Susanne C.'s Writings

A new horizon

sckh — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 02:48:58 +0000

You might have noticed that this blog has not been updated in some time. The reason for this is mainly due to some changes in my life and hopefully 2011 will be a year where dreams do come true.

I’ve decided not to focus this blog solely on game design but make it a place to showcase my different writing activities. I’m still working out the new sections so it’ll probably be after new year when the new blog comes online.

Happy holidays.

Game Design Journal 31 | Learning Sculptris 11

sckh — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 15:06:02 +0000

Tsch. I really am horribly out of practice with sculptris. Was trying a cartoony approach to a cool biker dude with a goatee.

Game Design Journal 30| Learning Level Design with UDK 5

sckh — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 11:06:54 +0000

Been squeezing in some work on No End and learning UDK between ad work from the office. It’s going to be a busy season until the end of the year. Sigh. I probably won’t make the deadline I set myself for No End. Damn.

For No End, I’ve been fleshing out the story, dialogue, enemies and challenges for the levels. I’ve also been tinkering with the layout of the level design and think perhaps a hexagon approach might not be the way to go. I was trying to add a NPC character so I can see how to do dialogue in UDK, following this tutoria l. However, after 10 minutes I think I mucked it up. Will try again tomorrow when my head isn’t so full of work from the office.

I’ve also been watching UDK tutorials by Alex Galuzin on his world of level design youtube channel. View it here: World of Level Design: You Tube Tutorial

Going back to work! Later!

Game Design Journal 29 | Learning Level Design with UDK 4

sckh — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 14:25:45 +0000

Sketched out the floor layout for the tower in No End. Originally I was planning on something circular that was broader at the bottom and narrower at the top, like an upside down styrofoam cup, for an alienish feel. However, when sketching I began to think a hexagon would make a better shape as I could have a perimeter and then empty inner space which could be used to house rooms and corridors.

Below is the initial sketch I drew on old graph paper I found… the graph paper’s from my and my older brother’s secondary school days! I think drawing on graph paper makes it easier to scale it on screen later. Then again, I could be wrong.

I also downloaded Google’s SKETCH UP. So will see what it can do as well.

Game Design Journal 28 | Learning Level Design with UDK 3

sckh — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 15:10:49 +0000

Despite a busy day, I did have a good long think about the level design I wanted to try to create using UDK. The idea about being trapped in apartment metamorphed into a full-blown scenario which I think would be interesting and engaging to play.

Entitled “NO END”, this scenario places the player into the role of SUBJECT 2012 who is trapped in a 7-storey tower and has to escape. It is a survival horror scenario.

Here is the initial concept document for it: NO END LEVEL DESIGN

Tomorrow, I’ll be creating a mood board and top-down sketch/plan of what each level will look like. Now, I’m going to hit the sack. I don’t think I can squeeze another coherent thought from my mind. And honestly, my eyes ache from staring at an annual report for the better part of the day.

Game Design Journal 27 | Learning Sculptris 10

sckh — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 14:52:16 +0000

Had a brain-draining time at work today. Heh. Wasn’t it yesterday I was just mentioning annual reports? Had an annual report to proofread, a brochure to write and a several new website sections to do. Really am tired so just fired up the sculptris to destress.

Here is my doodle of an alien head. It is isn’t great. Wasn’t really thinking, just let my hand moved on it’s own.

Game Design Journal 26 | Learning Level Design with UDK 2

sckh — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 15:17:52 +0000

It’s been awhile since I could sit down and just think about game design. It’s been a busy five months at work – preparing annual reports, trade exhibitions, vid scripts, ads, brochures and so on. When I do get some free time or a weekend, I mostly face-planted in bed, comatose until it’s time to go to work. It’s been crunch time in the ad biz here and it’s only going to get busier as the year draws to a close.

However, I downloaded Mass Effect 2: Lair of the Shadow Broker last week and have been chilling when I can with that. It’s utterly addictive and I strongly recommend it. It has the right blend of story, action and comedy.

Anyway, tonight, I fired up UDK and realised I had forgotten most of the steps. Sigh. So, I’m going to force myself to do a project in order to learn it better and also help my understanding of level design.

The project that I’m going to be working on is a level with a simple scenario. You are trapped in an apartment and you have to get out of the room. I haven’t done anything like this – heh, I’d concentrated on dialogue only before but I think it will be fun to try.

I don’t want to commit to a time because of my work commitments but I’ll be trying to do it within 10 days, starting from tomorrow. I think the first thing I’m going to do is plan and sketch the level’s layout in Photoshop. Maybe taking an hour or so. I probably have to ask myself constantly, what kind of challenges do I want the player to experience? How can I make this level fun and engaging?

Game Design Journal 25 | Learning Sculptris 9

sckh — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 08:52:21 +0000

Still working on the head for a male character in my sci fi rpg.

Game Design Journal 24 | Learning Sculptris 8

sckh — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 14:21:01 +0000

A splitlist overflow bug killed my previous model. I had to restart it again. But at least, this male looks better. A wip.

Game Design Journal 23 | Learning Sculptris 7

sckh — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 16:43:28 +0000

Tonight, I have started the designing of a male character for my sci fi rpg. It’s still a work in progress but I’m aiming for a brooding look.