The document analyzes existing video game products and posters to identify features to include in the author's own work, finding that games commonly use darker colors and sound effects to evoke emotion, while posters attract audiences through minimal text, character positioning, and color palettes that match the game's tone. By studying these existing works, the author aims to create immersive atmospheres and intriguing narratives in their own production.

1. Research
Gemma Nicholls

2. Existing Product:
Limbo
Type of image-
Images from the existing product limbo all have a consistent colour pallet that
consists of black and white (monochrome). There is also always a direction the
light (sun) is breaking through/shown. This is so different tones appear on the
screen and everything isn't one colour. The game keeps the main character and
current terrain the character is using a bolder black colour than those used in the
backgrounds. This is so the player knows where they are and what they need to
do as it (monsters, puzzles, characters, objects) stands out more than other things
that aren't as important (like background textures-e.g. grass).The art style of the
screenshots/game is beautiful, detailed and creepy. Other than monsters and
hostile creatures the boy is constantly alone in a dark and unforgiving, however,
gorgeous terrain.
The different use of textures in levels keep the background interesting and are
also useful in building emotion/ expressing emotion. For example the first picture
with the giant spider has a blurred background with only emphasis on the
important objects. This makes the player feel like the character as the character
would be panicked with a giant monster coming to kill them and they would want
to escape fast than looking at their surroundings. In comparison the second and
third picture have the protagonist climbing and in less danger. So the background
is in more detail as the main character would be more at ease to explore/look at
his surroundings.
P

3. Existing Product:
Limbo
We follow the character from a side view angle. It is common in most
platformers. Depending on the surrounding of the character and the situation,
the player/watchers view become closer and further away. Showing us how
small the character is in the game and how big the surroundings are. These
different perspectives keep the game visually interesting.
Audience appeal-
Audiences are puled into the games visuals. Even if this game has only a black
and white colour pallet the game is incredibly detailed and tells a story (e.g. why
is their a giant spider chasing him? How did this happen? Where is he?). The art
style is also alluring with the eerie atmosphere making it appealing to the
audience as the game is full of mystery making them want to uncover what is
going on(the only way to do this is buying the game).
I have chosen to look at this existing product because the colours used and
visual atheistic is something I want to experiment with for my game. I have
learned that I don’t need to go into excessive detail when making characters
even if it’s a silhouette it can be the main character.
P

4. Existing Product:
Gris
Type of image-
These screenshots are both from the videogame Gris; However, they
show two completely different colour pallets and use the same art style.
The top screen shot has a colour pallet that consists of mainly light pastel
colours with some darker colours like black to outline closer objects in the
foreground. An example of this is the hills. In comparison the bottom
screen shot uses a black and white colour pallet no other colours. The top
part of the image has a background with different dark tones. while., the
bottom has the protagonist horizontally reflected as a shadow in a
completely clear white background. Both images have a consistent
watercolour type style, that has been used throughout the game.
Although both images are from the same game I look at them separately,
as I like the top image more for the different elements in the background
and the props. Compared to the bottom image where I like the
composition (reflection of the character).
The different textures in the images from a completely flat ground to
bumpy hills and platforms keeps the game background/terrain interesting.
The addition of naturally forming items gives the levels a natural element.
For example keeping the trees in the foreground and background makes
the character feel like they are in a forest more than if their were only
trees in one or the other.
P

5. Existing Product:
Gris
Game play of the main character is shown to the audience in a wide side
view with close ups in the game in cut scenes and emotional moments.
The angle of the camera is eye level so the main character stays the main
attention. With the wide angle the player also gets an idea of how
complicated something is (e.g. a jumping puzzle).
Audience appeal-The games colours, art style and powerful back story
behind the main character are a main attracter to audiences. These
features along with the beautiful graphics and animation make people
want to purchase the game fro one or all the reasons listed.
With my own knowledge the game another reason I chose it as an existing
project to analyse is because I know the game is about emotions more
specifically the five stages of grief. Throughout the game this is shown
through the colour pallet as the colour changes to suggest the protagonists
emotions changing. E.g. red represents anger and blue represents sadness.
I want my games emotions to be represented correctly. However, I don’t
want to use colours other than back and white for the game play. Using
this game I as an existing product I can look at how they use the characters
actions to also show the emotions.
P

6. Existing Product:
Monument ValleyType of image-
Images taken from the existing product Monument Valley use a combination of 3d
models and 2d art. The screen shots of the levels from the game use visual
deception to give 3d elements in a 2d world. The audience follows the main
character in the game from a birds eye view and wide angle, over seeing the full
level but only from one side as the map doesn't rotate. This allows audiences to
see and calculate how to complete the level and where to avoid in the level
because of dead ends and monsters. Instead of blindly guessing where to go with
no idea.
The colour pallet used in monument valley is full of pastilles, and sun-tinged
colours. These colours along with the asymmetric and detail levels and backgrounds
makes the game visually appealing to play and look at. In the game/images the
shading is of the levels is consistent and you can tell what areas receive the full sun
and what areas don't. This helps the illusion of 3d level design.
Different textures in the background is another thing that makes the levels unique
to each other, going from almost having completely blank block colour to having the
background match the terrain of the level. This keeps the level enjoyable and
appealing to audiences. The slopes and platforms that the character walks on are all
smooth. Having the areas flat is useful to the player/audience as it is easy to tell
where the protagonist is suppose to go. This also keeps the characters animation
simple as she doesn't run of jump only walk in different directions.
P

