PROJECT GAME DESIGN

 On April 24th, Tuesday; our class of Senior class of 420 put out our final presentation on a Game design project. Our theme was The Miller Center and the game required QR Codes. We students had  our own groups working on our individual game concept that would get students/community members invloved. In other words getting them into the Library and showing them how to use the place and its features.

There were 3 teams. The First team presented 'Wii Break', the second team had 'Pssport' and our group designed the game called 'Where is Bary?' This was our final adventure in 420.

The Elite team: Our Instructor Keith C., Library Officials and Mike Haeg discussing about the project and getting ready to see what we students have done over some weeks period of time.

Team: 'Wii Break' 

Jordan, Jeanie and Matt with their respective tools. Jordan using his Wii stick to explain how refreshing the prize would be for students who stress throughout the day. They also had few booklets to hand out to make it easy to understand the rules and how the game works. This is over at the main lobby in front of the big TV screen.

A poster by them. The image of a student playing the game before the presentation. The QR code is read and it tells you the story line or where and how the game starts. It takes you to different places around the library. The purpose isn't to sit and play some Wii, but to get students involved with the library and its services. 

A new place and a new poster. Another clue saying where to go next. This is inside the first floor. Just next to the help desk among the study tables. It is a good start for students. The game play is of course the choice, but the motivation to continue is refreshing.

Jordan, showing proof of his QR code being alive. This is over at the corner of the first floor. It just proves that students have to go through some adventures times. I personally was very amazed that we all could come up with so much ideas in just few weeks.

In front of the circulation desk. Our instructor using 'verizon' phone over 't-mobile.' This was almost a cell-phone commercial. Using a smart phone to scan the designated QR Codes and showing it around the respective library officials. Without their input this game design project would have been a lot harder.

At the End, Ryan took the honor to finish up their 'Wii Break' presentation round the Main Hall. During this we received a lot of comments, feed backs, few jokes and I was busy carrying the Wii. 

Every student taking their their opportunity to speak about the game proves how much work had been put into it. Very proud of their team.

Team 'Passport' 

Stop the stress, scan a code, find your books. I really liked the concept towards this game. The best part about this game was it would last through the semester and even the teacher for any respective class would be involved. Their concept was to help the students find books, which would stop wasting their time and also get points for doing so.

Nicole, Danny explaining the rules and regulations of the game. This team had a lot going on. Obviously a huge research must have been done. Their category involved all and most books that are required by the subject. The Teacher would have the authority to keep track of their progress. Not everyone is necessarily required to have a smart phone, but assumption of having one is just much more helpful for such games.

Ben was quite serious about their game working for real. Honestly, a game that can be played throughout the semester and which helps you get more and more books and get points for doing your own school work is just something anyone would be tempted to do. We were all handed out the sheet with game rules and description, like the one in his hand.
I WONDER who's arm that is?

Joanna holding out a smart phone that shows how the points and rules work after scanning a code for team 'Passport.' The game deserves this name. It serves the purpose of traveling around, seeing and learning more and getting involved. In other words the QR codes  are like VISA, the books like countries and the respective records can be the stamp on the passport. I really enjoyed their presentation.

Team 'Passport' for the camera.

Library Official Rachel putting out her thoughts about the game. Her output was based on every criteria that we thought for/about the game. It wasn't only about playing a game or finding a book or going to place in the library. The responses were also based on how much of a help would it be for the students. It shouldn't be solely based on winning a physical prize rather about gaining the knowledge about the library, getting students involved and also them actually getting interested in studying after such hard work.

Team 'Where is Bary?'

Bary the Library Owl, was our theme for the project. Bary is an owl who has different Avatars. Our process started with having different Barys in different locations around the campus. Art, Performance art, Business, Science and Information were our 5 different categories. We had setup 5 different posters in the respective departments, from where students could start their game by scanning a QR code.

Students could also start the game at the Library lobby where we had a huge poster with 5 different Barys and their codes. Bary's avatar could tell student which code to scan. After the first scan, the code gives them the map and places to books of respective departments and it also starts a timer for the game. Once there, scanning a code on the second adventure would stop the time. Here the students can choose to keep playing by scanning a different code provided which takes them to a new place or there is no mandatory rules for playing.

For our presentation we had 5 different locations in our games realm, the Library. Finding Bary woud take students to:
3rd floor: Art book section
1st floor: Help desk
1st floor: The Coffee shop
Basement: Moving book selves
Basement: Computer store.

