Writing our Learning Agreements.

To start this project off we have to write our Learning Agreements. This is so we can show what we are planning to do with our work, how we are going to achieve what we intend to create and why we want to do the work.

I had a think about this after the lecture and yesterdays session with our Project Leader Nigel where I mentioned that I would love to explore something to do with Serial Killers and what happens in their past that can affect the future.

I find the subject of Serial Killers absolutely fascinating. The crimes they commit are abhorrent and I cannot stress enough that I think what they do is good, it isn't, but I find the psychology and mentality that these people have and how they justify their actions to be so compelling. I also notice there is a lack of games around this subject so I would love to explore this and think about how I can bring this to games of the future.

here is a small starter version of what I am planning to write, I will run it by Nigel and see how I can get advice and how to start this off.

WHAT?
For BA6 I feel that I would like to specialise in Character design leading into creating low poly 3D prototypes of environments that those characters would go in, much like the content we created for BA4. The subject I will be covering is what affects a Serial Killer during their child to adult life. I aim to create a journey from child to adult stopping at a moment before they consider their first crime. I want to create this journey to create something that would make the audience think about what they have just played or witnessed.

HOW?
I will achieve this through the use of concept art techniques such as silhouettes, value studies, thumbnails and with programs including photoshop, Alchemy and Maya. I will research various articles on brain development, interviews and documents with Serial Killers to understand how I can turn this into game form.

WHY?
To me I find both of these subjects fascinating, and those are both the strongest areas I feel that I am in. I feel that the work I am going to produce is an interesting subject that is often neglected in the industry through worry of offence or glorifying the actions. I want to explore the darker parts and people of our world and bring these stories to a wider public audience.

I'm feeling rather good about what I am going to explore, already I feel a lot more passion with what I am planning than the whole of BA5. Let's hope I can keep the ball rolling.

((EDIT))

Here is the revised one

Course and Unit Number:
Game Art and Design BA6.
Name: Hazel Page.

Proposal:
For BA6 I will explore the possibilities of specialising in Character/Environment Design. I will be creating a main character and producing a basic 3D prototype level for that character to go in. The subject I will be covering is what creates a serial killer and the journey they take up until the point that they commit their first crime.

Why? To me, both of these subjects (Character/3D Environment design) are fascinating and are the areas I feel I work most strongly within.

The work that I am going to produce is to me an interesting subject that is often neglected in the industry through worry of offence or glorifying these people’s actions. The idea behind the level is to make people think about the events that led up to the final point, and not necessarily make players change their opinion on serial killers as sympathetic characters or turn them into martyr characters, but to just be an example of what can happen in someone's life that takes them to the point where all hell breaks loose. To show that behind the crimes and the name, there was a child that grew up to be this criminal and show what could possibly have lead them on the path they chose.

Assessment Work:

To achieve this work I will be following a timetable which will keep me on top of my work. I will be using programs

 Photoshop
 Maya
 Sketchup
 Alchemy

Research wise I will be looking up various articles, interviews and documentaries discussing different types of Serial Killers, also researching articles that discuss brain development, how environments affect children growing up and also how colours affect people’s moods so I can figure out how to turn all this information into game form. Work wise I will be producing mood boards, concept art of the character and the environments which will guide me as I create the level in Maya.