Game Design Commons^™

Winter 2021

In The Loop

2021 Emmy Nominees; Animator Tapped by Cartoon Network; IndieCade Horizons 2021; Hack4Space; Security Daemons Prevail; Role Models: DePaul Originals Game Studio students build industry-level skills that benefit themselves and others; Frames and Fortune: Eugene Bush programmed his indie video studio with patience and planning; Reality Check: Heather Snyder Quinn augments reality to question systems of unchecked power

Mechanics Of Ascension Through Genshin Impact, Megan Chao

ART 108: Introduction to Games Studies

Genshin Impact, or Genshin for short, is a free roleplaying, open-world, adventure video game released for Playstation 4, Microsoft Windows, iOS, and Android on September 28th, 2020. Since its initial release, the game has gained considerable recognition for its storytelling ability, in-depth lore, and amazing character and world-building design. They were awarded Apple’s “Game of the Year” in 2020 and have grossed over $100 million from in-app iOS purchases alone.

Difficulty In Video Games, Jason Bechdolt

ART 108: Introduction to Games Studies

Throughout time games have been utilized for a great variety of purposes: relaxing leisure, competitive activity, intellectual exercise, and many other sources of enjoyment. The element of difficulty has existed in various degrees throughout all of those game styles, usually found through the skill of an opponent, but lately many games have been designed to have a digital opponent to provide that difficulty. With access to more information than ever before, people have gotten the chance to witness lives and worlds that they can never physically enjoy, and this has led to a considerable market for games that can provide …

Acceleration Skinning: Kinematics-Driven Cartoon Effects For Articulated Characters, Niranjan Kalyanasundaram

All Theses

Secondary effects are key to adding fluidity and style to animation. This thesis introduces the idea of “Acceleration Skinning” following a recent well-received technique, Velocity Skinning, to automatically create secondary motion in character animation by modifying the standard pipeline for skeletal rig skinning. These effects, which animators may refer to as squash and stretch or drag, attempt to create an illusion of inertia. In this thesis, I extend the Velocity Skinning technique to include acceleration for creating a wider gamut of cartoon effects. I explore three new deformers that make use of this Acceleration Skinning framework: followthrough, centripetal stretch, and …

Towards A “Filipino” Video Game: Teaching Filipino Culture And Identity For Video Game Development, Christoffer Mitch C. Cerda

Filipino Faculty Publications

This paper uses the author’s experiences of teaching the Filipino module of a multidisciplinary video game development class as a case study in teaching Filipino culture and identity as an element of video game development. A preliminary definition of “Filipino video game” as having Filipino narratives and subject matter, made by Filipino video game developers, and catering to a Filipino audience, is proposed. The realities and limitations of video game development and the video game market in the Philippines is also discussed to show how the dominance of Western video game industry, in terms of the dominance of outsource work …

Game-Based Learning: Building Competence In Visual Literacy Through Simulation, Carol Record

Theses

Game-based learning is an ideal experiential learning framework for introducing the critique process to reduce student anxiety and create competence in visual literacy and self-assessment. Critique, the assessment, and analysis of one’s work is an essential step in any creative process. It is an integral part of art school. However, it can also be a source of high anxiety for new students. This paper discusses the importance of critique, the challenges associated with teaching critique, and the benefits of utilizing game-based learning. Examples of game-based learning solutions are explored, including the development of, and response to, Lumen, a card game …

The Art Of The Climbing Wall, Gavin P. Day

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The aim of my thesis is to share the intricacies of climbing wall design, and the building blocks of art, science, and philosophy that go into the work. I will also be detailing my journey of learning through mentorship, trial and error, and my own experience with climbing. All of this culminates in a redesign of the current climbing wall at ETSU’s Basler Center for Physical Activity. While there is limited information on climbing wall design theory, insight is given through industry standards, competition regulations, and interdisciplinary design philosophies

Full Bloom: Diegetic Ui For Musical Phrases In Virtual Reality, Peter Armstrong, Elliot Cole, Peter Ferry, Joe Geigel, Susan Lakin, Richard Swientonioski, Zachary Talis, Jennie Thomas

Frameless

We propose a novel system for communicating musical note pitch and sequence information to users within a virtual reality environment. Our approach utilizes ‘Blooms,’ objects that resemble flowers with various petal arrangements. These formations, when constructed in view of users, act as diegetic, user-parsable encodings of their inputs. Blooms exist within the virtual space as simulated physics objects that collectively serve the role of a user interface.