The concept here wasn't to make people run around the library. Our idea was to take student to few important places at the library. Here they have the resources and help they require. Since most of them would spend their time in the Library, it would be a great help for them to know where respective places are for their respective needs.

We even setup a Facebook page, where once the game is played students to log their game time, or share their story about their adventure. After all every story has something more to it.

Marshall, a fellow student scanning the code to make sure it works. ALAS it sent him from third floor all the way down to the help desk. GLad we have elevators in our Miller Center. I mean why wouldn't anyone want to use this library; it is one of the biggest resourced Library in the State of MN.

Oh ... this is me SIMPLY POSING ... com'on I deserve to be in the camera after all that act.

Joanna and Luke scanning Bary's code in front of the Coffee Shop. Just to make things clear: COFFEE is important and so is the access to a 24 hours computer lab and restroom. I have done my share of over niters right inside that room.

OUR TEAM "Where is Bary?"

Pranaya, Joanna, Scott,  Kolina and Luke.

A group Shot of EVERYBODY ... 

hmmmmm I am not in here ... 

BUT WHY ????????

I joke I joke, I kid I kid, I was busy taking this pictures.

Videos:
This is a link to our PROJECT GAME DESIGN presentation.
You can also use this link to go browse other of my school related videos.
Thank you for visiting and thank you and HAVE FUN .... also keep playing THEM GAMES !!!

Community Collaboration

April 19th, Thursday: A program was held representing the community and schools' collaborative effort to get to touch the students, the faculty and the members of community.

Our class took turns to represent our Brand Identity System project based on MN Campus Compact. We stood there answering any curious minds. 

This was the original class pictures based on our Driving The Message Home theme for Brand Identity System Project. It was the image used to create the board representing our class and our work done.

Game design team and class mate Luke Klien, preparing the works on table. We Were thinking of ways to set them up in a rather cool fashion.

Our Instructor K. Christensen making sure things we arranged in an attractive way. Doing is job out of the class as well.

Just some initial talk with Mike Haeg.

Other setup for bunch of different schools.

Immigration Workers and Family in MN.

Now the setup is done, the pre-process and other discussions begin.

Before we knew it, the program was getting ready to start.

Business Student Executive Council.

MN Small Business Development Center.

This box design won #1 among few other categories.

Everybody had their show going on.

A Husky Palooza student posing for the shot

Of course the food and beverage.

A treat to the volunteers in SCSU.

Everyone ready and prepared.

Keith explaining what our Table had to offer.

Few other stands.

Luke doing his best representing the class.

Apollo service Learning.









Students representing the Apollo service learning. They were also very interested to learn about our project.

A group Picture at the end.









(Sorry for the simple blog. This is just up for fun.)

Guest Speaker: MARK RANDALL

Mark Randall, a designer, a principal, and changing the world through designs, came to visit us in our very own St. Cloud State.

On March 17th Mark Randall presented a talk in which he described his designs and his thought towards the designs. As art students some of us go hyper with it, some think way too much, while some can create a master piece. Its about understanding our relation with the work we do, it then starts to find its purpose.

Part I: Design Ignites Change

One is the most powerful number. Its the first value. One person can definitely make a difference. Mark Randall started his presentation with this slide. A very effective way to keep people thinking and focused at the same time.

Our Instructor Keith Christensen and Mark Randall.

 

1964 brought about the era that has brought a lot of changes in America and all around the world. Time changes and ideas about the world too. Designs brought DADA, and now it should at-least bring few smiles, hope and some REAL good change.

This, A Manifesto: And I Quote:

"By far the greatest time and effort of those working in the advertising industry are wasted on these trivial purpose, which contribute little or nothing to our national prosperity.

I am very sure everyone who is or isn't in designing know President Barack Obama on the poster. I am also sure not everyone could tell why this poster has weird color. It symbolizes, progress, hope and change. It makes sense why this event of a random person holding up that poster is part of his presentation.

Another design made to send a message. After that I personally like the choice of colors.

Charity Water is a non-profit organization who bring clean and safe drinking water to developing countries. A group of very smart people got together and thought of providing clean drinking water and designs were the tools to dig that water up from the earth. Sending this message is a combined effort of other involved people including Mark Randall and Charity Water found Scott Harrison.

