Above is the proposal document for my third-year Game Design dissertation. The dissertation covers my constraints and hypothesis as well as my rationale and notable project milestones I hope to achieve.

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Final Project Proposal
Summary of Request
Student name: Ogheneochuko Ideh
Final Project Business Preproposal: “Utilising collecting and battling mechanics to gamify
exercise by bridging non-digital tasks and practices with
digital rewards.”
Development Blog: https://ochukodevblog.blogspot.co.uk/
Artefact outline
In order to showcase my technical skills, I will be designing and be developing a fully
functional and innovative mobile game for the Android platform. The final artefact
will incorporate 'battling' and 'collecting' mechanics as a venture into 'gamifying'
walking, running and possibly other forms of exercise. Additionally, the final artefact
will be built upon a functional open source pedometer acquired from the Unity asset
store. The final artefact will be optimised for mobile phones. As opposed to other
Android devices, mobile phones utilise a gyroscope in their hardware which is
imperative to ensuring the pedometer function can correctlyregister user movement as
well as ensuring one of the vital mechanics of the artefacts functions properly; this
being the 'Gachapoints' system (in-game currency generated from steps counted by
base pedometer).
The final artefact will feature an application icon in addition to a Google play store
description which consists of, screenshots, age ratings and adhere to any other
standard Android application constraints. In order to optimise the final artefact for
varying Android phone devices, the artefact will be built to adhere to several screen
resolutions. Additionally, the final artefact will not exceed 50MB of space as users
can usually download apps of this size without a Wi-Fi network (Thongkham, 2015).
As the open source pedometer acquired was built within Unity I shall continue to
utilise, build, and iterate my final artefact within the engine. During the time of
documenting this proposal, Unity 2017 is the latest build of the engine available,
hence forth I suggest that tutors and other markers to utilise this version when marking
my project build; this is to avoid any contention with code due to updates to the API
following further engine updates. Other software utilised to bring my final artefact to
completion consists of, Photoshop, and GitHub.
Sebastian Deterding once described gamification as an umbrella term for the use of
video game elements (rather than full-fledged games) to improve user experience and
user engagement in non-game services (Deterding, 2011), Deterding also briefly
touched upon the boom in the integration of gamification following the success of
location-based service fourspace before going on to state several vendors now offers

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gamification as a service layer of reward and reputation system (Deterding, 2011). As
opposed to providing an answer to gamification my final artefact will be tackling the
concept and elaborating on the techniques and conventions by mapping the
aforementioned mechanics of 'battling' and 'collecting' unto physical activities and
digital rewards as opposed to the aforementioned reward and reputation mechanics
utilised by other gamified applications. Going forward with this project I would
suggest supervisors and other markers adhere to the marking criteria listed below;
 The final artefact must adhere and showcase evidence of informed and applied
game theories.
 The final artefact must feature evidence of experimenting with complicated
code as well as Unity 2017 capabilities.
 Artefact code must be frequently and thoroughly commented as evidence of
showcasing understanding and function of code.
 The final artefact must display evidence of constant iterations based on
frequent Q&A testing, prototyping and critique from supervisors.
 The final artefact must feature evidence of design choices informed by practice
theories and readings.
Rationale
Post graduating I have plans of entering the industry as a Technical game designer.
By creating the aforementioned artefact I will not only be exercising my design skills
but additionally my technical and iterative skills; all key traits and experiences that
comme il faut of Technical game designers, as well as skills I had erstwhile,
showcased through previous modules for instance: Digital Scripting, Group Project,
Level Design , etc.
Technical game designers, in short, are game designers that house technical skills,
these skills tend to range depending on the role requirements from studios, however,
the most acclaimed skills are programming based which tend to be availed in
programs such as Unreal Engine 4 and Unity; programs I have crafted and honed my
skills in.
Role search
 Technical Designer Role, Ubisoft, Royal Leamington Spa, United Kingdom.
 Technical Designer Role, Oxford AAA console studio.
 Technical Designer Role, Midlands AAA studio.
Listed above are studios currently hiring technical game designers more so, list
employment prerequisites such as:
 'Solid Communication and interpersonal skills'; (Hargreaves, 2017)
 'Ability to clearly express and present ideas' (Hargreaves, 2017)
 A 'Love to prototype new concepts and ideas' (Datascope,2017)