Ikkuma: An Artistic Vr Storytelling Experience, Yangli Liu

Frameless

Ikkuma is an interactive storytelling experience utilizing Tilt Brush and Unity. It is about a land being swallowed by the sea, where conflict cracks ice and fire tears families apart. Ikkuma is the Inuvialuit word for fire, a central element to the work. The fundamental theme of Ikkuma is global warming and its impact on the Arctic ecosystem. The players must learn to tame the fire in their hearts and the Inuit traditional knowledge if they hope to survive the harsh yet fragile Arctic tundra.

Changeling: A Single Player Vr Mystery, Kaitlyn S. Tran, Elouise Oyzon, Matthew Pressman, Stephen Callen, Kyle Lekkas, Joshua Bullock, Jake Johnson

Frameless

Changeling is a VR narrative mystery game focusing upon immersive experience. It was created by aspiring game developers from the Rochester Institute of Technology to experience professional development. Each semester, different sets of students get to work on the game, with past ones working part time. Using the ideas of magical realism and urban fantasy we see each family member respond to uncertainty through the lens of their hopes and fears.

Visual Communication – A Designer’S Guide To Reaching Target Audiences, Timothy Lerch

Theses

Visual communication is the cornerstone of graphic design. All graphic design projects communicate a visual message. As with all forms of communication, visual communication is a two-way street. For a message to be effective, a designer must understand how to reach their audience. Scholarly design programs focus primarily on visual cues, while marketing programs focus on in-depth audience analysis and consumer behavior. This creates a problem for designers as they complete their degree program and enter the job market, particularly if they intend to seek freelance work. This guide is innovative because it presents components of visual communication from perspectives …

Playfair Axiom, Alexander Bakos

College of Computing and Digital Media Dissertations

This game seeks to bridge nuanced gameplay with more expansive themes of existentialism, life, and death. I attempt to bridge these concepts together through the mechanics and visuals, both of which play an integral role to one another. Through consistently evolving imagery that increases in complexity from a gameplay perspective I seek to elicit a reflective and emotional response from the player. My attempts with the project are to allow players to draw their own conclusions on what the greater meaning of the game is as well as what each individual component in the game could represent. Oftentimes, the subtleties …

Meowster Thesis, Xiaojing (Monica) Fan

College of Computing and Digital Media Dissertations

Meowster Thesis is a game about cats, loneliness and what it means to be alive. It is also what keeps me alive thru isolation during Covid-19 pandemic.

Street Art: The Gallery Of The City, Mia Pinzelik

University Honors Theses

This project will look to better understand the culture and community of Portland street art, the unique aspects of the art form, the kinds of people participating in street art culture, the difficulties they face, and what defines this specific Portland subculture in 2020. The goal of this project is to compile this research into a board game illustrating a general overview of the process and experiences of street artists in Portland.

Tolkien: Scholar And Modern Game Pioneer, Alicia Breinke

ART 108: Introduction to Games Studies

History can be a necessity, or necessary evil for some people when we want to comprehend real-time issues or trends. Gaming is a trend that applies to this since we often seem to be drawn in by the excitement of the graphics, music, and storylines, yet it seems like people seldomly try to uncover their origins. At the same time, though, a game’s historic foundation is essential to understand since it can help us gain a greater appreciation for these experiences. Role play games are an exceptional example of this since many renowned ones have external influences. J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The …

Sound In Video Games: How Sound Is An Important Aspect Of The Virtual Experience, James Boen

