Uni Work - Assignment Fishbones - League of legends

Work for my university assignment, next up is texturing and animating.

Gun from League of Legends, weapon of the character Jinx.

Fishbones reference image here.

College Work - Working to a Brief

Informal

An informal brief is often a undocumented verbal contract between two or more people. an advantage of an informal brief is that it can contain more information than a formal brief, as it is vocally explained to the contractee, although a informal brief can often be misinterpreted by the contractee and deadlines can be unclear.

Formal

A formal brief is often a written contract in which is given to the contractee, the instructions are often unclear to some people as it only gives the bare minimum specifications on how to make the required product. An advantage to a formal brief is that it leaves the project open to negotiation between the both parties. A disadvantage is that the person who created the brief can think they included enough information within the brief required to make the product, but when passed to the contractee can be often confusing and hard for the contractee to produce the end project.

Contractual

A contractual brief is a brief in which is given to a specific individual or company. The brief contains specific guidelines and a specific deadline in which the contractee must follow. The main advantage of having a contractual brief is that the contractee will have very specific guidelines in order to achieve the final result. A disadvantage of a contractual brief is that if the brief is unclear in certain areas the contractee could end up producing a product unsatisfactory to the contractor.

Collaborative

A collaborative brief is one in which is given to two or more contractees, after receiving the brief the companies will then work together to produce the required product. If a conflict of ideas should arise a negotiated brief can be put in place in order to resolve the issues.

Tendered

A tendered brief is one in which the brief will not be finalised until the company has came up with a final product in order to create, many products will be created and pitched to the company and they will then tender the brief to that specific product. An advantage of a tendered brief is that a better quality product can be created as the company can choose the best idea from the variety of the suggestions. A disadvantage to this type of brief is that it could be hard to find the correct contractee for the pitched project, meaning the company proposing the idea could be set back in development time on their product.

Commissioned

A commissioned brief is a brief in which the company will contract (or commission) an external company to produce the required product in their place. The commissioned company will be shared within the royalties for the product. The brief is not negotiated between the company and the client, however it is negotiated between the two contractees. An advantage is that the main contractee will have to next to no work, after passing it onto the commissioned company. A disadvantage is that because the brief is not negotiated with the contractor the product can be produced to an insufficient standard.

Consultation

Consultation is a key issue when working to a brief, for example if you have an issue with a specific part of the brief it is best to consult the contractor rather than assuming what they meant and continuing to do what you think they meant, as this could cause a problem with the end product.

Discretion

Discretion is always good to take into consideration, for example you could ask your contractor if things within the brief to better suit your development cycle. You could also ask if the budget is open for discussion as this can allow you to more easily produce the project.

Constraints

A constraint could be if a primarily English speaking company contracted a company that primarily spoke Chinese there would be a lot of problems with making the project as the contracted company would have difficulty understanding the English brief. Copyright is also an issue as the product being created could violate the copyright of another product.

Budget

There are many issues with budgeting, mainly dependant upon the finance source. Some examples of finance income are Crowdfunding and Independant. Some examples of problems with these funding types are with crowdfunding, and you put your project on a website like kickstarter, your project may not reach the required goal the project will get no money. Independant however is much harder to fund in general as it is often funded by a single person and as such they will be capped a specific budget and will very rarely go higher than that budget.

Conditions

If when making the project a issue arises where you need to add a new component within the brief it can be discussed with the contractor and then possibly added into the development cycle. Making sure regulations haven't changed is important as you need to make sure you are using the correct tools the contractor want you to, instead of making something in a way they don't want you to.

Plan (time)

Planning the brief is the main part within making a brief as it must be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time based). The brief must be SMART as otherwise the product may not be specific enough for the contractee or achievable within the given time limit. Another part of planning is making sure that the workload is evenly distributed between the start time and the deadline, this is the contractees job to do this and it will reduce strain upon them meaning they can get the entire project done before the deadline, a good idea would be to plan to produce the project a week or two earlier than the deadline and then polish up the project within those final two weeks. Planning the fees for the project is also vital to the planning process, as midway through making a project if you run out of money to produce the required project you can end up with a incomplete or a scrapped project.

Bibliography

http://creativemediaatjt.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/informal-brief.html

College Work - Web Authoring

Explain what HTML is.

Hyper Text Mark-up Language.

It is used when coding webpages.

The first line is a declaration of the document type, this declaration shows that it is to be formatted as a HTML 5 document, it determines what format the webpage will be in. the webpage MUST always have a declaration, a “<html>” and “</html>” tags. The tags (indicated with “<” and “>”) are closed by typing “</>” with the name of the tag within for example “</p>” and opening tag never has a “/” within it for example “<p>”.

Text is often indented so that it is easier to read, it is good coding practice.

“<title> Title Here </title>” is a title element.

The head often contains the title tags, this is mainly to keep it neat.

A HTML document consists of three different parts, a header, a body and a footer. These are tagged with “<head></head>” “<body></body>”.

“<em>” stands for emphasis, it is used to make a certain section of text into italics.

