Showing posts with label planning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label planning. Show all posts

Tuesday, 14 February 2012

Minutes 24 Jan


Meeting points


1.     Went through items outstanding

2.     Planned the rest of the build schedule as best could, we still do not have a submission date.

3.     CWH gave BS the articles she had created for the build.


To do/ outstanding


1.     Apply colour scheme to snaps logo (BS)

2.     Find chosen font (BS)

3.     Get all components ready for build (BS)

4.     Install Flash (BS)

5.     Start building the Countryside game (CWH)

6.     Update self Gantt chart (BS and CWH)

7.     Update self and group Gannt chart for this week (CWH)

8.     List all tasks individually completed - written as speech for working presentation (BS and CWH)



A.O.B

1) BS laptop booked in for Flash installation next week

2) Other assignment due in 14/02 so may need to focus on that for the next week or two.

Friday, 13 January 2012

Spanner in the works!

So 25th October I was all for punching the computer after my 3 hour stint of re-doing the Gantt charts for myself and the group, after the initial one became corrupt, these latest versions again became corrupt!

We cannot identify the reason and it has flummoxed two IT gurus.  Needless to say, I was frustrated, nay furious.

The following morning I was at the midwife's for my check up and blood pressure had shot up, not surprising after how annoyed I was the previous night.

I had to return to keep and eye on things and again on the Friday, blood pressure was high, but all in all I was feeling better than I had done in weeks.  Fast forward through a 2 hour Tesco shop and a 2 hour Ikea trip to buy wardrobes, I spent the night rubbing my aching bum and back whilst devouring a 12 inch Pizza.... all of it.  With hindsight I should have seen what was coming.

Unknowingly in labour! Horizontal in the car to accommodate the wardrobes!

I'll spare you the gory details, by the following lunchtime our baby boy had made his debut, Ayrton James Bernard Peter 'The Bear'.

Following 16 days in special care, our boy came home with us and we are still adjusting.

I'm sure Becky will fill you in on her exciting fly in the ointment, in short she has had investigative surgery on her ankle and was also rendered out of service.

Becky and I returned to uni in the New Year to find that the rest of the tutorial group have been granted an extension.  Obviously we also require additional time to complete this assignment, Allison is applying to Leeds for an exemption, hopefully for an Easter submission date.

This week we had a production meeting and agreed that we should streamline our project as we are also starting a new assignment next week, it will be near impossible to complete everything we had originally planned to do.

We went through my production log and marked off what was complete, what we needed to do in the immediate future and what tasks we would shelve.  It is hard to set dates at the moment as we have not had confirmation from Leeds of our final deadline date so the dates we chose may need to change.

This week's main tasks are to collate all the resources that we need to build the working presentation, jpegs and sound files. 

Wednesday, 26 October 2011

Minutes - 25 October 2011


Minutes

Date:     26/10/11

Meeting points

1.     Went through items from last week’s ‘to do’ list – see below for details (BS & CWH)
2.     Drafted product and team evaluation for Working Presentation (BS & CWH)
3.     Got large version of B&P logo.jpg and seascapefish.psd from BS for CWH
4.     Completed personal Gantt (CWH)
5.     Completed group Gantt up to start of meeting (CWH) updated after meeting and file AGAIN became corrupt! Need to report issue to IT!
6.     Put game logo (BS) and game fonts (BS&CWH) out to tutorial group to see what is the preferred.  Looks like the top faves are v1 and v6 of the logo and Peppa Pig for the font.  BS to trial versions and open out to the social networks for their feedback.
7.     Ran through game location allocations – approved – Mountains (Flash, Castle), Under the Sea (Shutter Speed), Beach (focus), Countryside (aperture, depth of field)
8.     Agreed on running order for the Working Presentation flash file.  This will just be a very basic navigation tool showing how the user will get from the start and move around the games.  It will not have any working individual games at this stage.
9.     Did not get time to start planning/ writing the game instructions.
10.  Not shared our sounds