7. Existing Product:
Monument Valley
The font used to introduce the audience to the game is easy to understand and
read. The white, bold (but still thin) capitals letters that are used for the tittle
work well with the opening background. The spacing of the letters is not too
close to make the letters unreadable or far to away that the letters don’t look
like they are from different words.
Audience appeal- Audiences would be draw into the beautiful colours and
unique gameplay. The audience like the simplistic character design that
emphasises and contrasts the details found in the background and levels. The
game has easy to understand controls this would appeal to audiences as it
makes it easy to learn and play.
I chose to look into this game as an existing product because I liked the games
contrast in characters and level/backgrounds. I also liked the different textures
that appeared in the background like smoke, clouds, rocks- etc. I want to make
my game visually appealing to audiences and I admire how the game monument
valley achieved beautiful deigns with simple shapes.
P

8. Existing Product:
InsideType of image-
Gameplay screen shots from the existing videogame Inside shows the game having
a soft minimal colour pallet that uses both dark and light colours(blacks/greens,
blues, greys etc.). The game uses different light sources to create detailed
effects(an example is shadows of structures and characters) and atmospheres.
Colours chosen and used by the game give a realistic feeling even though there are
things like gigantic robots that don’t really exist out of the game.
The art style of the game is two and a half dimensional (2.5d, alternately three
quarte and pseudo). This technique means the appearance of three dimensional
when they(images) are not. Shadows do a good job in accentuating the three
dimension. Angling of the camera also makes the game look three dimensional as it
switched from eye level, birds eye view and wide angle. This makes the game feel
massive and that theirs lots to explore.
The games areas have generally a variety of surfaces the protagonist has to walk
on/through from walking/swimming in water to walking on a flat plank across a gab
of two buildings. This keeps the game visual interesting as its not one flat pathway.
The different textures and props like broken wood, shattered glass, grass and fire,
lights, etc. make the game feel like your engaged in the atmosphere. This is especial
true when you add the sounds from the music and the sound effects. The sound in
the game helps explain situations/story and makes the audience feel emotions this
is without any dialogue ( a wordless narrative).
P

9. Existing Product:
Inside
Audience appeal- Audiences are drawn to the unique 3d like perspective. As
well as the use of light sources and shadows that help create/give the games
moods and atmosphere. The mysterious story line presented by the trailer
make people intrigued to play the game. This is helped by the brilliant use of
music and sound effects that match the games settings and make the audience
feel what the creator wanted.
I have chosen the game Inside as an existing product to analyse because I like
how the audience is made to feel certain emotion by the characters and
gameplay to the music and background. By analysing this product I have
learned that the music and point of view of the player is important to make
them feel certain moods and emotions. When making my game I need to
make sure that the music need to match the setting I am trying to create.
P

10. Existing Product:
Darkling's
Type of image-
These images from the existing mobile game darkling’s show how the audience
is able to view the game from a eye level wide angle camera angle. The game
mechanics is unique only to mobiles, making the game interesting to play. This
is because you use your fingers to create/copy designs that are above the
monsters head to take over their body and protect the light (you) while being
timed (collecting stars increases the time).
The mainly dark colour pallet consisting of black, greys and whites is explained
by the easy to understand background story of the game. That is the dark
monsters have taken all of the stars bringing about darkness. This leaving the
main character to protect the light and help stop the age of darkness by
defeating the monsters. The custom shaped monsters appearing at different
intervals makes sure each player gets a different experience.
Background structures are created by layering different moving components
like mountains, clouds, smoke and islands. This gives the appearance of closer
and further away formations making the environment visually appealing and
intriguing to look at. The texture of the ground that the protagonist walks on is
not flat, instead being textured with bumps and small hills. This small added
texture on the game makes the surrounding background and the terrain match
more so the imagery becomes coherent.
P

11. Existing Product:
Darkling's
Audience appeal- The different game controls that are only available on the
mobile device make the game an interesting find to audiences. The point of
what the main character is doing (what their purpose is) is clear from the
start of the game and is consistent throughout. Another thing that would
entice their audience to buy the game is because it is a game where you
collect information of different creatures this is specifically enticing to the
emulator/ wanna be audience as to finish finding all them monsters is a
sense of accomplishment that they can show and share with their friends
making them want to keep playing to completion.
I chose to analyses this game as It uses the difference of the game
mechanics (being able to use your figure to draw the symbols on the
monsters head on screen) to the games advantage making it stand out from
other games. The colour pallet used is simple but uses a lot of detail and
shading. I have learned that making your game feel unique from other gives
the audience a new experience that they would keep coming to your
franchise for in the future. I would like my game to be feel simple but be
excellently executed so people find it enjoyable to play and get drawn into
the story line and beauty.
P

