Blog #10 Final!

From class, I have seen many great looking games that seemed to have captured my attention and were enjoyable to play. Although I didn't get around to play a lot of games, I did play the Directioner game, which I felt was not completely original, but it felt like it would be a great family game and I was constantly entertained by it as I was playing. I was thinking of my DTC 355 class where a major focus of the class theme is centered around how to make the message you're trying to send have a certain effect. I felt that the whole rule where members of the opposite team had to keep score was interesting and to me it subconsciously sent the message of no cheating and that you can't trust other players. I also felt that the cards were very well polished and gave off the impression of an actual board game.

Another project that I found to be one of my favorites was The-Not-So-Serious Ski Movie. Although I did not attend the showcase, I had been seeing this movie mentioned multiple times and I just had to check it out. After loading up the video and it playing the intro, I was caught off guard as it did not even feel like it was a ski movie. As the video progressed, I found it to get progressively more serious, but at the same time it had random funny moments which I felt added to the overall presentation. I can't help but think of my DTC 354 class and how shot perspective was so constant throughout the video. In that class we had to make a short film for the final project, and so we were taught how the camera angle can affect not only your shot, but the entire message of your project. I feel that in this video each shot is very emphasized and overall gives the video a very powerful message.

Comments:

#1: http://paisleypeterson.wordpress.com/2014/04/30/dtc-375-final-blog-4-30-14/#comments

#2: http://stephensallie.blog.com/2014/04/29/dtc-375-blog-9/#comment-20

These comments on their blogs show up being posted May 1 at roughly 4pm which I am confused about, as I definitely have not posted them at that time

Blog #9 Custom

While reading through chapter 10 of Bogost's book, I found he had made some interesting statements regarding the change in camera technology and how video games tend to use a mostly specified skill set. As an example on page 72 Bogost states "Conversely, videogame creation exercises few common skills. It requires programming of some kind...". When I read this line, it reminded me of how most of my day I am coding a website or using an Adobe program to complete some school work. Personally, it is hard for me to distinguish what is a common daily skill and something specific to me, because since I am entrenched in these products and ways of thinking all the time, it was difficult for me to distinguish a main difference between video games as a medium and other media. I found another interesting point Bogost made in that he basically stated how video games serve a double function, both as a "snapshot" of the creator's life or interests, and an entertaining game. "Like a snapshot, the game has value because of the way it lets its creator preserve and share a sentiment about her family. Likewise, you and I can appreciate it not as the crappy causal game that it is but as the touching personl snapshot that it is as well." (Bogost, 74). Although not thought of as often as actual console video games or computer games, Facebook also serves a double function both as a social platform where many people today use to stay in contact with their family members and friends and also to play games like, Candy Crush Saga to stay entertained. I did some thinking about this, and I feel that although the games on Facebook provide entertainment and may keep users on the website for longer, I feel it also creates a rift between people. The rift I am speaking about is that people may be playing Farmville or Tetris Friends against their "friends", but they are only interacting through the game and barely know each other. Besides the games, Facebook itself tries to make your experience more personal by labeling other users you connect with as "friends" even though you may have only met that person once or only know them through class or work.

Blog #8 Freestyle!

In keeping with the themes of art, empathy, reverence, music, and pranks, I chose to explore the concept of art. I find art is important not only because of obvious reasons, but because it is so varied and it brings out emotions or reactions in people that would normally never manifest in people. As an example, Vincent Van Gogh, the widely known artist was also well known for his ongoing battle with mental illness painted many beautiful paintings throughout his lifetime. It's interesting to note how many of his paintings had bright colors despite his mental battles, like his Sunflowers photo and his Bedroom in Arles. One of his last pantings, Wheat Field with Crows, show his continuing despair and is able to be seen by anyone viewing the painting. Art essentially brings the artist's imagination to life.