Photo by dhester on morgueFile.com
Photo by dhester on morgueFile.com

Link to all Weeks     Week 1     Week 2     Week 3     Week 4      Week 5     Week 6

Content:

  1. Complete a Tutorial
  2. Lines in Photoshop
  3. Feedback

Complete a Tutorial

Select a tutorial from below, complete it, add meta-data to the PSD file. Save as a JPEG and email a copy to me(with all relevant meta-data).

Lines in Photoshop

As we saw last week working with lines can be a lot of fun and create very dynamic results. Photoshop has many interesting options on using lines. Particularly the many effects that are part of Photoshop can lead to stunning results.

Windows Vista Aurora Effect – a good and reasonably easy to follow tutorial by a favourite site of mine: Tutorial9.

Vista Lighting Effect - Courtesy of: Tutorial9
Vista Lighting Effect – Courtesy of: Tutorial9

Luminescent Lines – this tutorial from a great Photoshop tutorial site – PSD Learning – looks at customising brush dynamics. Fun to do and an interesting start: use a photo to create a suprisingly abstract and attractive background. A good tutorial to try on your own.

Luminescent Lines - Courtesy of: PSDLearning
Luminescent Lines – Courtesy of: PSDLearning

Gentle Curves of Pure Light – follow the tutorial from PhotoshopEssentials in class to create gentle curves with the pen tool and turn them into bright light.

Light Streaks - Courtesy of: PhotoshopEssentials
Light Streaks – Courtesy of: PhotoshopEssentials

Abstract Background – this is a more basic tutorial from YourPhotoshopGuide. It is good to introduce the Lens Flare filter and makes good use of the Free Transform and copy layer options.

Luminescent Twirls- Courtesy of: YourPhotoshopGuide
Luminescent Twirls- Courtesy of: YourPhotoshopGuide

Wavy Blackberry Style Wallpaper – this is a great tutorial from psdtuts+. It consists of 16 steps, but the result is convincing and you will learn a few good techniques on how to work with gradients and how to add depth to your work.

Lines and Gradients- Courtesy of: psdtuts+
Lines and Gradients- Courtesy of: psdtuts+

Lines Tutorial – follow the in-class instructions to create an image like the one below. I basically used the Brush tool and drew straight lines. Next I multiplied layers (Ctrl+J) and changed the layer blending mode.

I added a photo, in the example a photo of Grace Kelly and masked selections.

Study - Lines and Grace Kelly - by Federico Viola photo: courtesy of GettingCheeky.com and curved lines wallpaper: courtesy of FreeFever.com
Study – Lines and Grace Kelly – by Federico Viola
photo: courtesy of GettingCheeky.com and curved lines wallpaper: courtesy of FreeFever.com

Other links with many excellent tutorials:

40 Cool Abstract and Background Photoshop Tutorials – by Hongkiat Lim

25 Useful Photoshop Background Tutorials | Vandelay Design Blog

Feedback

Please leave your feedback in form of a comment. Your feedback and suggestions will help me to make this blog more user friendly. Thanks!

Based on photo by xandert found on morgueFile
Based on photo by xandert found on morgueFile

Link to all Weeks     Week 1     Week 2     Week 3     Week 4      Week 5     Week 6

Content:

  1. Game Mechanics
  2. Brainstorm Game Mechanics
  3. Assessment 2
  4. Feedback

Game Mechanics

Jenga, photo courtesy of: Design-Crit.com
Jenga, photo courtesy of: Design-Crit.com

Game mechanics are at the core of a game and decisive for game play. Good engaging game mechanics will make a game fun to play  or challenging and as well rewarding.

