Reflection

As a computer programmer this game design class is totally different class. In my other classes I have to code and read the chapters from the book. On the other hand, this game design class is fun, interesting and learn many new creative applications.

Fun in a way because we have game sessions in the class where we can participate and learn new games that are completely new. For example, I have played games like Loneliness, Dating Sim, play it again and many more which are completely opposite to each other. Each game has their own mechanics, aesthetics and dynamics.

Interesting in a way because I never get bored during my class session. Each meetings we have some amazing videos that provide us the in-depth of the gaming world. Especially, the "extra credits" video that explain the importance, definition, and all the criteria that is required for the cool game designing. Also, we did the marshmallow challenge and also designed the paper prototypes for developing a board game.

Finally, I have designed a simple game by using game maker. Above image is the initial screen of the game that I have designed using game maker. The only problem that I had faced during this game designing is that I am the only person who is the artist as well as programmer of the game. Therefore, on the part of art side I had some issues to integrate the images and all, but through the images of "rpg gamamker tile set", I have managed to designed a simple and basic structure of the game. As I talk about the mechanics of my game I have added the double jump to the player that is fun.

Overall, this small and simple game is the motivation for me to design and develop new and innovative games in future.

Ingress changes the players perspective by putting them into an alternate reality

Ingress is an augmented-reality massively multiplayer online video game (MMORPG) created by Niantic Labs, an internal Google startup (Grietsch). Planet earth is the battlefield where the two teams Enlightenment which represents the green color and the Resistance which represents the blue color as mentioned in the below image. Both the team has to play this game using portals. These portals are park, buildings, statues and anything that represent some landmark around the player. There are many interesting facts about this game:

First, we can create our own Avatar and we don't need to worry about our multiple online identity. Second, for this we always need to connect to wifi because this is not a couch potato game, but we have to move around by walking or driving to finish the tasks that has been assigned to us by the Agents. Third, we can create a virtual adventure around us where we explore the new landmarks and interact with completely strange people.

Finally, this game has helped to make person more active. If I am talking about myself then the life of a Computer Programmer is to sitting at one place and punches the keys of keyboard with multiple lines of code. This is a stressful job to do. Therefore, by connecting this game helps me to explore the world surrounds me with fun create a user friendly environment.

Works Cited:

Greitsch, P. What is Ingress and Why People Play it. Retrieved From: http://trendblog.net/what-is-ingress-and-why-people-play-it/

Ingress: Augmented Reality-Game on Google. Retrieved From: http://www.androidnext.de/ingress/