Further Research:

Today I started looking deeper into how I could use external components such as webcams to control elements on screen using flash.

Also I have created a simple scene in 3D Studio Max with a camera panning across it. This is a test to see if I can create the effect of the computer screen following the movement of somebody walking in front of it. At the moment this will only be very basic and will not have any interactive elements to it.

Useful sites:

http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flash/articles/webcam_motion.html
http://nastypixel.com/prototype/?page_id=73

Monday Morning:

After having a meeting with Gary Barber about the final major project and my ideas I’ve come up with another list as to what I can research into.

The main focus of the discussion was based around reflections and illusions looking at how these could be used to set up the area around my FMP. He also suggested looking into the history of films from the early stages of the Zoetrope to the modern day and seeing how techniques have change.

Things to do; go to the film section of the Hove Museum, looking at the start of moving images such as flip books etc

Useful sites:
http://www.filmsite.org/filmh.html
http://www.hove.virtualmuseum.info/new_galleries.asp

Next Step:

Over the next 4/5 days I am going to go out and gather as many images of different types of user interfaces which currently exist in both the real world, and in the virtual world. These images will consist of screen grabs from games, digital images from car dashboards, and any other machine control panels I come across.

Also I am going to install and subscribe to the online game Second Life, and try and work out why interacting to other people online is better in 3D as opposed to 2D software such as MSN.

Finally I am going to use Second Life to look at how they have used reflection within the game, as reflection is also a method of providing information to somebody.

Useful sites:
http://secondlife.com/

Interactive Research:

Started looking into the possibilities of creating interactive components which I could use in the final show. This will help make my final piece my attractive and interseting to interact with.

These components need to be created from scratch using ‘Wiring Board’, a varieity of sensors and a basic software & programming language, to combine all the components, linked to the PC via USB.

Useful sites :
http://wiring.org.co/ioboard/index.html
http://www.arduino.cc/

The Beginning:

This is my Final Major Project, for the BTEC National Diploma in Games Development.

Starting in mid March, my first and initial idea is to create a game / simulation involving and exploring the use of reflections. This area interests me because it’s not really a noticeably common aspect within many games.

Another Idea which I do have is looking into ways how data is displayed on the screen to the user. Here I will look into the different types of dimensions e.g. 2D 3D etc... & see how they can all be combined.

Over the next few months I will be keeping you all up-to-date on my progress creating regular blogs online.

http://www.paul-matthew.co.uk