LO4: Pitch Material

Treatment:

Multiverse:

This is game where you choose what world you want to live in. In this game you have six different scenarios that you can choose from, whether its a zombie apocalypse or a once tranquil place that has been devastated by an earthquake.

How the game works:

For the game to work the user needs a smartphone with an operating camera, and a internet connection. The AI responds with what the camera picks so that it can protect the user from certain dangers whilst playing the game, one of these dangers are the roads. 

The game works by using the user GPS system to provide a suitable storyline that is based around their surroundings. If the user is not happy with how overview of the session looks then the user can input her route/journey into the game and it will update the session.

Game Modes:

This game has three game modes, Free Mode, Rush Mode and Story mode. In the free mode the user can play through the game without having to face any enemies and they are free to build up their progress to the best of their abilities. In the Rush mode the user is timed to see how much of the objectives they can complete in a given time, depending on the type of world that they are playing the time will vary. In the story mode the user will have the AI with them at all times to guide them through the story at all times. The story mode will also have all of the features that are included on the game will includes the chase scenes and cinematic. 

Weapons and items:

The user starts of with nothing and to progress in the game the user must collect certain items and weapons in the game which are hidden in the game. To see the items the user needs to the camera and scan the area for them. Each item that they collect gets stored in their inventory. 

Cost:

Games are up there with the most expensive apps because they are rich in functionality and their coding is generally the most technically complex. For this reason, it is difficult to put a figure on just how much a game app will cost to develop, it depends entirely on how complex you want to go. The cost could range anywhere from £10,000 to £250,000 and beyond. All levels of games can be fun but simple or not, code costs cash. Even things like Angry Birds and racing games with their simple gyroscope format can cost in excess of £125,000 and there is still so much to pay on top. Extra things to think about include top scores, online communities and plugging the game into the game center. How do such figures in the US compare to those throughout the rest of the world?  UK website Waracle lists average costs for developing apps for iPhone and Google Android in the UK from between £8,000 and £13,000 for a simple single platform app and between £34,000 and £51,000 for a complex three platform.

LO1: Games Analysis Forms

LO1: Business Report - Sumo Digital

Sumo Digital – Business Report

Company Structure:

Sumo Digital is an independent game development company that was set up in 2003 after the closure of Infogrames Studios Sheffield, more commonly referred to as Gremlin Interactive. The company was formed around 4 former members of Gremlin Interactive: Carl Cavers, Paul Porter, Darren Mills and James North-Hearn. At current, Sumo Digital has employed more than 270 development staff who were previous employees of Infogrames and Gremlin.

In August 17^th 2007, Sumo Digital was acquired by Foundation 9 Entertainment which has a hold on several independent game development studios. 7 years later however, Sumo Digital managed to acquire their independence from Foundation 9 Entertainment.

Platforms and Development:- 

Sumo Digital uses the following platforms for game development:-

-         - Xbox*

-         -  PlayStation 2*

-         -  PlayStation Portable (PSP)*

-         -  Windows

-         -  Xbox 360

-         -  PlayStation 3

-         -  PlayStation Vita

-         -  Wii

-         -  Wii U

-         -  Nintendo DS/3DS

-         - iOS/Android/BlackBerry

-         - Xbox One

-         -  PlayStation 4

*Xbox, Playstation 2 and the PSP game development are usually discontinued to compensate for the new generation platforms.

Development will consist of the production team which branch off into several roles such as the Senior Art Lead, the Head Code and the Quality Assurance team member etc.

Game Types:

Sumo is quite well known for the works such as OutRun 2, Virtua Tennis franchise, a series of racing games and a list of sports oriented games. However, their most recognized work is between Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing, their work on LittleBigPlanet 2 and Forza Horizon 2. Their success started more clearly when Sega confronted Sumo in porting the OutRun game from arcade on to the Xbox. This was the kickstart for their future game developments as Sega returned to them for future game developments, producing more successful release titles such as the development of LittleBigPlanet 2 and 3. Sumo Digital has worked with other companies such as Sega, THQ, Ubisoft, Disney and Konami. Each of these companies have requested development from Sumo Digital, the most prominent being Sega.