“<strong>” is also known as bold, it is used to make words bold on a webpage.

“<br>” also mean break, it is used to break up a paragraph, forcing the text after the tag to go to the next line.

Using various CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) you can change things within your html that would otherwise take a very long time to write out. CSS is open and closed with “{“ or “}” tags and each element within the CSS code must end with “;” here is an example of a link being both open and closed with the element being ended before the CSS is closed:

a:link {

                color: rgb(0,0,153);

}

CSS is linked to the HTML document by putting “<link href="Css.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css">” into the HTML document within the header.

CSS is primarily used to make all tags of one type do the same thing, for example

img {

                width: 120px;

                height: 40px;

                display: block;

                margin-left: auto;

                margin-right: auto;

}

Will make all <img> tags have a width of 120 pixels, a height of 40 pixels and using the display and margin tags also forces the picture into the centre of the screen.

For making separate words and paragraphs different to the original <p> tag you can use a <div> tag this makes the section within the <div> tags separate to the rest of the html code. CSS for the div tag looks like this:

div p {

                color: green;

}

This piece of CSS will force the <p> tag within the <div> tag to go green, separate to the original <p> tag.

College Work - Legendery Games Year 0 Bug Report

I found a small cosmetic (E) bug.

The bug happens when the units move into certain covers, such as ruined buildings or large shrubbery, and were invisible so long as they were hiding with in cover.

This bug was replicable by moving the unit next to any type of cover and then making them move into said cover.

The bug occurred on all systems I used, and all web browsers I tried (Firefox and Google Chrome (I could not get it to work on Internet Explorer, as the game did not load past the login page)). The bug was also repeatable after both closing the web browser and restarting the current system.

The bug occurs within the “In-Game” operating region.

Screenshots to show the bug in progress. With before and after shots.

Before

 

After

 

College Work - Test Suites

Test Suites are the stage before you go to test a game, it is when you plan what you shall test and how you shall test it. You will then report back stating all the different ways you tested it and which ways works and which did not.

Pre-game

Test to make sure if the game login page works on different browser windows.

Firefox worked perfectly fine.

Internet Explorer however would sign me in and not show a picture when fully loaded. I tried refreshing the page and closing down and re-opening the browser, but I was still met with the same screen. Also clicking the buttons along the top (Map, Stock, Etc) cause the page to reload and force you back to the Intel tab.

Game-start

After logging in does it take you to the correct page?

The login page took me to the correct page, I tried both Internet Explorer and Firefox. Internet Explorer had the same problem as the Pre-Game, it loaded and forced me onto a blank grey screen. Firefox however no matter what i changed (Whether it be in-private browsing or having many different tabs open) the game still took me the to correct intel page.

In-game

Do units move as intended?

The units moved as intended, in the standard diamond shape they can move in. I managed to find a small bug in which moving the units within the bush caused them to be invisible. The units however when I tried to force them into a rock or a big building refused to move into the space. The units were able to move into ruined houses.

Before

 

After

Post-game

Does the progress throughout the game save when closing?

I tried logging out of the game and force closing the window, neither of these affected the progression within the game.

 

3D Modelling - Guilty Crown: Yuu's Bladed Discs

3D Modelling - League of Legends: Jinx's Pow Pow

Reference - League of Legends: Get Jinxed Official Music Video.

3D Modelling - Sword Art Online: Asuna's Sword

References - Sword Art Online (Anime)
http://static4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130518205128/narutofanon/images/d/dd/Asuna_sword_lambent_light_colored_by_cyclesofshadows-d5myn9i.png

College Work - Triggers

Triggers are different keywords that are used to describe the different operating regions. The triggers are used to identify new or existing defects in test builds. Using defect keywords can help you classify where the game bug is and how to fix it. Some examples of keywords for defect triggers are:

Configuration - Configure, Model, Type, Version, Environment, Connect, Disconnect, Add

Startup - Startup, Initial, First, Un-installized, Creation, Boot, Warm up, Wakeup, Loading

Exception - Exception, Error, Violation, Exceeds, NULL, Unexpected, Recover, Prevented

Stress - Stress, Load, Rate, Slowest, Fastest, Low, High, Speed, Capacity, Limit, Long

Normal - Normal, Typical, Common, Usual, Expected, Planned, Basic, Allowed, Available

Restart - Restart, Reset, Cleanup, Eject, Power Down, Ctrl-Alt-Del, Quit

Bibliography - http://my.safaribooksonline.com/book/programming/game-programming/1592003737/defect-triggers/ch15lev1sec3

College Work - Test Phases

There are three different kinds of test phases, they are Alpha, Beta and Gold. Each stage has its own little things that it needs to work out before the game can move onto the next stage.

The alpha stage is then the game is purely a testng phase, it can mainly consist of white boxing and could cause loss of of data or crashes. Alpha stages are often closed to the public, unless the game is one in which is crowd or independently funded in which case the alpha will often be available to buy or test as the developers will not be able to get a large test team as easily as a triple a title developer. Alpha stage will often end with a “feature freeze” in which mean no more features will be added into the game.