World Studios:

Brain: client based, marketing, design+program, services

Heart: collaborative social impact projects

Seymour Chwast, often known as 'the left handed designer.'

The Urban Forest Projected is a series of project. It takes part in different cities of the world. This project was initially started by Worldstudio in the fall of 2006. The project was a much success.

As for the matter of sustainability the banners created were recycled to make unique projects. They were auctioned to raise money. This helped them help around other non-profit organizations.

Design Ignites Change. I saw a patter my brother designed way back when I was only 7. I just had to be able to draw like that; today here I am a majoring in Graphic Design. 

We had to draw, make poster, collages every month as students to hang on our classrooms since our 5th to 10th grade. It provided rivalry with other class sections while letting everyone share different messages among thousands of students.

This images ... I don't think I need to talk about.

Our Guest Speaker, Our Faculty and the Students.








                                                    
                                                     Part II: Brand Identity System

Our project is based on Brand Identity System. The knowledge of it, and the use of it are two very important things that we learnt in this period. While for our project we worked on a project organized by Minnesota Campus Compact with the sponsorship by State Farms Insurance Company. This project was based on not using cells phones while driving or promoting safe driving habits. We were to design our own Identity System representing the brief 'Driving The Message Home.'

As a part of his visit, Guest Speaker Mark Randall gave us a workshop time. Using this opportunity I have used this chance to make Mark Randall an advocate for this project.

Another Design that speak aloud.

Support Earthquake Reconstruction in Haiti was a message everyone in the world have heard. We all know the incident and how the world acted quickly to help and support them.

Visionary: Future change, these aren't just words. They are green light to move ahead. Provide a helping hand, and need you will for sure get one. A positive miracle needs a positive choice and a positive movement.

Traditional client services:
Non-profit, Civic, Corporate CSR.
They sound like few of the steps to helping and dealing with people you are associated with.

Sappi's Ideas that Matter: provides people with chance to make a chance in the world with their art, promoting influence and giving them a chance to with a huge sum of grant. 

"Today, meaningful work is creating impact ... what will you do tomorrow ... start thinking" ... (sappi)

Started By Pepsi in 2010, The Pepsi Refresh Project. This project has promoted a large number of people and community and non-profit organizations to share messages that make positive impact to the community, world and health.

During his after presentation meeting, he had us learn this much for sure. If you want to make a change start local. I could say its like lifting weights but, anyways ... Small acts inspire big ideas.

Getting us prepped for the next day's workshop.
The workshop process:
- class discussion
- discuss local issues
- create a concept
- communication plan
- budget
- presentation.

March 18th, Our workshop day.

Issue: What are some of the problems facing your community?

Concept: come up with some ideas that address your issue.

Communication: How are you going to execute your project?

Budget: How are you going to found your project?

Our friend Will, speaking out for his group. He was explaining to the class about disrupting boredom, about budget plans. Their topic was STUFF. 

"We are students interested in conglomerated involvement."

  

We are people not beer cans.

Raising awareness of our safety in comparison to our reputation.

The use of 'buzzed light' pictures is a very clever gesture.

Our group of five sat down and agreed to point out an issue that is dear to us. Our issues was cleaning up St. Cloud's downtown. Getting read of trash, cigarette butts, and especially the cracked bottles from the FUN streets. Barefoot Downtown was the name of our project where we'd all get together and share our time volunteering, to keep the parts of city clean. It's be fun and is easy to follow annually. Getting people together with adds and flyers, sponsorship with downtown based businesses, city and non-profit organizations. It's simple and feels good.

St. Cloud Pedestrian Awareness:

"immediate goals include:

- defining bike riding rules

- encouraging pedestrians to give their full attention when crossing roads

- cars to come to full stop around cross walks

- empathy respect between pedestrians, wheelers and bikes

- vehicle taking cross-walking time is not an excuse to breaking the laws.

 After a full 3 hours of handling matters and presenting our cases in the class we felt very delighted in learning something we notice but to not tackle. This workshop was definitely worth it. The best part, was Mark Randall giving us an open invitation to his office in NY.

Videos:

Video I     Video II         Video III         Video IV           Video V 

Worldstudio Inc. 

Blog: Worldstudio: http://blog.worldstudioinc.com/about/ 

More: http://impact.sva.edu/instructors/department/mark-randall/

Thank you for your time. I hope this blog was somehow meaningful as well as helpful. I guess I can say I design in my blogs, and hope this will make an impact someday.