Regulatory Bodies:

Sumo Digital follows the European regulations for media: PEGI, Pan European Game Information which handles the standards for how a form of media will be labelled for which audience it should only be for. As far as Sumo Digital games go in terms of rating, only 1 has reached an 18+ rating due to violent nature of the original content (Dead Space: Ignition) but for the rest of the games they have produced, it is generally within the 3+ to 12+ age ratings as they are mostly child friendly and has quite a family friendly roster of games, especially LittleBigPlanet 2 and 3, the Sonic & Sega games and Disney Infinity 3.0.

Development Software:

The development software that Sumo Digital has used before includes the Drivatar Engine for Forza Horizon. They may use 3D modelling software such as Autodesk Maya and texturing programs such as Photoshop series or Filter Forge. 

LO3: Task 1 - Review Tested Games - Metal Gear Solid V: GROUND ZEROES

Title of Game: Metal Gear Solid V: GROUND ZEROES

Genre: Tactical Espionage - Action-Adventure Stealth

Narrative/Storyline: Following on from the storyline of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, a few months after the events of Peace Walker continues to work with Militaires Sans Frontières (MSF). Snake has to infiltrate an American black site located in Cuba known as Camp Omega. Prior to this, Snake and Kaz finds out the Chico (a Sandinista and a former child soldier) disappeared from the boat that was meant to drop him off near the MSF base. Snake and Kaz figure out after hearing the distress signal that Chico left that he was captured whilst trying to find Paz Ortega Andrade (a possible double agent working for Cipher) whereabouts. Chico was captured and tortured by Skull Face who is the commander of the XOF (Reverse of FOX) who control the black site.

During the Peace Walker incident, Paz was missing and was presumed dead and MSF decided to focus on the inspection that may cause some problems for them. The UN was suspicious as to whether MSF has a hold on a nuclear weapon which MSF believes that it is just Cipher trying to aggrevate the organization. However, the Intel team they have in Cuba found out and confirmed that Paz was still alive albeit captured and held at Camp Omega. This is what may have caused Chico to try and rescue Paz but he ultimately ends up getting captured, as well as tortured for information. This endangered MSF due to the fact that they could compromise information pertaining Metal Gear ZEKE and the nuke. Snake infiltrates Camp Omega and his mission is to extract Chico and Paz if they are alive but if both of them was silenced, find out what they may revealed to their captors. Paz is an advantageous reason for rescuing her due to the fact that Cipher is less likely to do anything if one of the agents is able to reveal information freely. Whilst Snake begins his infiltration, the XOF Unit departs in several helicopters, presumably to the MSF Mother Base. Snake sees the camp that holds the POW's (Prisoners of War) and find Chico among them but not Paz. Chico claims that Paz is dead because of him but Snake and Kaz (Kazuhira 'Kaz' Miller) thinks otherwise. Through the cassette that Chico hands to Snake, they deduce through the sounds heard in the cassette tape that Paz is still alive. Chico is carried to Morpho (Single Helicopter Unit tasked to dispatch and extract Snake onto the area.) and Snake proceeds to find where they are holding Paz within Camp Omega.

Snake proceeds deeper into the camp and located Paz in a holding cell bruised from the interrogation. Seemingly having lost her senses, Snake carries her towards the extraction point along with Chico, the POW's  and Morpho One back to Mother Base. On the way, Chico notices that Paz has been bleeding and may have an injury, which she actually has (In the form of a V - possibly referencing the the number of the game or V as in the sign of peace which is ironic as to what had happened previously.) Snake asks for the medic to examine her and they begin hearing a sound coming from the wound. Having figured that they had been set-up, Snake, Chico and medic begin the procedure to get rid of the bomb out of her. After all of this happens, several moments late, the pilot notices something whilst heading back to Mother Base and Snake opens the hatch to witness that Mother Base has been razed. XOF helicopters flying around the area dropping of XOF soldiers and firefights across between them and the MSF solders. Snake begins firing at the enemy force, covering for the units on the platform they were landing on. Kaz is with the unit the Snake was covering and was injured prior to Snake arriving. One of their main researchers and the technical creator of Metal Gear ZEKE, Dr. 'Huey' Emmerich notifies Snake of the situation and explains what happened to Metal Gear ZEKE and the nuke it was carrying.