12. Research Analysis: video games
I analysed the exiting videogame products to look for features to include in my own game, I found some of the
games had similar features even with very different ways of achieving them.
A common feature that the majority of my existing products have is the use of darker colours especially black and
white. Each of the game also carry a narrative that the audience follows so every stage/level has a purpose. The
games also rely on sound effects to get the audience to feel certain emotions that are harder to express with
backgrounds and character designs because the audience might think they represent something else. Another
common thing found in the existing products was the use of textures in the background to make the game feel
more realistic and immerse the player/audience more.
The reason I picked these existing games is because they are very different styles of platformers. This will help me
experiment and consider things I wouldn’t have thought of adding into my product. As well as all these game
make the audience feel different emotions (happy, sad, existed, etc.) and by looking into the images and analysing
I am able to see how they created those effects.
In my own production work will include different textured props and background. This is because I want my
audience to feel the emotions and atmosphere of the game. To help me achieve this I will also try to create my
own sound effects to make it feel more customized to the game.
These existing products will be beneficial to my production as I can look and analyse features of the different
videogames that made them popular with audiences. This will impact my future work because I can chose to
emulate key features of the existing projects, such as a black and white colour pallet.
P

13. Existing Product:
posters
Type of image-
This existing poster shows the protagonist of a game centred middle of the poster,. The
audiences point of view is in a low camera angle (looking up to the character). This makes
the protagonist look powerful especially with the addition of the weapon she is carrying.
Smaller characters also appear in the bottom quarter of the poster but not as prominent as
the main character. The side characters designs are kept simple compared to the main
character making her stand out more as she is meant to be the main focus.
Colours the poster uses are muted dark and light pastels mainly pinks , greens and yellow
tinted whites. Plain white text is used and is minimal keeping all the attention on to the
main image. The background of the image blends well with the characters, the lighter
colours of yellowish white is a nice contrast to the deep tones of pink and green. This
lighter colours behind the main character helps her stand out on the page more because of
the contrasting colours used.
Type of image-
The style this poster uses watercolour textures to create a layered effect to give the
image(s) more depth. The main/ only colour used to create the image is a deep blue in
different tones. The darker colour (black/blue) is on the lower part of the image used both
for the ground for the interior image but also the bottom quarter of a human silhouette for
the exterior image. Different tones of the colour blue is used to create detail and outlines
for sections of each image. Eventually using the lightest tone of blue at the top for the head
of the human silhouette and for the exterior image and the sky for the interior image.
P

14. Existing Product:
posters
The simplicity yet detailed image is matched with the small amount of easy to read
white text that only claims the title of the game it comes from. With the minimalistic
approach it leaves the audience wondering more.
Audience appeal-
The colour pallet that these posters both use have light and dark tones, while , one of the poster (bottom)
use only one main colour (white being a side colour) and the other (top) poster uses multiple colours. The
choices of colours used match give the poster emotions that the audience feel and that attracts people. For
example the bottom posters blue colour feel mysterious. Both posters keep the text used to a minimal making
the image the main point of the poster. Audience like this because they are not given a tone of information to
take in and read just a pretty image.
I chose to look at these images because they both contain very different styles and colour pallets. Also the
way they chose to present there game is different. I have learnt from analysing these posters that a poster
represent the game to not only people who have played it but to people that haven’t. It is important to
consider the colours, the stances of characters, the point of view of the audience and the background of the
content in the poster.
P

15. Research Analysis: poster
While analysing the exiting poster products different styles I found a few similar qualities. One similar feature was
that both posters used white text that contrasted to their background colour(s). The text was not joined and had a
good amount of spacing making it easy to read. It was also paced out of the way of the main image and didn’t
draw all the attention to that area. Another similar feature both posters had was they both used well picked
colours to make the audience feel a certain emotion when looking a the image and also used the
placement(stances) of the character(s)/background to signify how the audience may feel when playing the game.
The reason I picked these existing posters is because the way they convey emotions to the audience is the same
but using different styles. I also wanted my poster to convey some emotions to the audience. By looking at these
posters and analysing as well as asking people who are in my target audience I can see if they like the styles and
which one is more effective. After I've experimented a few times with my own poster I can ask the audience again
which will aloud my to create a product that has the qualities I want and the audience likes.
During my production work I will include text that is easy to ready by playing around with the font, spacing and
positioning on the poster. This is because I want the audiences main focus to be on the imagery not the text. I will
also consider the placement of the characters and what angle the audience views them at because this is also
important when making the audience feel a certain way.
Analysing these existing products has been beneficial to my final piece as I got to analysis and look at/through
while researching different ways of presenting a poster and different styles. I also got to think about why the
posters appealed to audiences. This is beneficial because if I can consider these different things I can appeal to my
target audience more.
P

16. Audience Research

17. Secondary Audience research
• Observation: This line up shows the difference between men and women's motives
for playing games. The highest motive for females was completion at 17% the
highest percentage on the board overall. Compared to males where they preferred
competition at 14.1% the fourth highest percentage overall. The second highest for
women was fantasy 16.2% higher than the males with their fourth motive at 9%.
Males second highest motive was destruction at 11.9%. This was not a motive on the
females side. Unlike the females the male motive completion was their third highest
at 10.2%. While the females third motive was design at 14.5%. . The lowest motives
where community for males a 8.8% and story for females at 8.5%. The females
motive community appeared second to last with 9.5%
• What this says about my audience: This shows the difference between why females
and males pay games and what the key motives are. This also shows that women
prefer completing the game and the game style and features over the males. While
the males enjoy the game play and modes of play over females.
• How will your product appeal to this audience: while creating my videogame I will
consider the most popular motives for each gender/overall (highest percentage) and
create a gam that both genders will enjoy playing. With my secondary product I can
make it appeal to audiences by making the image look like the game involves
features that are attractive to my audience.
S