To do/ outstanding

1.     Draft instructions and welcome information (BS & CWH) – 01/11

2.     BS to update blog with shortlisted game logos and fonts – 28/10

3.     Email/ upload our sounds to each other (BS & CWH) – 28/10

4.     Upload images to blog (BS) – 28/10

5.     Email shipwreck.psd to CWH (BS) – 28/10

6.     Complete castle outside.ai (BS) – 01/11

7.     create castle inside.ai (BS) – 01/11

8.     Introduction/ instruction screen – Falling polaroid animation – (BS) – 09/11

9.     Location screen – Falling polaroid animation – (BS) – 09/11

10.  Complete island map – include thumbnails of school, game logo and return key. Save as .psd and email to CWH (BS) – 01/11

11.  Complete congratulations banner with game colours save as .psd and email to CWH – 01/11 (BS)

12.  Write up notes on team and product evaluation for the Working Presentation (BS)

13.  Write individual contribution – (BS & CWH) – CWH to email to BS asap – 01/11

14.  List examples of our best work for Working Presentation - (BS & CWH) – 01/11

15.  Produce charts/ diagrams showing percentage completed for Working Presentation – from details in Gantt charts – (CWH) – 01/11

16.  Download Flash – (BS) – ASAP – for build –

17.  Both start building the Working Presentation Flash file – see which is most promising at next meeting! (my money is on Becky’s!!)

18.  Update self Gantt chart for this and last week (BS)

19.  Update self and group Gannt chart for this week (CWH)


A.O.B
1.     BS is having an operation this Thursday (27/10) and may not be mobile for the next few weeks.  An extension has been agreed in principle, but need to find out the terms from Doctor after the operation.  We will still work to plan until we hear from him!
2.     BS not got Flash or Project on her laptop – BS to see if she can download CS5 version of Flash.  If this is successful perhaps she can focus on build aspects? (wishful thinking J?!)
3.     CWH not got Project on her Mac – twice now the college PCs have corrupted her Gantt charts.  IWH advised we could use illustrator to show projections if needs be.  CWH acquired a version of Project for PC, will get a copy to BS and se if she can borrow RCH laptop to  install Project and work from home rather than having to go into college and risk another corruption!  CWH to speak to Holy Cross ICT about the issue again.

Monday, 24 October 2011

The build schedule - planning

Here are the functions as an overview as outlined in the pitch document.

We need to have all elements ready to start building this tomorrow so we have something to show at the Working Presentation.

The finer elements and individual games can be built after we have delivered the presentation, should we not have time to do beforehand.  This will at least give the tutors/panel an idea of what the product looks like and how it operates.

In terms of the elements that we need to start building, these are the designs that we have been working on for the past few weeks.  So we need .JPEG or .PNG files of all the areas that the game will land.  These images will be as place markers/ holders, to indicate what happens at each location.

The above plan is very loose and still includes the post production and gallery areas that we are ditching for this version.

So the images required are as follows:
  • Black & Pink Logo
  • Game Logo
  • Island Map
  • School
  • Character/s
  • 3D image of camera
  • Countryside
  • Beach
  • Under the sea
  • Mountains
  • Points/ Prize display





Meeting Agenda - 25th Oct


Meeting Agenda - Date: 25th Oct 2011 - 1800-2100
  1. Check to see if there are any outstanding items from last week’s minutes (BS & CWH)
  2. write product and team evaluation and also individual contributions (BS & CWH)
  3. Portraits for website (CWH)
  4. Get fish from BS seascape .psd file (CWH)
  5. Complete personal GANTT (BS)
  6. Complete personal and group GANTT (CWH)
  7. Choose game font from shortlist (BS & CWH)
  8. Get updates B&P logo from BS and upload to blog and website and amend in pitch doc (CWH)
  9. Build schedule - MUST BE DONE TODAY!!!!
  10. Run game allocations by BS (CWH) 
  11. Agree on game to location allocations
  12. Set key tasks to key dates
  13. Break down game components.
  14. Plan and start writing game instructions
  15. If we have time.... start the build

Sunday, 23 October 2011

Sound effects

One of our tasks for this week is to find sound effects for the games.


I have had a look and listen to what Audio Network have to offer and have found my favourites.


