Video Game Time Line Task

Video Game Time Line -

Pong - 1972 -
The game was originally manufactured by Atari who released pong in 1972. Pong quickly became a success and is the first commercially successful video game, which led to the start of the video game industry we know today.  Atari released a home version of Pong exclusively through Sears retail stores. It was also a commercial success and led to numerous copies. Pong has been remade time and time again for use on portable platforms  or home platforms.



Space Invaders - 1978 -
The game was originally manufactured and sold by Taito in Japan, but was later licensed for production in the United States by the Midway division of Bally.  Space Invaders is one of the earliest shooting games. The creator gained inspiration  from  Breakout, The War of the Worlds, and Star Wars. Upon its first release, Space Invaders was very successful.



Pacman - 1980 -
The game was originally developed by Namco.  It was licensed for distribution in the United States by Midway and released in October 1980. Immensely popular from its original release to the present day, Pac-Man is considered one of the classics of the medium, virtually synonymous with video games, and an icon of 1980s popular culture. Pac-Man is often credited with being a landmark in video game history, and is among the most famous arcade games of all time.



Mario - 1981 - Donkey Kong -
The game was originally  published and produced by Nintendo. It became so popular it got several television series and a feature film.  The games have been developed by a variety of developers including Nintendo, Hudson Soft, and AlphaDream.



The Legend Of Zelda - 1986 -

The game was originally developed and published by Nintendo.  Considered one of Nintendo's most important franchises, its game play consists of a mixture of action, adventure, and puzzle solving.The Legend Of Zelda franchise has sold 67.93 million copies since its original release. The original game being the fourth best selling NES game of all time.

 


Sonic The Hedgehog - 1991 -
The game was originally developed by and owned by Sega.  The first in the series published in 1991.  While the first games in the series were platform games, the series has expanded into other genres such as action-adventure, fighting, racing, role-playing, and sports.

Unit 1 Inventory Task -

Record and evaluate 3 types of inventory from different games. Try to ensure the games are of different genres and inventory types if possible.

1. What type of inventory is it? ( Using styles from presentation)

Styles from presentation -

- Weight based (carry only limited weight)
- Limited and unlimited inventories
- "Utility belt" inventories (e.g Half Life) brings up a menu without disturbing the action
- Shaped inventory (Deus Ex Human Revolution)
- Menu bar inventory (most common) user brings up a new screen to access it

2. How does the user interact with the inventory? (e.g controls)

3. What is controlled within? (items or player attributes)

4. How is the interface accessed by the player from the game screen?

5. Does the inventory suit the gameplay?

6. What do you think of the inventory and why?

7. How may this influence your own design?

An inventory is a group of items that can be used by the player in a game, they can range from things to increase health, to weapons, or even something to enhance your abilities.

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days Inventory -


The type of inventory in Kingdom Hearts 358/2 days is Shaped Inventory. The user interacts with the inventory by selecting the "panel" and then choosing a place for it in the inventory area, equipping more than one will increase the amount you have, you can also link different items together to increase your stats. Controlled within the inventory are the items and abilities or the player, but debating on how you place the "panels" affects how the player is as well. In order for the player to access the interface, before you start a mission you can press the start button and then selecting Panels it will then bring up the inventory screen. I believe the inventory suits the gameplay as it allows you to customise your player to suit the mission at hand also I think the inventory is great and has a good setup, I think this because the inventory is like a puzzle itself within the game allowing you to have infinite different combinations to customise the gameplay. It may influence my design by giving me the idea of a sort of puzzle within the game that doesn't take away from the main game but adds to it as well.

Metro 2033 Inventory -



The type of inventory in Metro 2033 is the "Utility Belt" Inventory. In Metro 2033 the user interacts with the inventory screen on xbox by using the left and right on the D-Pad to switch between guns, a knife, throwing knives and grenades and pressing Y would use a med kit. Controlled within the inventory are the items that can be used in the game. The interface appears on screen whilst the player is still roaming the world. The inventory does suit the gameplay as you need it to aid survival in the game. I think the inventory is good as is a simple layout and easy to understand, the simplicity of the inventory and the way you don't need to stop what your doing in order to use it might influence my design.

The Last Of Us -

 
A Picture of Joel in the crafting menu.

The type of inventory in The Last Of Us is Limited Inventory. The user interacts with the inventory by selecting what you wish to craft and then holding the X button to craft it, provided you have the necessary items required to craft it. On the weapon menu you can press left and right to swap between the weapons you have selected, or you can press and hold the X button and then choose a different weapon in your inventory to swap onto the main set of weapons to use. Controlled within the inventory are the items that can be used in game to aid you as well as items, weapons are controlled within the inventory but under a seperate menu. The weapon interface is accessed simply by pressing left or right on the controller, to access the backpack screen you need to press the select button on the controller. The inventory suits the game, as it doesn't look all fancy and nice but instead a bit gloomy to match the atmosphere of the game. I think the idea for this style of inventory is great as it gives the feel of the atmosphere of the game to keep you immersed.  It may influence my design by the layout of the inventory, it makes it simple to understand.

Introduction

My name is Luke, but my friends call me Lucas instead.

I am studying games design because I enjoy playing games and I also have an interest in the development side of them and enjoy helping my older brother, Kiel 21, attempt to design some games. He is currently studying at Hull University, he is doing a masters in a course about designing and developing computer games. Because of this I started to wonder what its like, so I came on this course in order to learn what its like.

By enrolling on this course I hope to gain a better understanding of how the design element in creating computer games takes place. And also to aid my drawing skills as I'm not the best drawer but I like to doodle so am looking forward to the drawing aspect and hope to gain something from this. I also hope this course will be able to provide me with knowledge on the software used to create computer games. With everything I will learn I hope I will be able to take it onto university and do a course perhaps similar to my brother in which I will need to use the skills I will have learned on this course.

Recently I played Prince Of Persia: The Forgotten Sands, I enjoy playing this game because it has a free running element to it this can aid you as it allows you to get out of danger or avoid traps or even jump from enemy to enemy. The combat isn't turn based so that you can fight in your own way, one on one or even charging straight into the middle of a group of enemies and trying to take them all on at once using your sword or your power abilities, provided you have unlocked them in the upgrade menu beforehand.