Video+Games+Interactivity+Genre

YSDN 2005: Project 2 =Video Games: Interactivity and Genre=

Early idea and development
I have decided to concentrate on the 'psychological hub' from my project 1 concept map. Specifically, I'd like to concentrate on the aspects of interactivity, simulation, and genre categories. Initially what I had planned was for a generic academic website that catered to video game researchers (academic professionals), particularly from the psychology, technology, and video game fields. This, however, was an idea that was generally too broad in spectrum. Also, at the time, I was unaware that the website had to have user input and feedback, hence this was another reason the first idea didn't initially work.

The five general ideas of video game psychology I wanted to explore were:

2. Emotions triggered when playing video games: does it lead to violent behaviour 3. Multiplayer gaming: what are its effect on the players? 4. Experiencing multimedia through video games: are games on the same level as music, film or television within popular media? 5. Stimulus and training for the mind: can video games help us mentally?
 * 1. Simulation: experiencing a new realm, interacting with in-game environment**

I decided to go with the simulation experience aspect. So, with that in mind... I created three personas which my video gaming website would cater to:

**//LARS SVENSSON//**
//MOTIVATION// - has an interest in artificial intelligence and interactive design - interested in interactive simulations within video games - enjoys what other games opinions and would like to meet other gamers with similar opinions - interest in online video game journalism, and wishes to give critiques on various games

//CONTEXT// - first-year computer science student at the University of Helsinki - an avid video gamer on both the PC and console systems - male in his late teens - is fluent in the Finnish, Swedish and English languages - computer-savvy and keeps up-to-date with pretty much everything related with technology and video games

//BEHAVIOUR// - plays single-player games by himself whenever he gets the chance, and usually enjoys playing multiplayer games when his friends are over - enjoys the experience of playing games and enjoys telling his friends all about a particular game - he has become known as a "video game guru" if you will, people will ask him opinions on certain gameplay - attends video game conventions and exhibitions if they come into town - much of what he surfs on the internet is video game-related

**//CHUN SHAO-HONG//**
//MOTIVATION// - has an interest in puzzle and adventure themed video games - likes to exercise her mind with problem solving activities - enjoys gadgets and gizmos that are functional and practical - interest is in researching the many types of video games there are and would be interested in playing herself

//CONTEXT// - 15-year-old female high school student from Taipei - mostly plays with her portable video game consoles - takes the bus to school, plays video games or listens to music along the way - very talkative when around peers, enjoys food, and does well in school - enjoys playing multiplayer video games when she is at her friends' houses

//BEHAVIOUR// - mostly plays video games when she is commuting, or when she has time at home - enjoys shopping: clothes, stationery and video games for her portable console - she surfs the internet for video game-related articles only once in a while, mostly uses internet for chatting and keeping up with celebrity gossip - not a hardcore video gamer, but a video gamer nonetheless and tells friends about the games she is or has played

**//MARCELLA JONES//**
//MOTIVATION// - enjoys purchasing gifts for everyone - enjoys making people happy - enjoys researching with the help of reliable information - has a nephew, Jaquim, whom she must purchase a birthday present for

//CONTEXT// - middle-aged businesswoman from Chicago - does not play with video games at all - generally well-versed with her Windows XP operating system at home - uses the internet solely for research and occasionally for online shopping - enjoys jogging, hiking and cooking - does not always keep up-to-date with latest technologies, but usually keeps up-to-date with popular trends

//BEHAVIOUR// - cares about those around her and will look for appropriate gifts for children in her family - usually asks her friends who are experts on video games about certain video games - prefers a way to look up a specific age-appropriate video game for her nephew Jaquim


 * FLOW OF PERSONA TRAFFIC**

Persona 1 (version 1)
 * Played a game
 * Went to site
 * Logged into account
 * Wants to rate a game
 * Goes to game on site
 * Inputs personal critique of game
 * Saves that and he gets points for his input
 * END

Persona 1 (version 2)
 * Wants to play a game
 * Goes to site
 * Searches games for particular genre
 * Looks at specific game
 * Reads comments
 * Considers purchasing game

Persona 2
 * Wants to purchase a new puzzle game
 * Logs onto website
 * Looks through particular genre
 * Looks at list of puzzle games
 * Looks at score
 * Logs off
 * Considers purchasing game

Persona 3
 * Wants to purchase game appropriate for nephew
 * Goes onto site
 * Searches with search function
 * Enter's children's games section
 * Considers purchasing a game for her nephew's Wii system

Website content: rough notes
(click to view images fullsize)


 * //Note 1//**: Initial ideas for what to put on website.


 * //Note 2//**: More layout ideas based on research notes.


 * //Note 3//**: Post-inclass discussion notes.


 * //Note 4//**: More post-inclass discussion notes.

