Scratch Game Design

                       Chase Game                     Platform Game                           Freedom Game!

Hey everybody! So, I know normally post long, finished posts all at one time, but for a while I will be frequently updating paragraphs and newly completed games, until Christmas break, when all three games will be done, and this post finished. I have embedded my first finished Scratch game, HoeselM_Chase, and a platform game, HoeselM_Platformer. In the chase game, you use the arrow keys to avoid the bat and catch the apple! In the second one, the goal is to jump up the platforms till you catch both bugs! Use the arrow keys for that one to. Feel free to try them out and send me any comments with critiques and the likes, and by the end of the quarter, I will have the last game (HoeselM_Freedom) uploaded here for you to try, as well as my typical finished writing. So, check out my games, and let me know what you think! (Updated)

User experience influenced my game in many ways. For the most part, it was making sure my character's movements were smooth. I also focused on the apple''s movements, making sure it moved randomly, instead of a predictable pattern like I had at first. I thought about adding a timer, but I didn't want to over complicate my design, so I just stuck with score for now. In future games I plan to try out timers, but since this was my first I decided to stick with a simpler design. I know the end is a little jerky, which was unfortunate because I know that makes it a little unpleasant to play towards the end, but I plan on working out the bugs more, and making a more solid ending for my game.

Over the course of these last few weeks, we have created three games. (At least we will by the end of first semester) As you can see above, my first game was a fairly simple chase game, where the goal is to catch the apple without letting the dragon touch you. My second game, (which I'm was currently working on as I wrote this- I'm a multitasker) is a platform game, meaning you have to jump around on the platforms till you reach the top, or whatever the game's goal is. For mine, the objective is to get the poor, hungry frog up high enough to reach the fly, which he will then feast upon, and send you to level two. I currently have two levels, and plan on keeping it that way, unlike my first and final games, which have three. Speaking of my third game, (which I am/was in the process of making as I write/wrote this, let me go a little more in depth as to how it works. Basically, I mixed the skills I learned coding both platform and chase games to create a multi-level game that takes place in space. It starts out as a chase game, similar to my first project, where you use the arrow keys to move one alien away from another, and attempt to collect all of the planets. Once you reach a certain amount of points, it changes to a platform game, where you have to climb the platform to reach the planet. The final level is a combination, where you must avoid the aliens while climbing platforms to reach the planet!

Whew! That was a long last paragraph. Seeing as I am on a deadline, (Deadlines. Am I right?) I better keep this one short. I'm basically going to explain some of my best coding moments, and some of my difficult bug fix. So, lets jump in, and get this done quick! My best code so far has defiantly been my gravity engine, in game two. I'm very impressed with it. It worked out really well, and even though I'm not quite sure I could repeat it, for one glorious moment, I knew how to code a gravity engine. The hardest bug fix was probably when my apple in game one decided it only liked two corners for some reason. It was really weird, I kept trying to get it to go to random corners, but for some reason, it would go to two, and then just skip the rest. I bet if I went back now, I could get it to work better, but back then it was like, "What." Who knows. It's all fixed now, so that's what's important. Besides, I ended up just making it move all around, instead of limiting it to corners, and it worked great.

Look at that. Another crazy long paragraph! Wow, I'm really on a role today! Now, I know I haven't mentioned any links yet, (Bad Maddie) and there is no way I'm going back and adding my usual prompts, so bare with me, and check em out anyway. I have one that's going to lead you straight to Scratch, which you should totally check out if you haven't yet. It's a great place to experiment with coding, share your work, and see other peoples. While your there... check me out at MKHoesel. You can see my portfolio, give me some helpful comments, maybe even follow me. Even if your not really into coding, you could go on just to play some cool games. (Like mine) If your not interested... why did you click on this post. It's literally called "Scratch Game Designing." You'd think that would be a pretty good hint. I don't know, maybe your just here to read my hilarious banter. Whatever keeps you coming back. I also have a link to scratch Wiki, which was my guiding beacon during this whole experience. Like, seriously, I don't know what I would have done without it. Also, I'm not going to leave any links, but you can check out the sidebar (It's right over there------>) where you will find a helpful link list to all the G.T students blogs. Seriously, check out their games, we have some really awesome ones! Anyway, I'm going to shut up now, because look. I've done it again. This paragraph is ridiculously long. So, with that, I'm going to leave you. See you in 2016!!!

(Pssst- Links and an Extra little message.)
Hi! I just remembered that the third game isn't up yet... whoops. I will post it as soon as it's finished, but I had to finish that last paragraph. No cheating when you have to update every few days. Sorry, it will be up soon. Now, without further ado- the link list. ;)\

Scratch
Scratch Wiki:)

Invention Commercial

Hey Everybody! Today I'll be talking about our latest project, where we came up with an invention idea, then made a prototype and filmed a commercial for it. Now, the posts for this project are a little different than usual. Normally, I do two posts a project, one chronicling the process, and one reflecting on the finished project. This happens because we usually focus on one project for each mid quarter. However, this past mid quarter, we have been very busy, from experimenting with coding, to doing composition technique videos, to finally completing the invention commercial, so instead of doing two posts, I've finished three, one for each project or task we've completed. In today's post, I will explain the commercial, my team, which is the same as my team for the composition techniques video project, and some of our goals and roles during and after production. So, here you go, read on, and don't forget to check out the lovely link list at the bottom!