After successfuly extracting several MSF soldiers and Kaz from the now destroyed Mother Base, Paz gains conciousness and tells Snake and everyone else to get away from her as she tells them that she still has another bomb. In an attempt to save Snake and the rest of the people on Morpho, Paz opens the hatch and jumps out but being too late, the force of the explosion threw Morpho out of control and collides with a pursuing XOF helicopter. After all of this happens, Snake and Kaz is shown to be heavily injured in what seems to be in a hospital. Kaz shouting, almost desperate to save Snake from his close-to-death state. In actual fact, it almost seems like Snake flatlined and seemingly died but is show afterwards to be alive after waking up and the nurse that was tending to him notices. The doctor explains the situation and Snake is told that he has been in a coma for 9 years. It wasn't confirmed which and how many people survived the attack but Snake, Kaz and Huey are known to be alive.

In the epilogue, it is revealed that the United States is trying to cover up the incident and claims to have not been involved with any of MSF's activites and this also includes every other MSF client. Another scene plays out, albeit just audio; prior to Snake arriving at Camp Omega, Skull Face is interrogating Paz for information regarding Cipher, also known as Zero - Paz had actually met Zero in person. It is hinted that she may have revealed some information about Zero on the condition that 'Big Boss' (Snake) will not be attacked and is safe from any Danger. Skull Face promises that he would but as the previous events clearly showed, he clearly lied.

Characters: The main characters are as follows: 'Big Boss' Snake, Kazuhira "Kaz" Miller, Dr. "Huey" Emmerich, Skull Face, Ricardo "Chico" Valenciano Libre, Paz Ortega Andrande. Each of these characters are linked into the story in some way and each have their own independent importance. Chico and Paz are the current victims that Snake will have to save, just in case of any compromise of any information. Kaz and Huey are the ones who inform Snake of the situation on the black site and Mother Base. Skull Face seems to be the main antagonist in this scenario as he was the one that captured and tortured both Chico and Paz and destroyed Mother Base.

Snake is the protagonist in this story and the player controls him throughout all of the game. He will be the main focus of the the story due to fact that every event happening is connected to him in some way such as Paz being captured after being sent overboard in the Peace Walker incident. Paz being connected to an organisation known as Cipher and working under a anonymous figure known as Zero, the people who captured her believes she has extremely valuable information.
 
Platform: Consoles - Xbox 360/One, PS3/PS4 and Microsoft Windows (PC)
These platforms were chosen in order of generation during production from the Xbox 360 and PS3 to Xbox One and PS4. PC was most likely ported during/after the development of the Xbox One/PS4 versions. The game was released with a physical copy, with the newer generation at a later date. The PC version was the only platform not to recieve a physical but was put onto a third-party platform, Steam.

Target Audience:

Gameplay:

Game Recommendations: 

LO4 - Game Genre Pre-Research

Genre:
RTS - Real Time Strategy
- Command and Conquer Franchise
- Starcraft Franchise

Sandbox (Features)
- Minecraft
- GTA Franchise

RPG - Role Playing Game
- Elder Scrolls Franchise
- Witcher Trilogy

Survival Horror
- Resident Evil Franchise
- The Evil Within

Dungeon Crawler
- Diablo Trilogy
- Class of Heroes

Games Ideas

Ideas and concept of games:

Souls-like:
- Challenging gameplay
- Encircles a theme or key point
- Surprising learning curve