The website purpose
- to serve as an online database for all video games on all platforms - to let the user search for games based on specific game criteria: genre, platform, milieu (visual genre), as well as narrative - to let the user input their personal opinions about in-game functions and game narrative and read other player's opinions on a certain game aspect - to let the user compare games and make a link from one game to another based on genre and categorization (this is from the mindmapping concept from the first project) - to let the user create their own personal list of games and to create sublists of games they may also enjoy (based on similar genre, narrative, etc.) - to serve as a general online gaming community for the avid video gamer and the occasional gamer

Website examples

 * [|Internet Movie Database]: online movie database, the //Kill Bill: Vol.1// (2003) page lists the movie's cast and development information as well, if you scroll down to the bottom, there is a list of movie recommendations (movies that are similar to //Kill Bill//)
 * [|Flixster]: online movie database, the page on the //Batman Begins// (2005) movie contains a 5-star rating system where users can rate the film and an opinion box for user input, also you can also see a list of similar movies to //Batman Begins// in the "Movies like this" section
 * [|MobyGames]: online video game database, the page about //Half-Life 2// (2004) lists important information at the top along with what category and genre this particular game belongs in (sci-fi and shooter, etc.), it also gives a complete description about the game, users can also give the game a score

Video examples
media type="youtube" key="RBo3zAtFi_8&rel=1" height="355" width="425" Nintendo Wii controller, known as a Wiimote, an example of motion-generated simulation in video gaming.

media type="youtube" key="TluRVBhmf8w&rel=1" height="355" width="425" Trailer for the multi-platform game //Portal// (2007), an example of a puzzle game.

media type="youtube" key="BpytGR0k7Xc&rel=1" height="355" width="425" Some guys at Best Buy playing the game //Rock Band// (2007), on either the PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360, an example of a rhythm / music game.

media type="youtube" key="mV-cMtyopSA&rel=1" height="355" width="425" Footage from the Super Nintendo game //Chrono Trigger// (1995), an example of a role-playing game.

media type="youtube" key="hwOYJ2ctPsQ&rel=1" height="355" width="425" Footage from the computer game //Shadow Warrior// (1997), an example of a first-person shooter / action game.

media type="youtube" key="TlBa1xyCx_4&rel=1" height="355" width="425" Cut-scene footage from the computer game //The Curse of Monkey Island// (1997), an example of a graphic adventure game.

media type="youtube" key="Y0i5-8kIipA&rel=1" height="355" width="425" A game review for the Nintendo 64 game //Mario Kart 64// (1996), an example of a racing game.

media type="youtube" key="x-daxzVxrQI&rel=1" height="355" width="425" Footage from the NES game //Duck Hunt// (1984), an example of an arcade / light-gun shooter game (a lightrail gun input device was used to play this).

media type="youtube" key="UlBCVNPhQKc&rel=1" height="355" width="425" Footage from the PlayStation game //Parasite Eve II// (1999), an example of a third-person shooter / survival horror game.

media type="youtube" key="oYijG4_1bw0&rel=1" height="355" width="425" Footage from the computer game //Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos// (2002), an example of a real-time strategy game.

media type="youtube" key="_IrFbRFr280&rel=1" height="355" width="425" Footage from the computer game //Hitman: Blood Money// (2006), an example of a stealth game.

media type="youtube" key="RGnn_Xsq3tE&rel=1" height="355" width="425" A game magazine's review of the Nintendo DS game //The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass// (2007), an example of an action-adventure game.

The website structure and "mission" has changed slightly. Main focus of the website will remain what as such: aimed at a primary audience, which is the video gaming community, which can be avid video gamers or occasional gamers, and also towards non-video gamers who wish to know more information about video games, their genres, discourses and about specific video games through a set of search criteria.

This will be a content-based website that will provide general published information about the video gamer as well as user input, such as review and feedback. Users (presumably from video gamers) will input their feedback in a specific category, which can be either graphics, genre, storyline/narrative, or music/sound, and most importantly the gameplay aspect. Overall impressions can also be added if so desired. Users can also compare the game with other games based on gameplay or genre in a separate list. This list would basically be games that the gamer would most likely enjoy after playing a certain video game with similar aspect (be it gameplay or storyline).

For a human/user emphasis for the website, users may also create their own personal profile page or account, which would include a mini-bio (name, age, location, etc.), a list of favourite games, and the most recent games they've critiqued, etc. Users will be able to get to know other users through this page and will be able to add them as their "friend" and interact with them online or otherwise.

In terms of genre, users will be able to search for games from a particular genre using a in-site search engine. In fact, website will emphasize genre of the game more specifically, and there will be genre definitions for users to read. This is designed for people who would like to play a specific type of game and this makes it easier for them.

Website layout: sketches and notes
(click to view images fullsize)

//**Sketch 1**//: General layout idea.


 * //Sketch 2//**: Another layout idea.


 * //Sketch 3//**: Buttons and links, etc.


 * //Sketch 4//**: Template sketch for a game page.


 * //Sketch 5//**: Notes and some visual imagery I might use.


 * //Sketch 6//**: Some general templates.

Digital image files

 * Digital process work: [[file:digital image files.pdf]]

**COMPLETED WEBSITE**

 * //Global navigation//**
 * __Main__: index.html
 * __Games__: games.html
 * __Genre__: genre.html
 * __User statistics__: stats.html


 * //Other pages//**
 * __Logged in user's personal account__: userpage.html
 * __Video game page__: gamepage.html

Website can be access from here: [|GameWorld]