Games Studies - Exercises
Abigail Bea Chong Ka Yee (0333966)
Games Studies
Exercises
LECTURE NOTES
Lecture 1: Introduction to the module
14.4.20 | Week 1
We had our first session on ZOOM, where we discussed what the course entails, had a small lecture about games studies, even picked our own first case study. I learned that there are two main things we need if you want to make a game. The first one being ludology which is a play driven in which users play to survive, win and gain. For example, Monopoly or chess. Thus, narratology which is more story-like when a user plays to develop character, has a main story and play to achieve story conclusion, a game like The Last of Us.
Lecture 2: Games in Culture
21.4.20 | Week 2
Mr Charles gave us a short lecture about games in culture using Discord.
Lecture 3: Play and Games in History
28.4.20 | Week 3
Mr Charles talked about the history of games studies, the challenges that they have faced, what are games, etc. There was a lot of information mentioned that I wasn't aware of, I'm glad that I got to learn that today.
Lecture 4: -
5.5.20 | Week 4
Lecture 5: -
12.5.20 | Week 5
Lecture 6: -
19.5.20 | Week 6
19.5.20 | Week 6
INSTRUCTIONS
EXERCISES
Week 1 | 14.4.20 & 17.4.20
Mr Charles asked us to think of what we wanted to make for our coming project which was to create our own tabletop game but virtually instead of physically. I want to make it more narratology driven but doing it virtually may be hard but I'll think of a good storyline first. We also had to record ourselves playing a game/giving a review about it. Here's my first try at streaming a game called Zooba:
Feedback from Mr Charles on Facebook group: nice! next time explain why you selected this game. Explain the rules of this game. what makes anyone want to play it. what is missing and etc
Why I chose this game:
- it's because of how quick and easy it is to play one match. This game is more of a checking in, playing it a little and I can exit the game when the slots to fill my chests are full. So in a sense playing it for 15 minutes and then depending on your chests 3 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours, or even a day checking in after the chest can be open. I like games that have to do with us being there and actually playing it but I have more things to do now so normally games that I can play for a while to relieve stress can be Zooba.
- to be first place and stay away from the fire that is closing around the land
- when there is only one person left the battle is won.
- after a certain time, the arena will begin to get smaller and smaller, so the players have to fight sooner or later
- when a match begins, the players may begin collecting different weapons on the ground by sitting a few seconds on it (until the green) meter fills up.
- when the players are in the river (water) they cannot attack or do any special actions they can only use medical kits and move
- players are able to pick up items (health kits, shield, barrel, wall etc) randomly dropped by the animals/officers like they do with any weapons
- when using the character's skills it takes some time for it to fill up again, so they will only have a while to dodge
- there are 4 types of weapons in the game; bronze; silver; gold or legendary. If a player has a lower grade weapon the game will automatically discard the old one for a new one by sitting on it
- 35 is the number of players has in one round
- there are two types of opponents in Zooba. The first being there will be guards trying to stop a player by throwing weapons at them. The guards have different levels the normal one (will drop bronze, silver, gold weapons; but it depends on what their holding) or a legendary guard (which only drops the legendary weapons; that can either be a bow, bomb, shotgun or a spear). The second opponent is other players that are in the game.
- when in duo mode; two players have to work together, if one of player dies they can revive the other player like how you collect weapons by sitting on them; but if that player does not manage to revive them they can die by fire and the partner can still play in the game; however, if both of the players die the round ends for them
- In my opinion, I am a competitive person and I like the thrill of collecting weapons before someone comes to attack you. This game is similar to Pubg and Fornite but it's simple than that and it's because I don't have to collect costumes or any extra things to do in the game and I won't lose as easily when playing the other two games mentioned.
- If they want a game that is similar to Pubg and Fornite but in an animal version and less complicated
- each character has different kinds of abilities and it's really awesome to see them in action. At first, I thought that Larry's ability was to pull items far away using his tongue near him to collect it; but since he's a chameleon his ability is actually to turn invisible for a few seconds and I should've known that oops.