Game mechanics can be found in board games (Chess, Backgammon, Jenga) and for board games we often refer to core mechanics. Examples are:

  • Role Playing (Charades)
  • Capture & Eliminate (Chess)
  • Pattern Recognition (Chess, Rush Hour)
  • Memory (Memory)
  • Dice Rolling (Monopoly)
  • Find the extensive list below at: BoardGameGeek.com
Acting

Action / Movement Programming

Action Point Allowance System

Area Control / Area Influence

Area Enclosure

Area Movement

Area-Impulse

Auction / Bidding

Betting / Wagering

Campaign / Battle Card Driven

Card Drafting

Chit-Pull System

Co-operative Play

Commodity Speculation

Crayon Rail System

Deck / Pool Building

Dice Rolling

Grid Movement

Hand Management

Hex-and-Counter

Line Drawing

Memory

Modular Board

Paper-and-Pencil

Partnerships

Pattern Building

Pattern Recognition

Pick-up and Deliver

Player Elimination

Point to Point Movement

Press Your Luck

Rock-Paper-Scissors

Role Playing

Roll / Spin and Move

Route / Network Building

Secret Unit Deployment

Set Collection

Simulation

Simultaneous Action Selection

Singing

Stock Holding

Storytelling

Take That

Tile Placement

Time Track

Trading

Trick-taking

Variable Phase Order

Variable Player Powers

Voting

Worker Placement

 

Video games use game mechanics as well, but besides the core mechanics they are more related to aspect of digital technology.

Find an extensive list of game mechanics at Wikipedia.

We can and should list game mechanics to be able to select what game mechanics we like, but at the end of the day we need to be able to apply game mechanics to a game. This need to happen in the context of the game’s overall purpose. We will read this post: Game Mechanics and Gamification by Andrzej Marczewski on Gamasutra together to get a better idea about how to apply game mechanics.

Brainstorm Game Mechanics

We will do a brainstorm in class for potential game mechanics for the ABC learning game for children (assessment).

Look at this list of Motivators and Supporters (as found on Gamasutra’s post Game Mechanics and Gamification – link is above):

Motivators Possible Supporters
Autonomy Customisation Choice Freedom
Mastery Levels Challenges
Purpose Giving / Altruism Narrative Greater Meaning
Status Leaderboards Achievements
Social Connections Suggest similar users Cooperative “play”
Rewards Points Badges Achievements
Peer Pressure Peer review / feedback / grading systems Boasting / Bragging system Competitive “play”
Avoidance Lose Points Lose Status Game Over
Scarcity Exclusive / Unique Rewards Reward Schedules
Fun! Real Games Quiz’s Competitions
Screenshot of Writing Wizard, courtesy of AppsPlayground.com
Screenshot of Writing Wizard, courtesy of AppsPlayground.com
Screenshot of Endless Alphabet 2, courtesy of AppsPlayground.com
Screenshot of Endless Alphabet 2, courtesy of AppsPlayground.com

Use 3 motivators from the list above and brainstorm game mechanics for the e-game for your assignment (prep-children recognising letters of the alphabet).

List the factors:

  • Desired Behaviour (eg blow away sand to reveal a letter – find the same letter in a list of letters and click on it)
  • Motivation (Mastery: Learning the letters of the alphabet; Status: receiving a badge, star, completing a level)
  • Supporters (for mastery: being able to read; for status: having your score displayed, completing a series – eg a series of green frogs)

Assessment 2

Assessment 2 – E-Game

Feedback

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Photo by dhester on morgueFile.com
Photo by dhester on morgueFile.com

Link to all Weeks     Week 1     Week 2     Week 3     Week 4      Week 5     Week 6

Content:

  1. Lines
  2. Lines in Design
  3. Feedback

Lines

Warm-up

We will look at lines today with fresh eyes (I hope). Line can be defined as having a starting point and an end point and the connection between the two is what the line actually is.

Lines are quite an amazing tool for many creators: when drawing the caricaturist uses lines to create his mean contortions to display a fatter, bolder, thinner, long nosed, big mouthed version of his subject. A writer uses lines to create text filled with meaning.

A graph shows the changes in the economy and an arrow points at something.

Lines can be a powerful tool of expression and we will start today’s class with a blank sheet of paper and a pencil.

Draw 5 lines to express 5 concepts, themes or emotions. Below are examples:

  • forgetfulness
  • playfulness
  • sadness
  • happiness
  • searching
  • excited
  • technology
  • nature
  • anything that you come up with …

About Lines

What is a line?