The beta stage is the second phase of a games life, after the alpha. The beta phase may also have some data loss or crashes, much like in the alpha. The beta will often focus around the players usability. Beta testing often isn't public, although recently public beta testing has become a lot more popular among developers. Beta versions are often used to play test/how off the game before it gets released, a technical preview. There are two different types of beta, closed and open, closed means that it is closed to the public and will either be emailed out to a few select people in the public or a small in house team, open means that the beta is open to the public, it is for everyone to use and try free of charge.

The gold stage is also known as the release phase, this is when the game if fully complete with all of the bugs found during the alpha and beta stages worked out. In this phase the game can be either released digitally or physically. The gold stage is when the master version of the game is to be mass produced. The game will not get into the gold phase until the software has met a defines quality level. An abbreviation is used in the gold phase RTM (Release to Manufacturing).

Bibliography - https://forums.station.sony.com/eqnlandmark/index.php?threads/alpha-beta-release-software-versions-and-why-we-are-here.6380/

College Work - Operating Regions

Pre-Game

Pre-game is the state before you are within the game, before the executable file has launched. This can be shown by things like, Loading up Steam and pressing the “Play” button within your library or the Xbox dashboard after you insert the disk into the console.

Game Start

Game start is the period in which you are in the menus, you are able to change button layout and click on the start game buttons, but no interaction with the game is happening. This state can also contain starting cutscenes. Game start can also contain start screens that include a small amount of gameplay within the menu selection, such as in Trine 2.

In-Game

In-game is the period in which you are able to interact with the game even in scenes in which you are immobilized, like on Killzone 3 or Skyrim, and can only look round are still classed as “in-game” as you are able to interact with the game itself. Within the game it can still have cutscenes that break the game play, these are still classed as the “in-game” region.

Post-Game

Post game is the shutting down of the game, from when you click the save and exit button until the executable file has been fully closed and shut down.

Hardware bugs

If the controller starts playing up and not working, this can happen in all regions.

Graphics card/motherboard begins to overheat, this can occur in all stages although mainly happens within the “in-game” region.

Power supply stops working, can occur in all regions.

Software bugs

Pre-game - Starting the game, if your drivers were not updated and as such the game wouldn't start the executable file.

Game start - If menu buttons didn't work and were not clickable. If the game forces you to view a unskippable cutscene and freezes and will not continue onto gameplay.

In-game - If you could see your character, and yet you can't move around the environment when you are supposed to be able to. You are on a linear path and yet you are not able to proceed, due to a door not opening or having a wall in the way.

Post game - The game doesn’t close and stays running.

College Work - Bug Test Cycle

There are six different stages when testing a game for bugs, these phases are Plan, Prepare, Perform, Report, Repair, Repeat. Each stage is a critical stage in making sure the game runs as intended, and planning to fix it for future use.

Plan

The planning phase is where you take all of the things you changed for this alpha/beta version. You will then come up with a way to do to tests for the new features.

Prepare

In the prepare phase you make sure you are ready for the perform phase.

Perform

Perform the tests within the game, making sure you test every new implementation.

Report

The report phase is where you log the test results, in a detail, and report it back to the project overseer.

Repair

The repair phase is where you take the information found and use it to fix the bugs within the game.

Repeat

Go back to the planning phase, this process will continue until all/most of the bugs are worked out.

College Work - The Five Different Types of Game Bug.

A - Crash

A crash is a fatal type of bug, one in which forces the game to come to a halt, this can be shown by the game either not responding or crashing to the desktop.

B - Severe

These are also fatal bugs, they are ones in which cause the player not to be able to progress but the game still functions and doesn't crash. This bug type can be shown by something like a door not opening in a linear hallway.

C - General

General bugs are ones in which doe not stop gameplay but cause annoyance within the game. An example of these would be things like ragdolls getting stuck in the floor or an npc getting stuck in a rock

.

D - Minor

Minor types of bugs are ones that don't affect gameplay but still requires fixing, due to them causing some annoyance to the player. An example of a minor bug would be something like a door opening the wrong way, but still allowing the player to pass, or an npc’s head spinning upon interaction.

E - Cosmetic

Cosmetic are a type of bug in which don't affect the gameplay, but cause some visual error for the player. A cosmetic bug could be something like having two overlapping objects, so the textures mix and cause tearing.

Examples

An quest NPC getting stuck in a rock - Severe

When a cutscene is triggered the game exits to desktop - Crash

Floating bodies, in which you can walk through - Cosmetic

Door opening the wrong way, still allowing the player to pass - Minor

Player falls through the floor and keeps falling - Severe/Minor*

Unneeded guns fall through/stick out of the floor - General

*Depending on where the bug occurs it could be either severe or minor, if the player keeps falling down at the same point and it prevents progress within the game it is a severe bug. Whereas if the player falls through the map and it only happens once and the player is then teleported/killed due to the kill zone of the map it is a minor bug, as it causes some annoyance but does not prevent the player progressing. If the player falls through the map, and it doesn't have a kill zone, then it is a severe bug as it prevents the player from progressing as you will just infinitely fall.