- during battles, there's an option to communicate with the other players using emotes and I think it is funny
- there are also different skins I want to collect for the characters so that's a good thing too
- I like the feeling of getting first place
- the graphics are really nice too in iPad and iPhone
- it's quite hard to earn gems to actually buy items or skins from the store
- sometimes the game can randomly disconnect you from the server and when you come back you lose trophies depending on what number you were when you died
- during duo mode sometimes the player can be either inactive or uncooperative. For example, when you get killed by another player, your partner has to sit on you like how you collect weapons until you get revived or you will get killed by fire
- to get new characters depends on the type of toolbox you get; I feel like it's difficult to get the character you want without having to get them from the store; only wait until you get a really good toolbox that says "new character or epic item"
Week 2 | 21.4.20 & 24.4.20
Tuesday class
We had quite a few tasks to do but Mr Charles helped us to list down the tasks in the Facebook group.
- Exercise - Personal Game History - next week lecture discussion
- try out: tabletop simulator - upload a custom game board graphic or cards etc
- weekly tasks for e-portfolio/journal - your weekly game review/analysis (like what Joe did) play and review your favourite game
- Assignment 1 (refer to MIB):
- propose a game idea you want to design
- review at week 4
- read a game studies article of your choice and discuss this in your eportfolio.
Friday class
Today we tried to create a game in tabletop simulator on Steam. Since we were all really new to look at games in a more in-depth way we struggled a little bit with explaining how it works, the rules, objectives, etc. So Mr Charles explained to us what kind of rules or objectives we can come out with. After that, we drew cards to see who will be paired up together for our projects which were to create a tabletop game; first group: Joe and Kenny; second group: Me and Ryan. We'll have to show a game idea before the next class.
Today we tried to create a game in tabletop simulator on Steam. Since we were all really new to look at games in a more in-depth way we struggled a little bit with explaining how it works, the rules, objectives, etc. So Mr Charles explained to us what kind of rules or objectives we can come out with. After that, we drew cards to see who will be paired up together for our projects which were to create a tabletop game; first group: Joe and Kenny; second group: Me and Ryan. We'll have to show a game idea before the next class.
Week 3 | 28.4.20 & 1.5.20
Tuesday class
We had to show our personal game history so I made an infographic chart about it. After presenting it, Mr Charles told me to elaborate more on why I like the games, why it had an impact on me, the year the games came out, and try to connect all of these elements to my real-life self and why I like games like these. Below is the image of my personal game history.
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| Fig 3.1.1 My personal game history in an infographic (long) version |
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I'll begin with the first game I could remember in my early childhood. I think the first game I ever played as a child was the box with shapes. The ones where you're supposed to match a particular shape to the shapes that were cut on top of the box.
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| Fig 3.2 Box with shapes |
From there onwards, I started playing either dress up games, solitaire, virtual villages, or even the series of papa's games. But the games that I always remember going back to were "Fireboy and Watergirl", "Hamsterball", "Amateur Surgeon (version 1,2,3)", "Carrot Defence" and "Sally's Salon". I started looking back at the games I mostly remembered and it clicked within me that I liked puzzles, time management, fixing things/helping people, maybe strategy, and tower defense games. Oh, and occasionally shooting games too. In the next part, I'll talk about the top three games that had an impact on my life.
Fireboy and Watergirl (2010): I liked this game because of the graphics and how I could play two characters at once with different abilities too. There were also different levels but I don't think I got as far as I wanted too. The objective of this game was to collect gems and complete the levels in time. It had an impact on me because instead of one player I could play two at once without me having to only play this game as multiplayer and it's also because it made me think how can I push this box without falling into this green liquid (which kills them both).
Amateur Surgeon (2008): I first came across this game when I was in secondary school (the time when I could use an Ipad). I liked the unrealistic tools I had to use to save the patient, the visuals were quite cute too and I really liked how far this game evolved into four versions. This game impacted me because I grew up watching Dr House on the AXN channel that doesn't exist anymore, so I've always been interested in science/psychology and this game could help me experience that in a weird and funny way as I myself is kind of weird. I still play this game occasionally but the 4th version.
Sally's Salon (2004) / Delicious Emily (2006): These games are from a company called GameHouse, apparently I like to play all of these games because it felt relaxing and the small quests I had to do in order to complete a level were fun and I also like seeing the satisfied costumers at the cashier. The difference between the two games was that Sally's Salon was more on completing a level, ludology while Delicious Emily was more story-based but you could do the same as Sally's Salon. This game impacted me because it felt like I was actually in the store working at the cashier sometimes the level might be difficult so customers may start to left so that's when I started to panic.