18. Secondary Audience research
• Observation: The countries that make the most gaming revenue are the United
Sates, Norway, United kingdom ,France ,Germany, japan, Korea and China making
between 2500 and 3500 million U.S dollars. The second most gaming revenue are
Canada, Russia, Spain and Italy making between 1500 and 200 million U.S dollars.
Next between 1000 and 1500 million U.S. dollars is brazil, Mexico and Australia.
After that it is India, Saudi Arabia, turkey, Poland, Thailand and Indonesia. All the
other countries not mentioned make between 0 to 500 million U.S. dollars.
• What this says about my audience: This says that a larger quantity of my audience
comes from the places that makes the most revenue because they have a higher
percentage of purchasing my videogame.
S
• Observation: This bar graph shows the percentage of adults who often/sometimes
play video games in the U.S. (created in 2017). One bar shows that men play more
often than women by 5% while the difference between them sometimes playing is
1%. It also shows what point of peoples education they often or sometimes play.
High school or less has 21% for both often or sometimes. Some college having
25% again for both often and sometimes. As well as people doing their bachelor’s
degree+ playing 17% often and 19% sometimes. The graph also shows different
ages of people who play. The highest percentage playing sometimes being 29% by
18-29 year olds and the highest percent for sometimes also from18-29 year olds
being 31%. The lowest percentage of often/sometimes players in the age of 65+
with 11% and 13%.
• What this says about my audience: This says that people in college and high
school education are more active in playing games . Along with people in their
teens to young adults. While older people in higher education don’t have as much
free time to play games as often/sometimes. This also shows that these
demographics are most likely to purchase a videogame poster.

19. Primary Audience research: videogame
To collect my primary research I created a survey from the site survey monkey and posted
the link on to my media classes Snapchat group chat from my class to answer since they
were all in my target demographic. For some of my questions I asked why the people put
that answer. The first set of questions I asked where to do with my videogame. These
where the results:
I asked this question for my videogame. This is because I wanted to know
what pace of game they liked to play best. This is because your own paced
games focus more on being able to explore compared to fast pace game
where they mainly focus on how fast can you complete this game, level or
task.
Observation: The highest percentage of people agreed to like playing their
game at their own pace when I asked why they generally stated its fun to
‘explore’ the map. The lowest results were a slow paced game with no one
saying that they lied that pace of game. The second/third placed results
got the same amount of people. These where timed and fast pace games.
What this says about my audience: This says that my audience prefers to
play games at their own pace that having the game mechanics control
them.
How will your product appeal to this audience:
I will tailor my game/animation to be a reasonable pace with a few trial
and errors a mistakes a new person would make. Not making the main
character have a perfect first run of the game level.
P

20. Primary Audience research: videogame
I questioned my audience the question if they like cut scene or jumping straight to game
play because I wanted to know if I should add in a cut scene. This became a question
because if the audience didn't’t like cut scenes I would put in on like I had planned .
Observation: The majority of people answering the question preferred a cut scene opening
‘as it adds background/context to the game’(<-quote from one of the answers). Less
people voted on no starting cut scene just gameplay.
What this says about my audience: This says my audience prefers the added information
and atmosphere cut scenes at the start of a game provide.
How will your product appeal to this audience: To appeal to my target audience I will create
a small cut scene before the gameplay. This will create the audience to develop emotions
toward the game as its something to follow and is not just game play.
I asked this question to my target audience because I wanted to have no option of if they
wanted help or not when they started a game. I suspected because they wanted to explore the
game/ surroundings they would most likely want to have the choice to figure out things for
themselves especially with the emulators/ wanna be who likes senses of achievement and
wouldn't’t want everything to be handed to them.
Observation: the results turned out like I expected with the majority of people choosing the
option no I want to learn for my self. Leaving the option yes I need help with half the results
from the no option.
What this says about my audience: This shows my audience is more independent wanting to
figure out things on their own, liking the feeling of their own accomplishment.
How will your product appeal to this audience: To make my product appeal to my audience, I
can have a skip button placed on the screen that gives the player the option to do things
independently.
P

