Nani

[na-nee]

Japanese Word of the Week (11)

Mizu o kudasai?

何

Have You Seen These Men?

Cigar

Rocky BalboaSome lameass gangsters

3 foreigners and some douches

Aims:Students will understand styles of market and production research. They will use both to focus upon character design for their game.

Objectives:All students will identify 2 forms of primary/secondary researchMost students will identify 2 forms of primary/secondary research and explain their functionSome students will identify 3 forms of primary/secondary research, explain and use their functions for assignment purposes

Aims & Objectives

Research and Pre-Production

1 February 2010

Unit 1 Research Techniques for Media IndustriesUnit 2 Pre-Production for Media Industries

Research Techniques

1 Understand the purposes of research in the media industries2 Be able to apply a range of research methods and techniques3 Be able to present results of research.

Pre-Production Techniques

1 Understand requirements for production2 Be able to obtain resources for production3 Be able to apply production logistics.

Have You Finished The First Assignment Yet?

Watch the blog, I’ll be hinting and tipping this week!

From primary to production research, I’ll be showing your some good tips to get your D!

People Research

• Understanding your audience - psychology• Understanding your team – efficiency and productivity• Understanding your character – design narration

What is it worth to you?

• ELSPA / ESA Stats• RAJAR, BARB, ABC• Charts- Music, Games, Films

Always scratch the surface, don’t take information at face value…

Audience Research

• NDAs/CDAs• Background• Skills• Experience• Can you do business with these people?

People Research

• Look at existing characters• How could make them better?• Do you look around you?• Can you spend time observing and dissecting?

FACT: The 2008 re-make of Ultimate’s JetPac by RARE involved a lot of retro stats and archived research into the original game

Character Research

Audience Research

Questions I Could Ask Trend Spotting

What’s the youngest age that people buy violent games?

Is there a correlation between the war in Afghanistan and young people buying games underage?

Do more girls or boys buy magazines? What are publishers putting on the front of magazines like Sugar, Mizz or Seventeen?

Why is Kano so respected amongst young people?

Who is adopting different merchandise opportunities to sell their products?

People Research

Activity

Write a list of core talents you might be looking for in people to work on your second year FMP. Ask the people sitting next to you what their preferred talents are in game development and build a list from that.

Tip: You shouldn’t list any more than 5 at this stage.

Results

Did you wonder what working with these people would be like? Or did you assume that it would be ok?

Our current second years did this same activity last year, and failed to take their results on board this year.

FAIL

Character Research

• Simple • Initial ideas – carry a notepad around and watch people• Draw or sketch movement, expressions or even write down random words• Listen and learn from other designers and their cock-ups – you’ll understand a lot

Activity

Think about the game that you want to make:• List 2 or 3 research activities that you will undertake this week• List 2 or 3 problems that you might foresee

Well?

• Never assume that you can just ‘do’ this, if it was that easy…• Think about the impact that all of your choices will have on your education, your peers and yourself! You’re taking chances and risks that may not pay off.• At every stage of the design and pre-production process ask for help, ask for approval and take criticism seriously

Rolling With the Punches

• “Wow, that’s the worst idea you’ve ever had.”• “Did you say you had evidence of this working? I can’t see it.”• “Someone has already made this game, it’s called Gears of War.”• “I’d never buy that game”• “Lol.”• “What the hell? This demo doesn’t even play!”• “This is glitchy as hell.”• “I’d never make this game, ever.”• “Fail.”

Next Week!

We’ll make a start on developing your pitching skills – bring plenty of ideas on how to help yourself and your classmates.

Overview – What Have We Learned?

• Types of research• The key research elements for game design• Making plans and recording them

Have we met our outcomes?