A line is a fundamental design and art element. We describe the world around us with line drawings. We draw the contour or outline of objects and shapes that we see around us to define them on a sheet of paper, a canvas or other 2D platform. This was already established by our forefathers who used the walls of caves as their canvas to depict the world around them.

Work by Egon Schiele, found at Mom.org
Work by Egon Schiele, found at Mom.org

The illustration is by Viennese artist Egon Schiele (pronounced: Sheelah) and you notice how lines are used to display the outlines and expression of a man. The lines do not exist as such in life, a person does not have a contour line around them and their eyes are not two curved lines either.

So, lines are used as a form of expression. Lines are borrowed in drawings to create shapes and outlines.

The function of a line in design (and art) goes beyond that though.

First and foremost in an abstract sense a line is something that we perceive more than view. It gives us a sense of direction. In this sense lines seem to always have one or more directions.

The swirls in the image are made up of numerous lines. Courtesy of: www.openprocessing.org
The swirls in the image are made up of numerous lines. Courtesy of: http://www.openprocessing.org

The lines in the image above seem to move from left to right if you are of a culture that reads from left to right.

Characteristics

Lines can be looked at by characteristics:

  • Length
  • Weight (darkness/thickness)
  • Direction

Basic Applications

Lines can be looked at by their basic application:

  • Outline describes the outer boundary of a two-dimensional shape.
  • Contour is the use of line to define the edge of an object and emphasize the volume or mass of the form.
  • Gestural lines are quick marks that capture the impression of a pose or movement.
  • Implied lines are suggested or broken lines that are completed with your imagination through the concept of closure. An arrow is used to suggest a direction or path for the eye to follow.
  • Calligraphy is beautiful, expressive marks. An expressive stroke freely uses the characteristics of line to convey emotion to the viewer, much like an individual’s handwriting changes with different moods.
  • Analytical line is a formal use of line. Analytical line is closer to geometry with its use of precise and controlled marks. A grid is a very popular analytical use of visual line as a way to organize a design. The Golden Section is an example of the traditional use of analytical classical line, which uses calculated implied lines to bring unity to the structure of a painting composition.
  • Modeling line is used to create the illusion of volume in drawing. Hatching is the use of parallel lines to suggest value change. Parallel lines on another angle can be added to create cross-hatching to build up a gradation and more value in areas of a drawing.
  • Directional lines suggest movement or a path of vision and have specific connotations associated with them for example: Vertical lines suggest power and authority; horizontal lines suggest peace and tranquility. Together they give a feeling of calm and stability. Diagonal lines suggest tension; curved lines are graceful and fluid. Together they create a feeling of stress and movement.
    Linear perspective can be applied to drawing to create the illusion of depth on a two-dimensional surface.  (Source: http://www.onlineartcenter.com/line.html)

Lines in Design

Look at the example below of lines in design from a Google search:

Lines Google Image Search
Lines Google Image Search

Click on the image above and save 5 -10 images to inspire you to create a Photoshop generated image that displays lines as a rhythmic component.

Before you save the file and email it to me, make sure to include the Meta Data.

Below is an example of a Photoshop generated study incorporating a portrait of the US-American actress Grace Kelly (image can be found at: GettingCheeky) with straight lines at different angles and a wallpaper found on FreeFever.com.

Study - Lines and Grace Kelly - by Federico Viola photo: courtesy of GettingCheeky.com and curved lines wallpaper: courtesy of FreeFever.com
Study – Lines and Grace Kelly – by Federico Viola
photo: courtesy of GettingCheeky.com and curved lines wallpaper: courtesy of FreeFever.com
Study - Lines and Grace Kelly - by Federico Viola photo: courtesy of GettingCheeky.com and curved lines wallpaper: courtesy of FreeFever.com
Study – Lines and Grace Kelly – by Federico Viola
photo: courtesy of GettingCheeky.com and curved lines wallpaper: courtesy of FreeFever.com

Feedback

Please leave your feedback in form of a comment. Your feedback and suggestions will help me to make this blog more user friendly. Thanks!

