sink. The tone starts off light at the top of the spout and gets darker as it works its way to the drain. This sink is interesting, because it plays on the use of tonal range using depth and basic elements. The closest basic element to tone for this context would be texture. This sink is designed with rivets around the conch shell to create a flowing visual effect for the water and to also show depth. The rivets start out long at the top and get smaller towards the bottom. I picked this piece because it was cleverly designed and makes the user feel as if they are using a sink from a fossil. The sink almost creates a 3D effect the way the light hits it. The color of the sink is a dark sea foam green. There is black in this color, probably because it does not want to take away from the design/shape of the sink. This sink does not need any bright colors, the sink even if were gray would still stay interesting to the viewer. The color does not use any harmonic relationships since it is only one color. I would say the basic element related to the sinks color would be lines. The lines used in this design create color depths for the viewer to look at. The rivets, create different scales of the initial color to keep the viewer interested.

Ex 9 - BLOG / Basic Elements / MMORPG Game Design

Texture, seen in The World of Warcraft MMORPG game, is crucial for the game's environment to exist. All of the 3D objects have been created by 2D textures that create the environment like the landscape, buildings, and characters. For a 3D game, it is imperative that the game has texture otherwise the objects will look flat and it will resemble a 2D nature. Texture also creates depth in the game so that the user will be able to differentiate what is close/far. For example, in this picture we have trees and a small well in the background to create depth. The texture is what creates the 3D objects to look realistic and moveable. The texture (and shape) defines the body movement of the character.

The line, is the next important basic element in game design. The line is used as an indicator for progression in the form of text. Text, in the World of Warcraft especially, is used to constantly throughout the game to talk to other players, read quests, and for functioning the character. The MMORPG community is powered by communication between players which is in text. Also, for computer programmers, text is used to create the game for it to function as a whole. The programming is how the game exists, so it is obviously the most important factor in game design, otherwise, there would be no game.

Also the line builds off of points and dots to define surface and 3D graphics. The line is a crucial tool in the building of the game to create various objects. The line used along with a series of vectors and dots creates 3D objects. Sketching with the use of lines is also crucial for developing game concepts and objects to the game. Also, lines show structure in Gameplay, the lines of buildings and creatures helps define the environment. The structure also helps in the mimickry of the real world. Although, tw0-dimensional in nature (which is contradictory to a 3D game) , the line is a helpful tool for the game development and gameplay.

Movement, is what defines the game to exist. The whole game is based off of movement. It frames the motion of the character, frame by frame. When all is put together it creates a visual movment. Movement also directs the eye to look for certain parts of gameplay. The game designer in, The World of Warcraft has the camera follow the character in order to direct it's vision to the environment ahead. Game developers try to mimic movement in the real world to create a sense of reality for the player. Especially true of MMORPG, the reality of the game helps the user to feel more connected.

Blog 6

This photo is displaying a family gathering. It is represents an event, Indian that involves wearing colorful beaded outfits. The three women represent a relationship, perhaps family. Since this is a family photo the subjects are close together facing the camera. Since this is an Indian function the subjects are all dressed in colorful indian garb. All subjects are smiling since it is a joyous event. Make-up is on all subjects as well.

"unemployment" assignment

Literal: Hats
Slow
Men
Suits
Black & White
Old
Free Soup
Shoes
Concrete
Line

Symbols:
Free
Coffee & Doughnuts
Unemployment
Free Soup

There is men waiting in line to recieve free coffee and doughnuts. It is assumed that they are all unemployed. There is probably about fifty men waiting in the line. The photo is black & white and it is of a street, probably in a major city. The line of the men is horizontal of the picture. There is a large building in the background.

Visual Thinking Research - BLOG Exercise

The Next Square puzzle, we both used different strategies and ended up with different answers. He thought it used some type of subtraction in a ticking motion where the lines went around to the right. He tried using pattern completion. First I used his same method but then I realized it did not work and then used finding. That is when I discovered numbers within the boxes starting with one and ending with four. I then figured the last one would need five and found the appropriate shape according to the pattern.



The 2nd Puzzle here, my partner Frank and I did the same way. We looked at the different triangles. We used a pattern finding way. We both did not need to write on the paper, we could do it by looking at it.

Ex2 Feature Hierarchy in Visual Searches BLOG Exercise

This is New York City subway map.

The colors from the transit lines are very bold against the nuetral background color. Also the shape of the New York is comprised of many shape edges like the lines of the subway which makes the map easier to look at than if it had many jagged edges. All of the names are outlined in black to be easily read. All of the transit lines parallel to eachother are similiar in color to possibly outline the similiar directions the lines go in. All other transit lines are very bold against eachother. The background of the transit lines are also very nuetral colors of light turqoise and light gray which helps the bold colors attract attention.

This remote control is from a massage chair.

The areas which seem to stand out the most would be the lower half of the control, which has the STIFFNESS, RELAX, RECOVERY, FINE, and ON/OFF buttons. These seem to be stragically placed and large due to their quick acting functions. The sleek curve at the bottom and raise of the lower half of the control signifies the importance of these main controls. Some other things I noticed was the SOLE WARMER button being a red color which evokes a warm feeling. All of the upper body controls are highlighted in a sea foam green categorizing the buttons as a single function for the massage chair. Also all the higher/lower adjustments regardless of their function are identical in color and triangle shape. The overall layout of the remote is not entirely flowing, the contrasting colors of black and white cut block out different sections and the different colors of the buttons is related to a function, not a color scheme. This remote was obviously designed for the use of practicality and less for design, however, many design elements are used for the ease of using this remote.