ART 108: Introduction to Games Studies

This paper will take the form of an analysis, with video games as the medium/text that will be analysed. Although analysis is typically reserved for poems, books, short stories, or plays, video games are simply a form of conveying ideas and a form of text that is representative of the 21st century. Video games is a rare medium that has an interactive element, which can alter/enhance the experience an audience member can have, even if there were the same audio/visual components in a film or play. In most forms of media with an audio component, the analysis is done by …

Has Excessive Violence In Video Games Gone Too Far?, Kyra Sycip

ART 108: Introduction to Games Studies

Numerous case studies and published research have led many gamers and non-gamers to wonder whether the excessive loads of violence found in video games is truly necessary for “fun” gameplay and entertainment. Controversies have been arising within famous video games such as the Grand Theft Auto series, Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, and Six Days in Fallujah. These three games have been the subject of numerous present day debates and have sparked many arguments within the gaming community. As well as the debate of whether these games are indeed harmful to the player’s psychology and nature has yet to …

How This War Of Mine Creates Empathy For Virtual Characters, Cole Pergerson

ART 108: Introduction to Games Studies

Is it possible to empathize with virtual characters? Are game characters just a means for game and story progress or can we develop a strong emotional connection with them? In this research essay, I analysis This War of Mine, a game about surviving a worn torn city where food is limited, and the player must make difficult moral decisions survive. The player controls a small group of characters who all need to be feed, get enough sleep, may need medical care, and other human needs. To look how This War of Mine creates empathy for the virtual characters, I will …

Human/Artificial Intelligence Coordination In Video Games, Michael Rodriguez

ART 108: Introduction to Games Studies

The emergence of video games has led to widespread inventions to enhance the reality of the experience. As a result, Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) was developed to create virtual experiences and attract a variety of players of video games. This paper will discuss video games in the context of Human-A.I. interaction and the importance of human coordination in video games. Unprecedented errors have been a common challenge in this relationship. An excellent example of these algorithms include population-based training and self-play, which have gained a lot of interest in video games. A.I. technology has surpassed human ability because they are simply …

Platforming Gamification As A Means Of Engagement In Employee Recruitment And Onboarding, Samuel D. Lipson

Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

Gamification, generally understood as the application of game elements and design concepts in non-game contexts, is a field of academic study and multibillion-dollar business tool whose popularity is growing as a means of employee engagement, education and training, and talent selection. While there are companies that attempt to gamify separate processes within the employee life cycle, no company exists that gamifies the stages surrounding talent selection: attraction and recruitment of applicants and onboarding of final candidates. To this end, this thesis proposes a software and consulting company, GameON Business Solutions, that will work with small and medium enterprises to expand …

Finding Personality In Animation, Jarrett Mcgill

Undergraduate Honors Theses

There is a difference between making something move and bringing something to life in animation. The animation principles work together to bring out character that is only visible with memorable movement. Given how the entertainment space has changed and grown over recent years, it is arguably vital for characters to be unforgettable for franchises to survive. This creative thesis explores how personalities are interpreted in animation by viewers and creators, and a workflow to bring the personalities to the forefront in the piece. Three distinct characters will be animated with the same set of animations to showcase how a personality …

The Health Benefits Of Video Games, Zachary Shanks

Emerging Writers

This paper seeks to evaluate if video games are useful as more than just entertainment.  The research shows that they can be utilized in the educational, medical, and business fields. Video Games have been shown to benefit the physical, emotional, and mental health of players, as well as create more efficient learning and working environments. The article argues that video games are no longer just a source of entertainment, as they are now becoming useful tools in society.