At the beach:

S_008811 - Exterior - Medium Close Up - Surf, On Beach with People, Wind
S_033133 - Ocean Side, Many Seagulls, Low Background Waves On Shore, Occasional Splash In Water, Like Rock Or Bird Lands In Water

Under the sea:

S_083676 - Close Up - Big Gurgly Breathing, Long Trailing Bubble Streams
S_379706 - Medium Close Up - Big Burst Of Bubbles Released
S_379707 - Medium Close Up - Streams Of Bubbles Released

Countryside:

S_381426 - Exterior - Overlooking Small City From Castle Area, Birds, Very Gentle Breeze, Distant Off Stage Children Talking, Woodpecker Pecks at Tree, Nice Countryside Background
S_019045_001 - Exterior - Light To Medium Wind In Trees, A Few Birds, Tractor Working In Distance
S_057809 - Exterior - Off Stage - Beetles Hiss In Open Field
S_377587 - Exterior - Light Wind In Trees, Distant and Close Up Steer

Mountains at night: 

S_081367 - Exterior - Mountain Tree Wind, Light Gusts, Occasional Fly Buzz
S_081381 - Exterior - Mountain Tree Wind, Heavy Whipping Gusts
S_321519 - Exterior - Cicadas Ratcheting, Dense, Late Night, very Active Insects, Lots Of Depth, Not Too Intense
S_381375 - Close Up - Big Castle / Dungeon Door, Man Fiddles With Giant Set Of Keys, Opens Huge Door
S_381396 - Large Wooden Castle Door, Heavy Wooden Door Opens and Closes Slowly, Creaks and Squeaks, Large Room Ambience

Shutter - 

S_321836_011 - Close Up - Single Shot, Fast Shutter Speed
S_321836_021 - Close Up - Single Shot, Long Shutter Speed

Cheers - 

S_016363_003 - Medium - Male and Female - Medium - Medium Heavy Clapping with Multiple People Yelling 'Yeah' and Whistling

Wednesday, 12 October 2011

Minutes - October 11, 2011


Meeting points

1.             Agreed allocations of designs to be completed in Illustrator/ Photoshop as .PNG or .JPEG format  by 18/10
a.     CWH
                                                                    i.         3D Flash gun
                                                                  ii.         3D lens
                                                                 iii.         3D waterproof housing
                                                                 iv.         3D battery
                                                                   v.         3D flash/ memory card
                                                                 vi.         Points display screen
                                                                vii.         School shop – the location and the thumbnail for Polaroid
                                                              viii.         Sketches for details in the Countryside and the Beach
                                                                 ix.         Produce the colour schemes as per list below.
                                 x.     Complete the design for the countryside.


b.     BS
                                                                    i.         Mountain scene – Flash game
                                                                  ii.         Design frame style for menu – instruction page & intro page
                                                                 iii.         Complete Polaroid design – the location indicator
                                                                 iv.         Design game logo
                                                                   v.         Complete Map
                                                                 vi.         School – the location and the thumbnail for Polaroid
                                                                vii.         Complete Shipwreck
                                                              viii.         Sketch and produce static version of the animation ‘winning’ sequence.
                                                                 ix.         Sketches for details in the Mountains/ Castle and Shipwreck
                                                                   x.         Footprints

2.     Assigned other items to do for next week
a.     CWH –
                                                                    i.         Type minutes
                                                                  ii.         Email Game template and Under the Sea layers to BS for her Shipwreck
                                                                 iii.         Update the group GANTT chart (all actions done and new projections – see below)
                                                                 iv.         Try and recover the corrupt version of self GANTT chart and update
                                                                   v.         Update Production Diary

b.     BS –
                                                                    i.         Email Group GANTT chart to CWH
                                                                  ii.         Test photography games
                                                                 iii.         Update self GANTT chart
                                                                 iv.         Update Production Diary

