Flash Game Ideas

So ideas then. In my last post I decided something short and sweet was best for the casual gamer but that I also wanted to attempt to make it addictive. I also have to keep to the brief set so it must include a timer or score system and must be influenced by an outside source. The final thing I had to consider was how far my limited flash knowledge could take me.

I first decided that I would use the time of day as my outside data and that the background would change in my game if it was after and before a certain time of day.

My first idea was to make a maze type game where the user would have to guide a circle through a maze. However I decided against this because i figured it would not be that fun to play over and over and also I thought many of my fellow students would do something similar.

The next idea I came up with was one to do with football because EVERYONE loves football! So I first decided a keep ups game however realised that would become too difficult for me to do and so left that asside for a outside of uni project to work on at a later date. Next I thought penalty shootout however again my limited flash skills canceled this out and thus because another out of uni project that i'd like to do. Also i'm english so penalty shootouts are not my speciality.

My final idea, of which I am now going with, is a car game. I will make a simple track of which a car will go around. I will use a timer so the aim of the game is for the user to get around the track as quick as possible. I thought this would become very addictive as the user would think "oh I can beat that time surely!" and thus play again and again. I also knew that my flash skills could make this work. I will have a hit detection so that the user can't cheat. I would like to add an extra element of randomly spawning blocks so the track is different each time however this will be done last as i'm unsure if I could get that to work. My outside element, as stated before, will be the time of day. After say 6.30pm my track will be darker and have floodlights on, hopefully!

So here goes in making my flash game! (I've actually already started it but I want these blog posts to look like they have been done with at least a few days gap.)

Flash Game Research

Yes there has been a slight issue with blog posts recently but I hope to rectify this over the next few days as i document my flash game making which should've started earlier.

I will start off with my research which was actually just playing flash games, best research i've EVER done. So I set off around the many many flash game websites that exist looking for what type of games were best for the casual gamer types.

My Results and Conclusion: I discovered the best type of game for the casual gamer is one that they can just dip in and out of. Something short and sweet. However because its over so quickly they can become addicted to it and hopefully come back to it over and over again. This is what i hope to achieve with my flash game.

GPS Drawing

GPS drawing is exactly what it says on the tin. It combines GPS technology, art and forms of travelling to create art on a large-scale. Below is an example of GPS Drawing.



This was something done by BMW Motorcycles. It used a GPS Sat-Nav with satellite tracking and google maps to essentially 'draw' over a landscape. The motorbike rider can then 'map out' at drawing by plotting their path on screen and then transfer their co-ordinates then all they need to do is just ride along following the GPS Sat-Nav. Then its just a case of uploading what has been dne.

Hertzian Space

We discussed hertzian space with Ben with a view to help to develop our project. So what is Hertzian Space? Hertzian space is defined as: a physical space in the electromagnetic spectrum that electronic objects influence and manipulate. Another definition would be an invisible site existing in reality that is accessed through objects and informed by imagination and experience. Below is an imagine I think helps to describe what hertzian space is.



It does link in with mine and Jon's project because bluetooth is definitely an example of Hertzian Space. This is because electronic objects such as mobile phones and bluetooth adapters can access this spectrum.

Walking down to Stonehouse with Ben

On Wednesday we were introduced to a past student who graduated from our course. His name was Ben. We walked down to Stonehouse with the intention of searching for bluetooth signals. This however, for me and Jon, was quite frustrating because this was our entire idea from the beginning and now everyone would probably end up doing something similar. We also found out that using phones to find bluetooth signals was not the best idea because the mobile phone's way of searching for signals is not very strong at all. So me and Jon will continue to go ahead with getting a class one adapter and searching for signals ourselves at another time.