21. Primary Audience research: videogame
P
I asked this question because I wanted to know what electronic device my target audience plays video
games on. This is because different devices have different game mechanics. For example pc games are
more likely to have double jump than mobile games and mobile games use that the user has a screen
touch device on smart phones and adjusts game control/ mechanics around that.
Observation: Observation of the question shows the majority of the people that answered use a
PlayStation when playing videogames. The next most common device used was a PC. Third a Nintendo
switch and the rest (phone, Xbox and other) with the lowest score(0).
What this says about my audience: This shows that my audience mainly uses PlayStation, PC an Nintendo
switch as their gaming consoles. But my questionnaire doesn't take in to fact that they may use more than
one device but play more on one than another as the questionnaire only allows you to click one answer
How will your product appeal to this audience: Making the game mechanics/ controls something that is
more likely to be used with the most popular devices is something I can do to appeal to my audience.
I question my target audience to see witch gender my audience prefers playing video games as. I did this
because some people like the appeal of a certain gender in game.
Observation: The results showed that everybody that answered the this question didn't’t care for what
gender of character they played. As a follow up question to some people I asked why did they answer
that and one said ‘ For example people don’t care when they play Tomb Rader that they play as Lara
Croft and not Larry Croft’.
What this says about my audience: This shows that my audience don’t care about what gender they play
as in video games and prefer quality of the content and design.
How will your product appeal to this audience: When making my game I wont worry about what gender
to make my character, only to keep the quality of the design.

22. Primary Audience research: videogame
I asked my audience what type of
monster they liked. This is because I
wanted to know what type of
monsters the audience would like to
see the protagonist battle in the game
that can show up in puzzles.
Observation: The majority of my target
audience like more humanoid looking
monsters (63%). A smaller percentage
like animal like monsters (17%) While
my audience didn’t like non
consistently shaped monsters(e.g.
slimes).
P
What this says about my audience: This shows my audience like monsters with more consistent shapes and
features. As well as they prefer monsters that take human like forms (this doesn’t necessarily mean they
want to battle exactly other humans).
How will your product appeal to this audience: to tailor my product to my target audience I will create a
few monsters that have a human like forms.

23. Primary Audience research: poster
P
I asked questions to my audience about posters. The question in the top image was asked because I
wanted to know if my audience would even buy posters for a videogame. If this was something my
audience wouldn’t purchase I would have to change my plans slightly and have it appear in a
magazine witch would change the layout/style a bit. However, if my audience would purchase one
then I could stick with my original plan.
Observation: 100% of people who took the survey all clicked that yes they would indeed buy a poster
for a videogame. While no one clicked the option no.
What this says about my audience: This shows that my audience would buy merchandise from
games.
How will your my product appeal to my audience: My product (poster) will fit with my audiences
responses as it was a concept created around being a side product to my main product a videogame.
I questioned my audience about the size they preferred/would purchase a poster. This helps me
know what size(s) I should create my poster.
Observation: Most of my target audience voted for the size A2 (60% of votes). The second most
votes was to the size A3 (40% of votes). While no one voted for sizes that were bigger than A3.
What this says about my audience: This shows that my audience want a poster size where they can
see everything clearly but not a size where it becomes a struggle to put up or carry around if they
bought it while shopping.
How will my product appeal to my audience: I will tailor my poster to be the most requested by my
target audience A2. For the design I will make sure it can be scaled larger and smaller if the
audiences want a larger/smaller copy.

24. Primary Audience research: poster
P
I asked my audience if they preferred one main focus on a poster or multiple. This is because with one
focus point its important to make that focus stand out more than the rest. Compared to multiple focuses
having them all stand out the same.
Observation: My audience overwhelmingly chose one main focus with 80% of the votes. In comparison
to 20% of the votes being for multiple main focuses.
What this says about my audience: This shows that my audience prefers the main character to be the
stand point of the poster. Also the majority prefer one main focus over multiple .
How will my product appeal to my audience: I will tailor my product to have one main focus. This is
because a higher percentage of my audience chose that option and I want to appeal to the larger
quantity.
I asked this question to my target audience because I wanted to know their preference to large or small
amount of text on poster. This knowledge can help me create a poster that my audience will want to
purchase.
Observation: All of the target audience who answered this question chose a small amount of text
(100%). No one chose the option with a large amount of text.
What this says about my audience: This shows that my audience dislikes posters that contain large
amounts of text and prefer poster with minimal amount of text. It also shows that my audience prefers
to look at the main image and not have it crowded it text.
How will your product appeal to this audience: I will make my product to fit my audiences opinions by
making the text to appear on the poster to be minimal.

25. interview
• Videogame
Interview from Elena smith,
o How old are you?
I am 17 years old.
o What electronical device/devices do you play game on?
I have a few consoles, I play games on my PC, PlayStation or Nintendo depending on the game because
some games can only be played n one device..
o Do you like to play games that have a story and why?
Yes I do. I like a game that has more to it rather than a repeated clicking game, something to peek my
interest and make me keep playing.
o Would you watch game cut scenes?
Yes because usually something happens that interesting or important to the games story would happen
I them or it would be used to show something like a door opening at the other side of a room.
o Would you play games that are coloured in black and white?
Yes I would as long as it’s a game that looks interesting. There are load of good games that where made
coloured black and white.
o Do you like chibi style videogame characters?
The character design of chibi I think the styles cute. I have no problem using the as a game character.
P

