Sunshine, Lollipops, and Rainbows

The project is turned in! It's time for everyone to take a much-needed break.

There has been some talk of continuing development for 2012, but I think we all need to stop thinking about it for a little while. Of course, I'll be updating the blog with any information regarding further development.
I'll also be updating with the results of the class contest. It's hard to say who will win at this point. I think all the teams have a really good chance. All of the designs are really solid and well-done.

Gold tomorrow!

Tomorrow, 2012 goes gold. A few minor edits to the design doc, a few tweaks to the website, and we'll be ready to go.

I'd just like to say that I'm really glad I had the opportunity to work on this project. This experience was extraordinarily valuable to me as a game design student, and I'm proud of our final product. Thanks to our contractors for helping us out despite their own busy schedules, to Brenda for all the support, to the other teams for their constructive criticism, to the 'Applied Vets' for helping us in a crisis, and a very special thanks to the 2012 team for all the sleepless nights and stress-filled hours they poured into this project. You guys did an AMAZING job and I couldn't be more proud.

holy cow! an update from class

So, for the first time in ages, I'm updating when I'm supposed to. Our beta turnins are today. We had the option of either turning in the website or the document. Originally we were going to turn in the doc, but we opted for the website due to the fact that the minigames in the document had to be redone entirely. With Brenda's blessing on the new minigames, the beta design document should be right on schedule and ready for Wednesday turn-in.
The website is having some technical issues which are being solved as we speak. The only content that's not up on the website is content that does not exist and the prototype download.
Our prototype level is going to be very prototypish indeed. Unfortunately, we just don't have the manpower to get the kind of prototype we were hoping for. However, we have something playable and that's what counts.
As I'm writing this, Brenda is complimenting the new minigames, which is fantastic news. A few minor detail tweaks and the beta design doc will be good to hook.
Everyone is really tired. As great as it has been to do a full-scale project like this, I think we're all ready for a much deserved break.

it's been awhile

Been awhile since I posted anything, especially considering we're supposed to be updating every class. Things have been pretty hectic. Alpha was extremely successful- Brenda seemed really pleased, especially with the website. Our rapidly thrown together design doc actually turned out pretty well. We just have to do a little bit of tweaking to it. I'll be enlisting the help of some applied game design veterans for that.
Our art assets are looking really good. One of our contractors should be sending us character models tomorrow, which is very exciting.
Currently, the plan is to turn in the beta version of the design doc on Monday and the beta website on Wednesday. We all have a lot of work ahead of us, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Website Alpha

I am pleased to announce that the alpha version of the website is completed. Anyone can access it at http://2012.enmaruguild.com.

What we need now is the following:

• Content for each of the pages
• A design for a new "Enter Site" page
• Artwork for the Navigation buttons
• A logo
• An official name for the game

Currently there are placeholder graphics for all of the Navigation buttons and the banner.

I'm pretty pleased with the alpha, and I can't wait to see it with all the content and final graphics.

Tragile

Today, Alicia told me that making all four minigames from the original design of the game was not going to be feasible. We quickly decided to switch to "Tragile" development, which means we're combining traditional and agile methods of design. Basically, we're going to write out traditional design document sections for any part of the game that does not appear in the prototype. With alpha a week away, this change was a bit scary, but I think it will be for the better. The Adventure Kit plugin for Torque is making our lives much easier with its pseudo-isometric view. Wish we'd been using it sooner.
The best bit of news is that our website is essentially finished. We just need to make it pretty and add content. So I think we'll have a nice product to turn in for alpha in that respect.
What I'm really nervous about right now is the character models. I dumped them on one of our contractors with kind of short notice and we're going to need them in a hurry. I have a lot of faith in this particular contractor though, so hopefully it will work out.
Wednesday, we're going to start importing art assets, keep working on the minigame we're actually going to include, and we're going to name the game.
Things are getting scary, but hopefully we'll survive alpha.

Midterms

Our midterm presentation is tomorrow, so we'll find out if our progress is satisfactory. Alicia got the GUI working, which is fantastic. Tim has modeled some of the main buildings, so we will start importing art assets into the game for this sprint.
Leana will be working with Alicia and John to make sure the assets are laid out correctly in the level. I will be doing more concept art and writing the design doc, as well as creating art for the UI. In addition to getting the art assets placed, John and Alicia will be working on the minigame interface and getting those working. Hopefully Tim will be able to start working on modeling characters so we can collect and animate the sprites.
Our FTP server is up and our website is designed and in the process of being created. Very exciting.

I am tired as hell right now from pulling an all-nighter for another class, so forgive my incoherent entry. I'm really looking forward to a nap.