To begin, lets talk about some of my teams main goals for this last project. Of course, one of our goals was to finish with a project that we were proud of. That is always an important part of the process, to finish with your best work. I am proud of our finished video, and even though I'm not sure how it will hold up against the harsh critiques of this class, I believe we worked hard to turn in something worthy of being watched. We also wanted our video to thoroughly explain what our product does, and how it works. I believe that our commercial does both of those things, even though we probably could have had a stronger explanation of how it works. Basically, our final product was something I feel I can be proud of, which is what is really important.



You may remember my team, which I described in my last post about Composition Techniques. (I'll link it below... Check It OUT!) If not, here is a quick overview. By know, if you've read enough of these, you probably know that Kasiah (AKA Kass/Cas) is pretty much a regular partner of mine. She is amazing, check out her blog, which I will also link below. Also on my team is the cheerful Kyler Arruda Sukehara, whose blog I will also link to. Now that I've rewritten a biography on them, lets move on. Some of our best team moments happened during post-production- I'll elaborate on that in a minute- but we had some pretty great times during the actual production of our video. I think the most memorable would be the time we filmed voice-overs in a room with two other teams, also trying to film their voice-overs. It was kind of a disaster, and I don't think anyone really filmed everything they needed, but we got most of it done, and it was nice to bond as a team as we fought for a turn to film. When we filmed our visuals, it was actually just Kass and me. It went well, but after four hours of filming, it gets hard to stay focused and finish those last couple of shots. Not to mention our camera died, and we had to wait half an hour for the battery to charge. (We watched Supernatural. I regret nothing.)

During post- production- I told you I'd elaborate- the three of us had a lot of fun putting our video together. Of course there was the typical stress of meeting a deadline- even a soft one, like we had for this project, but overall, we got along really well. I lovingly refer to Kass and Kyler as my Drama Queens, because they bicker so much. Not bicker as in, like, full on arguing, but little spats here and there, and it ended up being really funny. We all took turns editing. (Cass and I totally didn't take turns being crazy dictators. God. No one has any faith in me.) It all worked out in the end, which is the important part.

Anyway, thanks for reading! As I said before, there are links to Kass/Cas and Kyler, so check out their wonderful blogs, and their take on how our project went. (Make sure they aren't saying mean things about me in their descriptions ;) Just Kidding!) I also have a link to my precious post, so check that out for some more info on my lovely teammates and composition techniques. If you go even farther back, who knows what you'll find, so check it out, explore the chronicling of my strange and dark middle school years. Thanks for reading.

(Pssss- Links!)

• Previous Post
• Kass/Cas
• Kyler

Composition Scavenger Hunt

Hello, dearest inter-web people! How's everybody's week going? I can't believe we are almost halfway through second quarter. Where is the year going! Before we know it it will be summer vacation, and then off to... high school. I don't know whether to be scared or excited. Anyway, before we get to carried away thinking about the future, lets get started on the actual blog post. Today we shall discuss one of the most important aspects of filmmaking- Composition Techniques.

To start off, let me tell you about the Rule of Thirds, and why I think it's the most important composition technique. I mean, they are all important, and you should use a variety of them, but Rule of Thirds is the one I find myself using the most. Interview compositions, landscape shots, portrait photography, close ups/ex. close ups, vertical subjects, it's a very versatile rule, and can make or break your shots. Of course, always remember that rules are meant to be broken, because you can get some really great shots by putting your subject in the middle. If you want to go a little more in depth with when and when not you should use the rule of thirds, check out the great article I have linked below.

Now, lets talk about some of the most difficult techniques, and how we can use them. I find that the most difficult techniques to use are the more complicated ones, like contrast in content, leading lines, or parts of a whole, that are hard to get right. They need to be done in a specific way, which means most of the time when you try to use them, it can get a little confusing. When I want to use them, it doesn't come as naturally to me as shots like rule or thirds, extreme close ups, and unusual angles. I use those techniques constantly, so they don't feel as confusing, or unusual, like some of the others.

On my team this time around are... you guessed it, the lovely Kasiah, and partnered up with us is Kyler Arruda Sukehira. We are working on another project together, which I will talk about more in my next post. Though it's been a little tough, seeing as Kasiah was in San Diego for the first couple weeks, and me and Kyler had to fend for ourselves, we got it done, and it turned out pretty good for a two day project. While filming, me and Kyler took turns shooting and adding voiceovers. Overall, it went well, and I can't wait to continue to work with them!

So, that's all I've got for today, but check out the links below, I've got some cool stuff. An article on rule of thirds, a list of all the composition techniques we used, and of course, Kass (Or Cas, if you prefer... subtle SPN reference;) and Kyler's blogs! Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed, and I'll see you next time!

(Psst- LINKS!)
Rule of Thirds
Comp. Techniques!
Kyler!
Kass(CAS)!