Based on photo by xandert found on morgueFile
Based on photo by xandert found on morgueFile

Link to all Weeks     Week 1     Week 2     Week 3     Week 4      Week 5     Week 6

Content:

  1. Learning Needs
  2. Learning Styles
  3. Assessment 1
  4. Feedback

Learning Needs

Learning needs are the requirements that the learner needs to learn to pass a subject or to move to the next step.

So, a learning needs analysis is conducted to recognise the gap between the existing skills, knowledge and abilities and those that are needed for the level of education. Once this gap is determined, decisions can be taken as to the type of training required (if this is the preferred action) and the form of delivery.

By conducting a learning needs analysis, you can identify what features are needed in your e-learning game.

Write down the learning needs of your target audience? Start this point of with the desired outcome: what does the learner need to learn?

This is a good point to brainstorm. What is it that you need to expose your learner to?

Read more about Learning Needs at AssetProject.info.

Learning Styles

Every learner has a preferred style of learning. The majority of learners prefer a mix of learning styles.

Look up the link Learning Styles Online and discover which learning style is your preferred one.

Assessment 1

E-Learning Conceptual Layout of Screen: www.emedicus.co.uk
E-Learning Conceptual Layout of Screen: http://www.emedicus.co.uk

Assessment 1 – Research

Feedback

Please leave your feedback in form of a comment. Your feedback and suggestions will help me to make this blog more user friendly. Thanks!

Based on photo by xandert found on morgueFile
Based on photo by xandert found on morgueFile

Link to all Weeks     Week 1     Week 2     Week 3     Week 4      Week 5     Week 6

Content:

  1. Game Genres
  2. Find 5 Educational Games (Task)
  3. Game Mechanics
  4. Homework
  5. Feedback

Game Genres

We will start off by comparing last week’s works by you. What definitions did everybody find?

Game genres are different from film genres. While film genres are related to a style of a film or an era a plot is set in, game genres relate more to the way a game is played. This is the actions a gamer needs to perform to succeed in a game. These actions are also called Game Mechanics. Game genres can also be classified by a viewpoint (eg First Person Shooter = FPS and Third Person Shooter = TPS or 3PS) or the style.

Examples are:

Action

Fast paced, player needs to be accurate and quick (eg shooting)

Racing

Competitive games that revolve around vehicles of all sorts racing against each other. Can be single player or multiplayer.

Example: Need for Speed

Sport

Anything about sports, either action of playing the sport with a character or simulation of making a team succeed. Most current sport games are hybrids of Action/RPG or Action/Simulation.

Examples: Fifa, Pro Evolution Soccer, Tiger Woods Golf, Football Manager.

Strategy

A genre that requires planning and thinking to succeed. There is real-time and turn-based strategy. Real-time that the game runs to a clock and that every players actions take place straight away. Turn-based strategy is more of a stop and go experience, players decide on their turns and then the game advances per turn.

Examples: League of Legends, Total War Series, Risk

Adventure

This genre is about solving problems, there may be puzzles, exploring, memorisation and twists along the way. Levels play a part, often there are areas that need to be explored. Most adventure games are hybrids with other games.

Examples: Tombraider, Myth

Simulation

Arcade

Puzzle

FPS – First Person Shooter

3PS/TPS – Third Person Shooter

RPG

Party, Dance , Rhythm

Children

Fitness

Edugames or Educational Games

Find 5 Educational Games

Research Educational Games!

Use the internet to find 5 games (including Ubisoft’s Rocksmith) that are current.

  • Describe the platform,
  • the technology,
  • game mechanics and
  • target audience as well as
  • learning material/topic.

Upload in form of a comment to this post with a link to game images and and info online!

Game Mechanics

Game mechanics are a topic that has created a fair bit of controversy over the years. People vary in their definition of what should be a game mecahnic. Below is a definition that we will use for this class:

A simple division between mechanics and rules breaks down into two things:

Mechanics are the actions you can perform

Rules determine the outcome and

gameplay is derived by balancing these two things.