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 'Great scripting skills' (Datascope,2017)
During my job search, I had compiled a list of universal Technical design traits my
artefact will be adhering to, these traits consist of:
 Solid competency in problem-solving & logic.
 Implementing game features.
 Brainstorming high-level designs.
These skills will, in turn, build the base pillar that my artefact will be built on, in
addition to the intensive reading explored in my annotated bibliography.
Additionally, these skills, in turn, form the depth my specialist skill set I will be
utilising when searching for relevant roles in the industry.
I will be utilising these traits as constraints to further transform my final artefact into a
portfolio piece I can demonstrate to future employers. Additionally, following
Deterding explanation of businesses and vendors utilising gamification, the
gamification implemented into my final artefact will also act as a portfolio piece
showcasing UX design to possible employers.
Milestones
2017 – 18 Week # Milestone Deliverables and Tasks
25 – 29 Sept Week 1  N/A
2 – 6 Oct Week 2  Begin job search.
9 – 13 Oct Week 3  Continue job search.
16 – 20 Oct Week 4  Use job search to draft project constraints.
23 – 27 Oct Week 5  Present drafted concept to personal tutor.
30 Oct – 3 Nov Week 6  Purchase and prototype pedometer.
6 – 10 Nov Week 7  Complete final refinements for project proposal.
 Submit project proposal.
 Export pedometer as apk file
13 – 17 Nov Week 8  Begin building isolating variable needed for
gachapoint system.
 Reverse engineer step counter & isolate variables
need for ‘Gatchapoints mechanic’.
 Refine game loops & mechanic with Dave Pimm.
20 – 24 Nov Week 9
 Draft early concept work & game mock ups
27 Nov – 1 Dec Week 10  Plan and design battling system.
4 – 8 Dec Week 11  Plan and design collecting system.
11 – 15 Dec Week 12  Begin refining internal game economy.
18 – 22 Dec
Mid-Winter Festival25 – 29 Dec
1 – 5 Jan

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8 – 12 Jan  Create player psychographic.
 Playtest systems and internal economy.
15 – 19 Jan  Revisit concept art & mock up.
 Carry out aesthetic research.
 Update concept art & mock up.
22 – 26 Jan Week 13  Iterate systems based on feedback from play testers.
29 Jan –2 Feb Week 14  Begin creating game graphics.
 Implement game graphics.
5 – 9 Feb Week 15  Seminar Presentations TBC
 Carry out research on affordances and UI.
 Implement results of UI & affordance research.
12 – 16 Feb Week 16  Seminar Presentations TBC
 Playtest systems and internal economy.
19 – 23 Feb Week 17  Implement placeholder sounds, music, particle effects,
etc.
 Iterate systems based on feedback from play testers.
26 Feb – 2 Mar Week 18  Attain Android publishing license.
 Compile in-game screenshots.
 Draft app-description text.
5 – 9 Mar Week 19  Finalize app-description.
 Update sounds, music, particle effects, etc.
 Playtest systems and internal, economy.
12 – 16 Mar Week 20  Iterate systems based on feedback from playtesting.
 Update screenshots and app description (if necessary)
 Playtest artefact.
19 – 23 Mar Week 21  Finalize artefact.
 Publish Artefact unto Google Play store.
26 – 30 Mar
Spring FertilityFestival
2 – 6 Apr
9 – 13 Apr Week 22 Submission of Final Product and Blog: by noon, Friday 13
Apr 2018
16 – 20 Apr Week 23
23 – 27 Apr Week 24
Annotated Bibliography
Bibliographical item Summary
1.
Morford, Z. H., Witts, B. N., Killingsworth, K. J.,
Alavosius, M. P.. (2011). Gamification: The Intersection
between Behavior Analysis and Game Design
Technologies. Gamification: The Intersection between
Behavior Analysis and Game Design
Technologies. Proceedings of the 15th International
Academic MindTrek Conference: Envisioning Future
Media Environments. 37, 37 (1, 1), 25, 25-40.
 Givesan insightonbehaviour
analysisonplayerswhoplay
gamifiedgames.
 Providesinsightstosuccessful
gamificationprojects.

