Another re-design
Buttons
When designing the page layout I am happy with most of it, but I feel that the choices sections aren't as clear as they should be. By this I mean that they should stand out and be recognised as links rather then just more text. As I am creating the pages on illustrator it wouldn't be possible for me to make the words change colour as you would if it were created in Dreamweaver. So I have looked at various ways that I could create a 'button' look.
Re-design
Having recieved feedback from my dynamic word group I have decided to make a few changes to the design of the page. On of the issues that came up a couple of times was that the background could use some work. Looking at it now I agree and in sorting this issue out I have looked at a few options for what I could use as a background instead. Some suggested using patterns so that's the first thing I looked at:
In this instance I have kept the gradient background and added a print over the top. I don't think it improves it - if anything it makes it look more complicated.
During the autumn season I tend to take a lot of photographs of the changing leaves. This year I took a few that were out of focus so that all you could see where the colours of nature. I dug these out and tested one of them out as a background. Given that this piece has a Halloween theme - which is in autumn I thought the photos would go well with it. I really liked the outcome and decided to continue using the photos as backgrounds.
Designing the Witch character
I had drawings and ideas to work from for the witch it was just a case of how to colour her. I decided I would rather do this digitally to go with the rest of the design.
To start with I looked at the outline of the witch:
I've only shown three of the options I looked at because most of them were rubbish. The only one I really liked was the 1pt Round stroke which was the one that I drew with in the first place. So I went with that.
Next was what colour her clothes should be:
To start with I looked at the outline of the witch:
Next was what colour her clothes should be:
I felt that the purple was the most effective and stood out against the rest of them. Finally I coloured the rest of her in and added a bit of texture and shadow to try and make it look a bit more dynamic and not so flat.
The finished look is how she will be portrayed in other pages, but in different poses etc...
After deciding on the colour of her clothes it was just down to filling in the rest of her and adding some tone so that the image didn't look so flat.
Designs
In the 'choose your own adventure' type books there is a typical layout that all of them use to display the information. As can be seen below this is the basic layout of most, if not all CYOA books. This is fine within books and with the added illustrations is a little more interesting, but has worked for many years.
I'm considering using a similar format for mine, but changing the paragraph alignment and where these 'pieces' are placed to make it more visually interesting for the viewer/reader. Due to this being done for the internet the ability to use colour is there, which for most books would not happen.
Non-linear stories within games
Non-linear story lines have been used in games for a very long time. There are 3 different types - branching storylines, non-linear level design and sandbox mode.
One example of non-linear game play is a game called Agarest: Generations of War. The various ways of playing the game can be seen in the diagram below - taken from here
As you can see there are various ways of playing through the first part of the game. Which ever way you choose to play you end up at the same point at the end. However, the way you play the game does affect whether you can reach the True Ending.
One example of non-linear game play is a game called Agarest: Generations of War. The various ways of playing the game can be seen in the diagram below - taken from here
As you can see there are various ways of playing through the first part of the game. Which ever way you choose to play you end up at the same point at the end. However, the way you play the game does affect whether you can reach the True Ending.
Design for Webpages
All the initial ideas and sketches are in my sketchbook - I prefer to hand draw those.
To stay up to date on here as well this is my idea: You are a young witch who has decided to make a potion for her friends birthday present. To make it you add various ingredients - which ever one you pick will determine how the potion turns out at the end and if you make a mistake something bad could happen...
Initially I wanted to have just a plain white background with the text and imagery, but in the end that made the pages look too bare. So I added a background that would reflect the 'witchy' idea using gradients - This can be seen below.
For the font selection I decided I wanted quite a decorative and individual looking font that would match the theme - so something a little 'Halloween'. Below you can see some of the choices I had:
I chose number 4 in the end because I felt that it was the most legiable whilst fitting the theme and looking individual.
The last thing that came up about the template for the webpages was that I felt that everything looked as though it was floating on the page. To resolve this I added a border just to make everything look a bit neater. This can be seen below:
To stay up to date on here as well this is my idea: You are a young witch who has decided to make a potion for her friends birthday present. To make it you add various ingredients - which ever one you pick will determine how the potion turns out at the end and if you make a mistake something bad could happen...
Initially I wanted to have just a plain white background with the text and imagery, but in the end that made the pages look too bare. So I added a background that would reflect the 'witchy' idea using gradients - This can be seen below.