26. interview
• Videogame
Interview from Arthur Jackson,
o How old are you?
I am 19 years old.
o What electronical device/devices do you play game on?
I play on my Xbox or my PC.
o Do you like to play games that have a story and why?
I do enjoy playing games with interesting story's as its nice to play them in my free time.
o Would you watch game cut scenes?
Yes because there generally some game or story development that cant really happen in the actual
game that suited the developers intentions or went how they felt was appropriate.
o Would you play games that are coloured in black and white?
Yes I see no problem playing a game with minimal colour other then if your into the style it doesn’t
make a difference to whether the game play is good or not.
o Do you like chibi style characters?
I don’t have extreme love or hate towards the character style as long as its fun or interesting to play as
it.
I asked these questions so I could understand if my target demographic would play and or enjoy my
game. From this I can tell:
How I will tailor my videogame towards my audience:
P

27. interview
• Videogame
I asked these questions so I could understand if my target demographic would
play and or enjoy my game. From this I can tell:
• My target demographic would play on a variety of devices
• They would watch game cut scenes because they are generally put into
games for a reason
• They would play a black and white coloured game without prejudice to the
style
• They would play a chibi style character model or any character model as
long as it was fun or interesting .
How I will tailor my videogame towards my audience:
To tailor my videogame toward my target demographic I will make it a pc
game. This is because many people have lots of different devices to play
games on but most people own a Pc or laptop. I will also make sure my cut
scene has a purpose to be shown like telling an important part of the story. Ill
tailor my videogame to have a story that intrigues audiences to want to find
out more.
P

28. Subject Research:
videogames/ poster
• Sound effects/ music
With most instruments minor chords sound sad and major chords sound happy. So to
create a sad atmosphere or happy atmosphere I have to just follow these notes.
• Camera angles
Camera angles unconsciously set a mood for the viewer. Examples of this are:
Lower angles: A low angle looks up at the subject, thereby giving significance to the
subject and creating a sense of power and superiority.
o A high angle is used to minimise the importance of a subject, creating a sense of
isolation, inferiority, weakness, make the character look smaller or confused. This
can have the emotional effect of the subject making them appear less powerful,
less significant or even submissive.
o Sometimes the camera is tilted to suggest imbalance or instability.
o A straight angle places you on the level of the character/object creating a sense of
equality.
P

29. Subject research:
videogames/ poster
• Colour pallet
Black and white
I like the idea of a black and white colour palate. This is because
the sharp contrasts and the subtle changes in tone is something
I find visually appealing as it can change objects dimensions. For
example correctly places forces highlights where the sun/light
hits an object.
Black and white colour pallets also keep a game somewhat
simple and make the creator chose colours and tones wisely as
there is a select few.
P

30. Subject Research:
videogames/ poster
• Background ideas
P
Forest
One background idea I had was a forest this is because forests can be quite
daunting alone and it gives you space to think. I like this idea because if I
canted to add secondary characters or props they can be animals and I can
chose from a quite a few because there's a lot to be found in a forest.
Another idea I had was for the videogame to take place in a empty city. I
liked this idea because there are a lot of different textures I could play
around with drawing are creating. On the other hand it would be
difficult to create I depending on the scale of detail I wanted to include
as there are small details that make city life. In comparison to a forest
where an outline of a tree still looks like a tree.
A mountain range are. This idea still ties into the idea of a forest as it
could be a separate section or maybe a new level. I like the idea of the
running water and sound effect and movements I could add with
water. I think the animating the character in the running water would
take a lot of my time rather then the story of a fight animation witch is
important to understand that the character is in a hostile environment.

31. Subject research:
videogames
• Animal movements
P
• 2 leg movement – its good for fast movements but
lack detail and is harder to animate other movements
other than running and walking.
• 4 leg movement- it is more time consuming to
animate the extra lines but you can add more detail
and gives more emotion to a character.
I like the 4 leg movement even if it is more time
consuming to animate because I want to animate the
character doing more than running.
Character with longer movement cycles run smoother
when animating so I am going to look at reference
images/videos with longer movement cycles.

32. Practical Research

33. Practical Research
Lip sync animation
• To create my animation first I had to open a new Photoshop shop file. I used
the page dimensions of w-1920and h-1080. Once clicked on windows on the
top bar on the scene and added the window called timeline.
• With the timeline window now added I added a new video layer via the layer
option on the top bar.
• After I added the new video layer I clicked create video time line and clicked
on the three line bars in the corner to play with the settings and add onion
skins( onions skins allows you to see what you had previously done before
and after in a faded colour so you can trace and add to the image).
• Then I decided on what word I wanted my animation to say and that was
banana. When that was decided I looked on free sound for someone saying
banana (If this was my game I would get someone I know to voice the
character). I found the minion character saying banana and chose to use that.
• With the word and speaker decided I started to draw using a drawing tablet.
First I created a circle and eyes on another on one layer so they would stay
consistent and used reference images to create the moving mouth n a second
layer.
• After I completed creating the mouth saying the different letters in the video
animation I exported the clip and reopened it in premiere.
• In premiere I also open the free sound file of the minion saying banana and
started editing the clip so the animation mouthed letters fit in when the
letters where said from the audio file.
• In this process I had to lengthen and shorten the time the word animation
was shown.
• Once the editing was completed I exported the animation with the audio into
a mp4 file which I can also upload to YouTube then my blog.