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| Fig 3.3 Mindmap of the games I could remember |
In conclusion, based on the games I've done in the mindmap before making the infographic. I like games that make me think or complete a task, shooting games (because sometimes I want to let off some steam), narrative as I like to play as first-person figuring which decision I should make, competitive games are also fun when I don't have a lot of time to play a game. Other than that, I didn't expect myself to like puzzle games as much until I started listing it down the games I've played and I think I like them because I grew up watching CSI or crime shows; figuring out who the killer is was a relieving feeling.
This is the second game review I did, base on the game called Good Pizza, Great Pizza. I've actually played this for a long time it's really nice to play it again.
Why I chose this game:
- I like simulation games e.g working in grocery restocking items, managing a salon, etc. I didn't realise this until making my personal game history.
- To make enough profit to keep your business open for the next day
- the customers will request the user to make a pizza/pizzas for them, which are sometimes difficult or easier for the players because of their requests
- there is an option to choose between 'okay' and 'what?'
- the players are able to use coins/cash to upgrade the workplace or add decorations to the shop
- depending on which chapter a player is on, there will be a special guest that if the option 'what?' was chosen the player may have to restart the day again
- the players can press the option 'what?' two times before the customer explains what toppings they want in detail instead of 'can I have a meat lover's pie'
- the graphics of the game and the sound
- the storyline/flow each chapter brings is a warm feeling
- like I actually have a job with my own store
- figuring what the costumers want is frustrating but also relieving
Dislikes
- that to be able to hire a buddy I need to earn 500$ it takes quite some time to save up for that
- some decorations are only available during events
Tuesday Class
We had to show both of the groups' game ideas on Tabletop Simulator. And for the next class, we'll have to present the idea for my groups and present the exercise.
Friday Class
We presented our second exercise from last week. I presented about cards specifically UNO. Here are the slides and the docs.
Week 5 | 12.5.20 & 15.5.20
Game Review #3 - Viscera Cleanup Detail (with Joe)
Why I chose this game:
Week 6 | 19.5.20 & 22.5.20
Tuesday Class
Today we had to present my game and Ryan's game to the class since it was the first gameplay with had a lot of things to change. We decided to go with my game instead.
Game Review #3 - Viscera Cleanup Detail (with Joe)
Why I chose this game:
- I chose this game because I like the satisfaction when I clean and I like simulation games with a hint of realism
- to clean up the location the player is in. However, the player can also choose to make the mess bigger or actually do what the game wants the player to do
- players have to choose one location in the game to clean, depending on the location there would be other tools the player can pick up e.g laser, dynamite, brooms
- the players would start with a mop, hands and a tracker
- any location a player chooses will always have the 'flush-o-Matic' machine to give a bucket of water and 'What A Load' machine for disposal bins
- depending on the location the players would see the alien's green blood and human's red blood but some locations might not have the bodies of the aliens and just the humans
- people who like to clean will enjoy this game
- those who like to find out what exactly happened to the workers and aliens
- players who like to collect easter eggs to unlock certain areas at the location
- if it's a co-op it's really funny to see your other friends as the bodies can also collapse if they die
- the soundtrack is also good brings the overall feeling of the game alive
Dislikes
- if the players aren't careful they can knock the bucket of water down; it's okay if the water hasn't been touched yet but bad if the player has rinsed the mop as another mess can be made with blood
- the gravity is too real so players have to be careful with handling the bodies and the buckets of water
- it might take quite some time to finish one location
Tuesday Class
Today we had to present my game and Ryan's game to the class since it was the first gameplay with had a lot of things to change. We decided to go with my game instead.
Friday Class
We played Joe's and Kenny's game on tabletop simulator. I like it much better than the first draft as the objective was clearer.
We played Joe's and Kenny's game on tabletop simulator. I like it much better than the first draft as the objective was clearer.
Week 13 | 8.7.20
I finally had a chance to play a puzzle game that my friend introduced to me called Human Fall Flat. It is a multiplayer physics puzzle platformer. In general, I don't think I do well with puzzle games but I managed to complete the first platform which I'm pretty proud of.
Why I chose this game:
- from the pictures and reviews, I've read on Steam and also because of my friend's recommendation
- to clear as many levels you can by solving puzzles
- allows the player to play a wobbly Human hero (I like it when both arms are up it looks cute)
- there are lots of different levels for the player to find the exits using different elements on each stage
- there are a lot of solutions a player can figure out which can also help them to think critically
- the graphics and the gravity
- the puzzles let you think creatively with different challenges in each level
Dislikes
- some of the puzzles can be tricky to figure out by yourself
- in my opinion, playing with friends can be better
- hard to control the wobbly Human if you're not careful
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