So, to take a Tetris example:

The mechanics of Tetris are:

Turn a block

Drop a block fast

Destroy blocks by creating a line

The rules of Tetris are

  • Gravity, which accelerates in a stepped fashion according to score
  • Score, which increases in a stepped fashion according to created lines
  • Pile reformation, which determines the effects of a destroyed line on the blocks above.
  • The lose condition of whether the pieces reach the top
  • The next piece determinant, which selects what new piece will show after the previous one has landed.

Source: http://www.lostgarden.com/2006/10/what-are-game-mechanics.html Feb 2012

Homework

Please look at the sites/posts below on edugames or educational games or serious games during the week.

Try at least 3 games and be prepared to speak about them in class!

BBC Educational Games   ZaidLearn   75 Free EduGames to Spice Up Your Course

Feedback

Please leave your feedback in form of a comment. Your feedback and suggestions will help me to make this blog more user friendly. Thanks!

Photo by dhester on morgueFile.com
Photo by dhester on morgueFile.com

Link to all Weeks     Week 1     Week 2     Week 3     Week 4      Week 5     Week 6

Content:

  1. Introduction
  2. Applying Meta Data in HTML
  3. Create an Image for a Web Page
  4. Email the Example
  5. Student Examples
  6. Feedback

Introduction

Today we will look at how to create meta tags in HTML and where to place the information.

Applying Meta Data in HTML

Meta Tags for Web Pages

Create a HTML file with all the meta tags for:

  • keywords
  • description
  • author

Use the W3School’s TryItEditor or Notepad to write your code.

Follow this link to see how it is done: The HTML Head Element.

Save your html file and move to the next task.

Create an Image for a Web Page

Use photoshop to create a photo montage image like the one below.

Search for specific technique: Photomontage

Artform that became extremely popular in the early 20th Century. Particularly popular in German Expressionism and Dadaism. Click the images for links to the original images or sites:

Photomontage: Amir Ebrahim Photography

Photomontage: Amir Ebrahim Photography

Massive Attack - The Essential Mix

Massive Attack – The Essential Mix

Create the Image in Photoshop

Create a similar photomontage to the one above by Amir Ebrahim Photography. Find a photo to base it on and copy and paste layers and change the image colour and tone.

Make sure to apply the meta data to the final product before saving it as a JPEG and PSD.

Email the JPEG

Email the JPEG to me.

Student Examples

Below are examples by students:

to be posted

Feedback

Please leave your feedback in form of a comment. Your feedback and suggestions will help me to make this blog more user friendly. Thanks!

Based on photo by xandert found on morgueFile
Based on photo by xandert found on morgueFile

Link to all Weeks     Week 1     Week 2     Week 3     Week 4      Week 5     Week 6

Content:

  1. Introduction
  2. Scope of Class
  3. Games
  4. Your Favourite Games
  5. Game Genres
  6. Feedback

Introduction

This class has a focus on Game Design and E-Learning. You will design on educational games or a cross-over version with some educational value.

Your design will not incorporate a finished and working video game! You will complete the planning and look at important components of the game and e-learning resource.

Units of Competency

These two units of competency will be covered in this unit:

Scope of Class

Over the coming weeks we will learn some game related terminology, look at games and analyse games and look at how to create a learning resource.

We will learn how to scope and research a target audience, how to establish learner needs and finally how to design an educational game.

There will be an emphasis on graphics.

Games

Games are a way for children to learn the tasks of adulthood. What easier way is there but to teach your child what to do in their life as a grown-up, than in a game? Games are fun and create strong memories. Game include repetition, which is a strong aspect of memorising the learnt material by practising it.

Video games have long become a large and fast growing industry and games surround most of us on a daily basis. This has only been magnified with the growth of social media (eg Facebook).

What are the most popular platforms for video games?

Mindmap to be added.

Your Favourite Games

What are your favourite games?

List 3 games that you like to play:

  • Describe the platform
  • Describe the game mechanics (rules to complete game)
  • Describe the GUI (graphic user interface)
  • Why do you think you play that game?
  • What is fun about the game?
  • Is it educational? What do you learn?
  • What is the game genre that it falls into?