34. Practical Research
Lip sync animation-
• What could have been improved
I could have recorded a longer sentence with different breaks in-
between the words. I could have also created a lip sync that held more
emotions.
• How will it help with my final product
This experiment was helpful because it made me realised this isn't
something I want to add into my final piece.
• Compare to existing product
In comparison to a professional piece my work lacks detail. However the
word is synced really well and the letters match the mouth movements
almost like a professional. Compared to an existing product I think for
my first attempt I did very well with matching and syncing up
everything.

35. Moving amination step by step-
• To start with I created a new document on photoshop with the page dimensions of w-
1920 and h-1080
• Once the new document opened I added the timeline window. I did this by clicking on
the window option on the top bar then looking on the options until I found and clicked
on timeline.
• After I opened time line I clicked create video animation.
• With this now created I once again looked on the top bar option and went on layers
and clicked on video layer- create new video layer.
• Now with the newly created layer I looked on google for some reference images and
decided on a dog sitting with its back facing the audience because I could thing of
different things I could animate (e.g. tail, ears)
• After everything was decided I went back to the Photoshop document I added the
onion skins setting via the three horizonal bars at the right side top of the timeline bar.
(onions skins allows you to see what you had previously done before and after in a
faded colour so you can trace and add to the image).
• With my reference image now chosen I started to draw a ruff image using a drawing
tablet and pen.
• Whilst creating the animation I used the arrow keys to move back and forth between
the animation slides.
• Once I had finished drawing the individual slides for the animation I played them to
see if I was happy ( I did play them when I was working on them as well).
• Once I was happy I exported the video animation and could then upload it on to
YouTube then my blog.
Practical Research

36. Moving amination step by step-
• What could have been improved
I could have gone one step extra and coloured the piece. To improve I
also could have added more moving components.
• How will it help with my final product
This experiment is helpful to my final product because if I want to create
something a bit more detailed like a cut scene I know how to create it.
• Compare to existing product
In comparison to a professional product, a professionals would run
smoother I think If I was to fix a few frames I could get a little closer to
that effect. My work although it is not coloured it has a sketchy effect
that can be found on some online work. Compared to an existing
product I could have brought the last fame to loop back to the beginning
then it would be more like a continues gif loop I could have also added
small amounts of colour to make the animation more visually appealing.
Practical Research

37. Animating a still image
• I firstly I watched a clip on YouTube how to make a still image move and decided to
have a go using the picture provided in the description link.
• Then opened up photoshop and created a new document with the page
dimensions of w-1920 and h-1080 and opened the image into this document. I
decided to only animate the waterfall so using the quick mask mode I highlighted
the waterfall with the brush tool, removing any unnecessary parts.
• After I clicked the quick mask button to have the painted area transformed into a
selection that kept the outline.
• Then I went to the select menu on the to bar and clicked invert and copy and
pasted it onto a new layer.
• Once done I opened the timeline tab and clicked create a new video timeline,
shortening the length to about 1 second and clicked the arrow to expand the
timeline layers options (position/opacity/style).
• To increase the option I clicked on layer one (on the right side below the colours
and swatches) and converted it to a smart object. Now the clip option showed a
transform option.
• I used the mouse to move the player head to the start of the time line I then
applied transform (I did this by click the stop watch icon). Once done I move the
player head along the timeline and add another key frame (I did this by clicking the
diamond icon).
Practical Research

38. Animating a still image
• I zoomed out so the image fits in the screen area and used command and T (from the
keyboard) to manipulate the water fall clipping, stretching the waterfall clipping in the
direction the water is flowing and hitting enter.
• In the time line I dragged the key frame all the way to the right (the end) of the clip.
Playing the clip to see the basic animation.
• Then I added a fade transition to each end of the clip by clicking and dragging from the
box next to the scissors in the timeline section.
• I then clicked onto the background layer and then used quick selection masked the
mist around the waterfall following the same steps as I did for the water fall –masking-
inverting –smart object-trimming the time and transforming.
• To transform the mist I moved the player head to the start of the timeline and clicked
the transform key frame , then moved the key frame along a bit and added another key
frame. After I had done that I pressed Command and T on the keyboard to transform
the mist, I scaled it upward so it looked like the mist was growing. Then dragged the
key frame to the end and like the waterfall added the fade transitions.
• After I Select the background layer and duplicated it dragging the new copy to the top
on the list and a lined the layer to the rest of the animation time line and add a layer
mask. As well as filling the colour with black.
• I then moved the player head to a point in the animation where I could see things
moving out of place (the person) setting the brush tool with white colouring. I began to
painting over the unwanted areas acting as a mask.
• After I completed that to my satisfaction I then watched my new moving still image. As
well as exported it.
Practical Research

39. Animating a still image-
• What could have been improved
I could have made the animation loop if I had planned where it started and
ended better.
• Compare to existing product-
Compared to a professionals my still image animation is still lacking if I was
able to loop it properly start to finish my work would have looked more
professional. To make my product more like the existing product I could have
made the animation loop more seamlessly.
• How will it help with my final product
Doing this experiment was helpful as I know understand the steps it takes to
make a flat image move. This would be helpful if I wanted to create a water
fall or a moving source of liquid / smoke.
Practical Research

