Hi everyone. I appreciate you checking on the status of the project.
I wanted to start by first apologizing. I know their so much to check on this site, and I have been observing and exploring ModDB and I have taken note of the blog submissions by other groups and projects and I realize my post can be sometime irrelevant and too light hearted (not focused). Since I have structured this project development progress to be modeled after an Agile/SCRUM methodology, I will make my post themed after that model - I will only post one blog per month according to iteration deliverables.
WHAT HAVE I DONE:
I have completed my level prototype. I feel really good about this as I consider this initial level construction to be Pre-Alpha. (See attached video) This means I can run around in it, add static meshes, emulate other gameplay features and most importantly I won't need to spend an extensive amount of time with the game shell and can add finer features of the Escape::Protocol prison theme. Also as a side note, I passed another course in the Computer Science program in college (3 more classes till graduation!). The course was in Software Engineering, where I learned SVN control using Subervision implemented in an Eclipse IDE, plus improved with Object Oriented programming code and principles. I also performed in a role as a Scrum Master for the project where I was in charge of creating User Stories and milestones for the project development and iteration deliverables for the project submission. Overall, I felt things went really well. I will be transitioning form Java back to C++ very soon.
I have included some screenshots of the original level design concepts and the level deliverable that was to be completed by end of month. It includes a video walkthrough of the game level. (Consider this tentative as the entire game - I feel for what I am trying to accomplish, this is a good start, perhaps finish)
WHAT I AM BLOCKED ON:
I still need to learn 3DS max. I am concerned with this goal, because I am definitely not an artist, but because of the level design experience in Unreal Engine 3 and thanks to the advice of some good friends (Pete!), I am ambitious. It will be very important to learn this application. I must acquire the skills to design objects to use in the game that I fell will be very helpful, such as weapons, environment objects like cameras, signs, and fuss boxes and more.
WHAT AM I DOING NEXT
Next, for the December Iteration 5, I plan to finalize the level. I will implement additional Matinee and Kismet sequences and Material Instances in key areas. I will also begin studying Particle Effects. Next, I plan to continue my early lessons in 3DS max and produce better objects. And finally, create 1 more audio track, and edit 2 - 3 tracks. Please refer to the update timeline revision Excel spreadsheet.
I would like to give special thanks to the friends and colleagues I have made here on ModDB: ambershee, DazJW, flipart, jjawinte, hourences, and kornswag (hey kornswag? good luck with the GOTY! I voted for you J )
Thanks friends! Go ModDB!!!
MrBCut