3.     Set new deadlines and tasks – to input into GANTT
a.     Practice presentation and demonstration of working product – 01/11
b.     Produce diagrams of percentage completed of work (from GANTT) – 01/11
c.     Write evaluation of team’s performance so far – 25/10
d.     Evaluation of the product as it stands – 25/10
e.     Write each team member’s individual contribution to the project – 01/11
f.      Plan the build schedule – 18/10
g.     Start the build – 18/10

Other items discussed
4.     Portraits for the website – CWH 18/10
5.     Music and sound for the game – to be planned into the build schedule – 18/10
6.     Post production areas – these although wonderful ideas are a big ask for us in terms of our present abilities and the time constraints.  We agreed to bump this to ‘Version 2’ this would be a development opportunity for a next generation of Snaps Academy.
7.     Delivery material – we cannot really start the design of this until we have a brand/ logo and contents – we will start this after our next deadline - 08/11 onwards.
8.     The ‘winning’ animation can for the most recent deadline, be static or animatic – it is for demonstration purposes only.  The final animation can be started after our presentation - 08/10
9.     Although BS is designing the winning sequence, we have not yet agreed the build schedule.
10.  Iain is happy for us to chose whether to submit the time plan (Gantt), minutes and production diary in our chosen format.  He is happy for the production diary to be the blog so long as it was obvious which submissions were who’s.  We decided that we would have a projection of this, with maybe one hard copy of each incase someone wants to flick through a copy.  This hard copy would simply be a print out of the blog and Gantt chart, bound. No fancy, time consuming, designs!
11.  Iain said we do not need to simplify the Gantt chart, the more detail the better!
12. CWH's bloody bastard Gantt chart has become corrupt since it was produced last week so couldn't update this evening!  IT chappie will look into it for me.  BS has the group Gantt chart on her pen drive but didn't have it with her so will need to update next week.  
13.  Colour schemes – we looked at the 3 schemes suggested based on ‘Island’ looked at ‘Photograph’ and ‘School’ – CWH will be producing the colour scheme charts to make decision next week.
·       Photograph
a.     Across the Sea
b.     Golden Gate Bridge
c.     Stop photographing me
d.     Photograph (by awakening)
e.     Old C print – too girly
f.      Acid Handbags – too girly
g.     Scrapbook
h.     Lost Photograph – too manly, too muted
·       School
a.     Old school bag
b.     Primary School – too pastely
c.     School colours


Monday, 10 October 2011

Assessment - Contextual Research

Contextual Research  (Tuesday 08/11/2011)

By 9pm on the day of your Working Product Presentation, you are required to submit your individual Contextual Research. This document should contain the following:



·        The aim of your research
·        Your methodologies
·        A literature review
·        Results/conclusions
·        Bibliography



Your research should be no more than 2000 words in length. Please note that your research can be visual/graphical as appropriate! Feel free to include images, diagrams, drawings, annotated screen-grabs and other form of visual research.

This individual Contextual Research will award 30 marks.

Assessment - Working Product Presentation

Working Product Presentation (Tuesday 08/11/2011)

On Tuesday 08 November between 6pm and 9pm, you are required to deliver a Working Product presentation. This presentation is your opportunity to showcase your achievements so far. The product does not have to be finished but aspects of it should be fully functional.

A panel of academics (acting as the clients for the project) will attempt to recreate a commercial presentation scenario and will therefore expect you to present professionally.

You should imagine that the panel has made a financial investment in your project and is therefore expecting to be impressed and re-assured with the quality of your work and the professionalism of your team.

The presentation must include:
·        An introduction to the project; its key selling points, purpose and delivery
·        Examples of your best work (covering all aspects of the project)
·        A demonstration of the product (including fully functional aspects)
·        Diagrams/charts showing the percentage-completed for each part of the project
·        The presentation of an up-to-date time plan & minutes of meetings (with actions)
·        An evaluation of the team’s performance so far
·        An evaluation of the product (as it stands)
·        The presentation and technical explanation of each team member’s individual contribution to the production of the project
·        The presentation of each team member’s production diary

The length of your presentation is determined by your team size, as follows:
·        2 team members: 15 minutes

Failure to present at this work-in-progress presentation and upload your Contextual Research will result in the loss of 100 MARKS. (Please refer to the marking scheme below)