The last thing that came up about the template for the webpages was that I felt that everything looked as though it was floating on the page. To resolve this I added a border just to make everything look a bit neater. This can be seen below:
Choose your own Adventure
Online there is no end to the number of 'choose your own adventure' sites. I've gone many of them and have picked out a few of my favourites:
iamcal - They admit straight away that its not the most original idea, but once you've played through it YOU add the next bit of the story. I like the idea because it has the possibility to go on forever.. literally you can go back and add more on whenever you like! Its simple and does what it says on the tin...
fupa - This was created on flash and comes complete with silly little illustrations and doomed endings. Whilst not being very long it was the first flash story that I found and aside from the music I found it very entertaining.
Choose your story - Just an example of a site where you can find stories from many different genres - not just fantasy/adventure. The one thing I found interesting with this site is that with every story there are a series of ratings so you can gage whether it's suitable for you.
iamcal - They admit straight away that its not the most original idea, but once you've played through it YOU add the next bit of the story. I like the idea because it has the possibility to go on forever.. literally you can go back and add more on whenever you like! Its simple and does what it says on the tin...
fupa - This was created on flash and comes complete with silly little illustrations and doomed endings. Whilst not being very long it was the first flash story that I found and aside from the music I found it very entertaining.
Choose your story - Just an example of a site where you can find stories from many different genres - not just fantasy/adventure. The one thing I found interesting with this site is that with every story there are a series of ratings so you can gage whether it's suitable for you.
Fighting Fantasy
The Fighting Fantasy series are another set of books that my brother and I had as children, these ones though we still have. These are more advanced then the Famous Five ones that I mentioned in the last post. They also, have a very different subject matter delving into the world of fantasy.
I've re-read/played these for this project and found that I don't enjoy them as much as I used to. However, when I was younger I found them very entertaining and at times they were quite scary. The series is a good example of non linear story books - they were created at a time when they genre was booming (in the 80s) and have manged to stay popular and in print to this day.
In keeping up with the 'modern day' the company has now created an iphone app of the first book - it looks brilliant with updated coloured imagery whilst still keeping the traditional look. Unfortunately I don't have an iphone/ipod touch so have been unable to test it out. I would imagine it's a bit faster because you dont have to find the page, which could be good, but in a way you'd lose the nostalgia of holding a book.
I've re-read/played these for this project and found that I don't enjoy them as much as I used to. However, when I was younger I found them very entertaining and at times they were quite scary. The series is a good example of non linear story books - they were created at a time when they genre was booming (in the 80s) and have manged to stay popular and in print to this day.
In keeping up with the 'modern day' the company has now created an iphone app of the first book - it looks brilliant with updated coloured imagery whilst still keeping the traditional look. Unfortunately I don't have an iphone/ipod touch so have been unable to test it out. I would imagine it's a bit faster because you dont have to find the page, which could be good, but in a way you'd lose the nostalgia of holding a book.
Famous Five Adventure Games
When I was younger I had 'The Shuddering Mountain Game', which I had hoped had been kept, but have been unable to find it. It was brilliant! I loved the Famous Five adventures anyway, but being able to play through the story and completing the puzzles made it more exciting.
Unlike other game books, such as the Fighting Fantasy series, this book allowed for 'novices' to read and play without any great difficulty. I think what I liked most about it was all the extras that you recieved to play it - such as the map, compass and dice. This was a good twist to the traditional 'read and pick the next option' - it gave full reader participation and as a child made me feel like I really was doing the adventure.
The last thing I would mention about this book is that it is very different from its modern day counterpart because there was peril - in the new additions they have removed all the puzzles, the challenges and my favourite thing - the dice. It treats the reader like a complete child, which granted the audiance is children, but the lack of challenges makes it boring and rather uneventful. Overall, it would just be better to read the original novel so you wouldn't have to keep finding the next page.
Unlike other game books, such as the Fighting Fantasy series, this book allowed for 'novices' to read and play without any great difficulty. I think what I liked most about it was all the extras that you recieved to play it - such as the map, compass and dice. This was a good twist to the traditional 'read and pick the next option' - it gave full reader participation and as a child made me feel like I really was doing the adventure.
Online Research
I'm currently working on a project for university called - Non linear story.
A lot of the research I've done has been internet based and I felt it would be best to have an online 'sketch book' for this.
I will also, be posting my development work as this too will be digital and easier to show here rather then using lots of paper needlessly.
Enjoy!
A lot of the research I've done has been internet based and I felt it would be best to have an online 'sketch book' for this.
I will also, be posting my development work as this too will be digital and easier to show here rather then using lots of paper needlessly.
Enjoy!
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