E-mail me your answers or leave them in form of a comment.

Student responses to be added.

Game Genres

Research game genres. List a minimum of 8 major genres, add descriptions and 3 examples of well-known games from each genre.

E-mail me your answers or leave them in form of a comment.

Student responses to be added.

Feedback

Please leave your feedback in form of a comment. Your feedback and suggestions will help me to make this blog more user friendly. Thanks!

Photo by dhester on morgueFile.com
Photo by dhester on morgueFile.com

Link to all Weeks     Week 1     Week 2     Week 3     Week 4      Week 5     Week 6

Content:

  1. Introduction
  2. Applying Meta Tags
  3. Applying Meta Data in Photoshop
  4. Creating a Poster in Photoshop
  5. Feedback

Introduction

Analyse Information and Assign Meta Tags is a unit that focusses on:

  • Identify the purpose of the meta-tags
    What will they need to communicate?
  • Analyse the material that needs to be stored as meta data
    What information needs to be stored as meta data?
  • Create meta tags
  • Test and monitor meta tags

Attached is the unit of competency: ICAWEB510A Analyse Data and Assign Meta Tags

Please read the text word by word and … no actually, let us move to greener pastures:

Applying Meta Tags

It would help to actually know what meta tag means:

A meta tag is basically a tag in HTML that describes the contents of a Web page.

We will look at different ways to apply meta data to files:

  • Applying meta data with Photoshop
  • Applying meta data with Adobe Bridge
  • Applying meta data with meta tags in HTML

Applying Meta Data in Photoshop

Question to the class: why do you think it is important to apply meta data in the first place?

Do not read any further…

We will apply meta data in Photoshop with File>File Info… or with the shortcut: Alt+Shift+Ctrl+I.

This opens a window and you will be able to enter information in there. Let us focus on a title, the name of the creator (you) a copyright statement, a description and keywords.

Creating a Poster in Photoshop

Before you can apply any data to a Photoshop document though, you need to have a Photoshop document. So, let us begin with some fun:

In 1:20h create a poster that is inspired by either Swiss International Style, Constructivism or the Vietnamese Propaganda Poster.

Feel free to use some of your own art work or appropriate imagery found online.

Make sure to apply the meta data to the final product before saving it as a JPEG and PSD.

E-mail the JPEG to me! 🙂

Inspirations for today’s task:

Swiss International Style – an iconic style of graphic design from the 1950s, strongly influenced by the ideals of the German Bauhaus – Click the image for a Google search on Swiss Style:

Swiss International Style Screenshot Google

Swiss International Style

Swiss International Style

Constructivism – The immensely graphic art and propaganda style of Communist Russia, or to be more precise, of the Soviet Union. Early 1920s – 1940s. Click the image for a Google search on Constructivism:

Constructivism

Constructivism

Vietnamese Propaganda Posters – this is a particular style popular in Communist Vietnam. Visually very flat with the use of rich patterns and stunning in colour scheme. I feel very attracted to this style. Vietnam particularly in 1960s and 1970s. Click the image for a Google search on Vietnamese Propaganda Poster:

Vietnamese Propaganda Poster

Vietnamese Propaganda Poster

Feedback

Please leave your feedback in form of a comment. Your feedback and suggestions will help me to make this blog more user friendly. Thanks!

Student Examples

Below are examples by students:

Milk Poster - Swiss International Style Reference - by Annabel Stephen Salip
Milk Poster – Swiss International Style Reference – by Annabel Stephen Salip
Constructivism Reference - by Lylah Livingston
Constructivism Reference – by Lylah Livingston
Pink Ribbon Day - Swiss International Style Reference - by Hwan Rochanabuddhi
Pink Ribbon Day – Swiss International Style Reference – by Hwan Rochanabuddhi
Zig Zag - Swiss International Style Reference - by Nawras Shakeer
Zig Zag – Swiss International Style Reference – by Nawras Shakeer

 

Peace- Swiss International Style Reference - by Maryam Chananeh
Peace- Swiss International Style Reference – by Maryam Chananeh