Concept of Souls-like games:
- Wanderer lost, trying to find purpose
- No given purpose; directly
- RPG elements - character class freedom, stats for leveling
- Survival horror elements - horror type enemies, dark unnerving environment
- Non-linear gameplay; freedom to go anywhere but kept within game limits

LO3: Task 1 - Review Tested Games - Dark Souls

Title of Game: Dark Souls

Release Date: March 11 2014


Genre: Action Role-playing game (Third Person)

Narrative/Storyline: The Chosen Undead sets out to relight the First Flame. However, it is more appropriate to say that the storyline is fitted together by what the player puts it together as. There is no direct narrative apart from opening sequence of the game and rest of the story is told through the items that can be acquired in the game. Each of these items give a small description as to where they might have originated, what it could have been used for, who was the previous owner etc. The items and the lore existant in Lordran (The technical world the game takes place in) can be linked to one another. Locations in which the player travels to will show how much of a history it has had through it's architecture,  entities located there and any items found in the area. Practically almost everything that is alive in Lordran is an undead and are those who are branded with the Darksign (This signified that they were once human). The Darksign is carried by all undead and will fall in to chaos and slowly lose their minds. Lordran was built upon the death of dragons, fought by the ones who hold the one of the Lord Souls of which there are 4: Nito, the first of the Dead; The Witch of Izalith; Gwyn, Lord of Sunlight and the Furtive Pygmy.

The protagonist is the Chosen Undead in this story and is set the task of ringing The Bell of Awakening of which there are two; one above the church and one below in Lost Izalith. Once opened, the gates to Sen's Fortress, a heavily guarded and trap-ridden area will open and once traversed will be met with a guardian that protects the way to the next area. After defeating the guardian, the Chosen Undead is carried off to Anor Londo, which the Princess of Sunlight, once met will give the Chosen Undead the Lordvessel, which is used to carry the Lord Souls and open the doors to the Kiln of the First Fire. Inside, the Chosen Undead will have to fight the Black Knights that guard the Lord of Cinders (The now named Gwyn). The likely reason for the Knights to have Black Armour is due to the fact that they were exposed to the First Fire for so long, they're armours have blackened. In Anor Londo, the Knights there were wearing silver armour, signifying that they may have been what the Black Knights previously were. The time between the Chosen Undead from awakening to the lighting of the previous fire isn't exactly given, which means that the Black Knights that was tasked to protect the First Flame may have already died long before the Chosen Undead awakes and the only thing keeping their armour alive is their sense of duty; To protect the Lord of Cinders and the First Flame. Once the Chosen Undead faces Gwyn, one will slowly notice that Gwyn is not as powerful as he once was and it seems like one would pity how the previous Lord of Sunlight has become powerless. The reason for this is maybe the fact that he had to relight the First Flame by relinquishing his humanity and his Lord Soul to the fire, which in turn turned him hollow. After defeating Gwyn, the Chosen Undead must choose whether to relight the First Flame and to continue Gwyn's Age of Fire and repeat the cycle or for the Chosen Undead to leave the Kiln of the First Flame and usher into the Age of Darkness, which is also known as the Age of Man.

Characters: There are a series of characters of which are all Undead. The reason for this is because Lordran attracts those who have been cursed and thus gathers them in one area. There are a series of characters will help the protagonist on their journey to the Kiln of the First Flame: The Pyromancers giving access to Pyromancy, The Blacksmiths scattered around the Lordran giving players the ability to upgrade their equipment, The Sorcerers giving access to Magic, Merchants who sell a series of items to the player and finally several characters who give the Chosen Undead items that will aid them on their journey. 

Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3 and PC

Target Audience: People who enjoy a challenge; people with patience and wanderlust. The game is known for having no set difficulties and is only affected by how well the players play the game. It is not a game that everyone will pick up but it is the type that will either be disliked or liked, nothing in the middle. People who enjoy finding more about the world that they are placed in (In this case, Lordran) will like the fact that items are what feature the story and the locations Lordran features. This would mean that they are more motivated to explore the Lordran in it's entirety, piecing everything together.