Understanding Spaces Of Abandonment Through Virtual Frameworks In Landscape Architecture, Aus Perez

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

In recent years, design professionals have implemented many contemporary landscape architecture projects across the United States. With a primary goal of returning nature to urban environments, contemporary landscape architects and other transdisciplinary partners work diligently to sculpt physical spaces that reflect the human-living experience. However, a leap into the world of video game design could allow landscape architects and urban planners to more freely create virtual social environments to address rising issues of abandonment in today’s urban and rural spaces. Video game mechanics and methodologies can be used extensively in the disciplines of design that value participatory processes, like landscape …

For|Rest, Jes Klass

College of Computing and Digital Media Dissertations

In for/rest, players navigate a world built around an interpretation of the liminal space of grief. Glitching, blinking roots are all around an otherwise grey, empty space and as players destroy these roots they gradually resaturate the landscape. Each time a root is destroyed, the player will watch it disintegrate in front of them while some form of animal or plant spawns in the root’s stead. On rare occasions, instead of a plant or animal, a human will phase into the world as a root disintegrates. This human, Charlie, roams around the forest and offers the player a chance to …

Abandoned Spaces, Anthony Tate

College of Computing and Digital Media Dissertations

The goal of this project is to show how color can display an emotional connection to the environment. How colors can be portrayed to human emotions without telling the audience. As well as having the audience imagining what kind of economy that used to be in the environment. The objective is to create a game that will tell a story from the environment and how colors are used to help tell a story of the environment. This thesis project is a game that attempts to show how colors can be related to emotions.

Designing An Interactive Theatre Game With Dynamic Asynchronous Play, Ardian Amiti

College of Computing and Digital Media Dissertations

This project proposes the use of asynchronous narrative mechanics and dynamic elements of gameplay to further the player’s sense of interaction with characters and the environment of the game, inspired by interactive theatre performances such as Sleep No More. The player plants seeds in a garden which is maintained by several Non-Playable Characters, influencing both the environment and the narrative. Scenes occur according to the state of the garden, but do not wait for the player to be present. Plants grow and wilt as time passes. Sometimes the player cedes control as the characters tend to or cut down plants, …

The Stranger Next Door: Enhancing Horror Narrative Through Real Time Progress And Meta-Data, Fae Daunt

Postgraduate

The age of mobile connectivity affords uninterrupted access to mobile phones. While game developers have leveraged this phenomenon to create new game mechanics (such as stamina often which monetizes the acceleration of gameplay) narrative mobile game designers are yet to realise the creative potential of uninterrupted access. In response to this, this exegesis details the creation of The Stranger Next Door—a horror narrative set in the player’s realtime which simulates conversations and interactions via a replica social media platform.

This research document begins with a review of relevant literature, situating the game within the conventions of the horror genre and …

A Quest From Then To Now: How Early Tabletop Role-Playing Games Have Influenced Contemporary Game Design, Marc Wainwright

Postgraduate

In this thesis, I argue that contemporary game design is influenced by early tabletop role-playing games (TRPGs) in that they still employ design precedents created in the 1970s by early TRPG game designers. This thesis approaches the topic not just from a historical perspective, but also an analytical one. To this end, I make use of games research frameworks, like Espen Aarseth’s (2003) ludic-hermeneutic circle and the MDA framework (Hunicke, Leblanc, and Zubek, 2004). The MDA framework breaks down games into mechanics, dynamics, and aesthetics of play, and the relationship between these three elements creates a game's unique sense of …

The Logic Of Affective Economics In Philippine Fans’ Discursive Articulations In Response To A League Of Legends Skin Sale, Manuel R. Enverga Iii

European Studies Department Faculty Publications

This study has employed a single case study approach to examine how Filipino League of Legends (LoL) fans reacted to sale of a skin; or character cosmetic; to raise awareness for the Taal Volcano eruption in 2020. The promotion was posted on Facebook and received over 9,000 reactions. It also received over 1,000 comments; which served as the data source for this study. Following a discourse analysis of relevant comments; the researcher has found that commenters’ articulations were underpinned by the logic of affective economics. Responses to the skin promotion either exemplified brand loyalty towards League of Legends or expressed …

The Impact Of Art Style On Video Games, Eric Sarver

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The focus of this thesis is to explore the impact of art styles on video-games. This was done so that I could contribute something more to the digital media industry regarding this topic, and show people unique data sets that may help guide them in the right direction if they are looking for answers to questions they may have about art styles and their impact on the success of games. This was done through a study that was conducted via an online survey, where results were taken from student participants over the age of 18 in the GAIM program at …