40. Practical Research analysis:
videogames
• What went well?
Over all I liked the look of the smoother animations that were created by using the graphics
tablet. I also liked the easy to use setting onion skin. This is because with it turned on I could see
what I had previously drawn and if I wanted to adjust the setting I could also see what I had
drawn on slides a head of the one I’m currently working on. With this useful setting I could make
my animation run smoother as I could adjust the drawing to what I needed. I also liked the how
the lip sync animation fit with the audio after edited in premiere.
• What didn’t go well?
One thing that didn’t go as well as I hoped was the moving still image. This is because as I tried to
loop the animation it didn’t look like natural running water. When played once it worked okay
though. Another thing that didn’t go as smoothly as I thought was the time it took to create and
animate the lip sync of the word banana and then make it fit with the audio.
• What I would/would not add to my production?
I wouldn’t use lip sync animation as it takes too long to animate words and phases and I want to
use the production time to create smoother backgrounds and characters. A method I would use
is the same method I used to animate the dog as it creates better flowing animations and you
can fix things to make it look better when played.

41. Practical Research: posters

42. Practical Research analysis: posters
• To create this poster I opened a new photoshop document with
a digital A4 paper size.
• Next I created a new layer and used the brush tool while
holding shift to create a clean straight diagonal line.
• Then I proceeded to increase the brush size and fill in one half
of the page in back and kept the other side white.
• I then used the same method (holding shift) to create the
straight diagonal line to create a second one with a smaller
brush size and in the colour black.
• After I was happy with the background I copy and pasted a
silhouette of a women warrior and made her larger ( ctrl- T-
enter). I placed her in the centre of the digital page.
• Next I used the tool quick select and selected the parts of her
body/sword that where in black and made them white using
the brush tool and the colour white. Then I also made the parts
of her body/sword that where in black stay black.
• Finally I added text in the corner to represent the title. I made
it minimalistic and made the colour white like the warrior on
the black side.

43. Practical Research analysis: posters
What went well?
I like the minimalistic design there's not a lot to it but it stand out
even though its simplistic. The colour divide is consistent even with
the smaller straight black diagonal line.
What didn’t go well?
I did want to play around with different fonts but they wouldn’t
download so I used the main photoshop font.
What I would/would not add to my production?
Since I want my products to be black an white I will keep the colour
pallet maybe a few different tones can be added. I would not keep
the font I used as I want my products to feel more customized not
generic.
Comparing-
In comparison to a professional product the poster I created
doesn’t have much going on in the background other than a
separation of colour. It would look more professional with
additional items in the background even a few patterns to make it
stand out more

44. Practical Research: posters
• To start with I opened a new photoshop document with the size of the
digital page being A4.
• I then went to google to look up some images and found a girl holing
an umbrella on a hill and decided to do something with that.
• I pasted the image onto the new document and quick selected the
girl/umbrella and made a new layer via cut.
• Next I duplicated the layer and made the new layer flip so it’s a mirror
image of the original layer.
• I then placed the two girls with umbrellas in the centre of the page
next to each other and two my surprise between the two a face
looking structure appeared sort of looking like a devil.
• I added some circles using the shape tool to make eyes and that shape
started to look more like a devil.
• I went back on google to look through some more images and found
some fighting martial artists. Adding them to the bottom of the page.
• Finally I then found some more images to make the page look fuller. I
added scattered splotches to the left half of the page and placed
butterfly patterns to the right. This made the two sides look like they
were battling teach other giving deeper meaning to the poster.

45. Practical Research: posters
What went well?
The two images surprisingly creating another image in between them, as
well as it looking like a devil was unexpected but welcomed with the
addition of more features to make it look more human.
What didn’t go well?
I would have liked to add more to the background with out it becoming
overly crowed so in the future I would play around with more colours and
tones and not just plain white.
What I would/would not add to my production?
I would add both the good and bad sides on my poster as it creates a nice
contrast. I wouldn’t add images taken from google I would create my own
as it makes the poster more unique as I'm making a poster for a game I'm
creating.
Comparing-
In comparison to a professional piece what I created was plain with the
colour choice leaving a lot of white space. While a professional piece fills in
empty space so that the poster flows more naturally.

46. Bibliography

47. Bibliography
• Game Media(2018) https://news.game.co.uk/game-magazine-free-issue-1/ (opened in April
2019)
• Google (2001) https://images.google.com/ (opened April 2019)
• Guitarfella (2014)https://www.guitarfella.com/sad-chords-guitar/ (opened in April 2019)
• Hamilton Cline (2013) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAb-URz6qvA (opened in April 2019)
• Kurtywurty(2014)http://kurtywurty.blogspot.com/2014/02/camera-angles-and-their-
meanings.html (opened in April 2019)
• Lisa Galarneau (2014)https://www.bigfishgames.com/blog/2013-gamers-survey-results-
demographics-platforms-and-smartphone-use/ (opened in April 2019)
• Nicholls, Gemma. (2019) Target Audience Research Survey (conducted on April 2019)
• Spoon Graphics (2017) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kw07wyP3qm4 (opened in April
2019)
• We PC. 2017 statistics (2017) https://www.wepc.com/news/video-game-statistics/ (opened April
2019)