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2.
Thorens, G, Billieux, J, Megevand, P, Zullino, D,
Rothen, S, Achab, S, Khazaal, Y. (2016). Capitalizing
upon the Attractive and Addictive Properties of
Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games to
Promote Wellbeing.. Thorens G, Journal: Frontiers in
psychiatry [2016]. 7 (1), 167-167.
 Give an insighttohow MMORPG
mechanicscan be utilisedto
furtherhelpdevelopwellbeing
amongstactive players.
 I will be sourcingthiswhen
enforcingpracticestodrive
playerretentionaswell as
promote wellbeingtousersof
my product.
3.
Nir Eyal, Ryan Hoover (2013). Hooked. London:
Portfolio Penguin. 15-210.
 Highlyinformativewhen
detailingthe hookedmodel.
Givesinsighttothe logisticsand
anatomyof: triggers,actions,
variable rewards,investments
and how I couldfeature themin
my productto see a raise and
sustainedlevel inplayer
retention.
 Discuss the ethicsof the hook
model andsimilargame loops
that manipulate playerretention,
givingme furtherinsightstothe
moral route of the game loopsI
will feature inmyfinished
product.
4.
Unity.(2017). Scripting API. Available:
https://docs.unity3d.com/ScriptReference/.Last
accessed09/11/2017.
 Reference documentationfor
unityscriptingcapabilities.
 Thiswill be usedtoaid anyissues
withprogramingthe systemsand
functionsof the final artefact.
5.
Android.(2017). Launch checklist. Available:
https://developer.android.com/distribute/best-
practices/launch/launch-checklist.html.Lastaccessed
08/11/2017.
 Checklisttoaidapp developers
prepare forlaunchingtheir
applicationsuntothe Google play
store.
 Featureshyperlinkstoother
webpagesthatcouldprove
useful suchas;‘Quality
guidelines’and‘Localization
checklist’
 Thiswill be utilisedwhen
preparingtopublishthe final
artefact.
6.
Richard Bartle. (1996). HEARTS, CLUBS,
DIAMONDS, SPADES: PLAYERS WHO SUIT
MUDS. Available:
http://mud.co.uk/richard/hcds.htm. Last
accessed 08/11/2017.
 An introductiontoBartle’s
taxonomyof players.
 Givesinsighttohow to adjustthe
dynamicbetweendifferent
playerarchetypes.
 Thiswill be utilisedwhen
creatingthe userpsychographic

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inadditiontoadheringtothe
aforementioneduser
demographic.
7.
Unity.(2017). Designing UIfor Multiple
Resolutions. Available:
https://docs.unity3d.com/Manual/HOWTO-
UIMultiResolution.html.Last accessed08/11/2017.
 Insightandreference tobuilding
UI for multiple mobilescreen
resolutionswithinunity.
8.
Unity. (2017). Building your Unity game to an
Android device for testing. Available:
https://unity3d.com/learn/tutorials/topics/mobile-
touch/building-your-unity-game-android-device-
testing. Last accessed 08/11/2017.
 Thiswas utilisedwhenexporting
the pedometertoanapk for
testing.
 Thiscan be furtherutilisedtothe
same desire whenexporting
buildsforplaytestingaswell as
publishing.
9.
 Initial jobsearchutilisedtoform
constraintsforprojectas well as
define depthof employability
skillsthatwill be showcased
throughthe final artefact.
10.
SebastianDeterding.(2011).Gamification.Usinggame-
designelementsinnon-gamingcontexts.Extended
Abstractson Human Factorsin ComputingSystems.1
(1),2425-2428.
 Brief introductionto
gamification.
In Conclusion
Additionally, it should be stated that the progression of the project is precisely
following the milestones set in place to effectively deliver the final artefact (see
milestones above). The open source pedometer has been acquired, furthermore in
order to ensure the aforementioned pedometer hailed accurate result it had been;
exported as an apk file, installed unto an Android mobile device and tested vigorously
against another pedometer published to the Google Play store. As the pedometer
tested perfectly, keeping on track with the project milestones, the next project venture
will consist of reverse engineering the open source code of the pedometer in
contemplation of isolating the 'step counted' variable needed for the 'Gachapoint'
system mentioned earlier.
Maxis.(2017). CareerOpportunities:Technical
Designer (Contract) (114821). Available:
https://career4.successfactors.com/career?career_
ns=job_listing&company=EA&navBarLevel=JOB_SE
ARCH&rcm_site_locale=en_US&career_job_req_id
=114821&jobPipeline=Indeed.Lastaccessed
08/11/2017.

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Project End Goals
The final artefact I will be presenting on Friday 13th April 2017 will feature;
 A fully functional final game;
 An Android application icon & Google Play description consisting of,
screenshots, age ratings, app description, and etc.;
 Published in the Google Play store;
 will not exceed 50MB of storage;
 Adhere to informed design theories;
 Accessible as a portfolio piece showcasing technical design capabilities;
 Adhere to project progression guide set in order by project milestones.
Biblography
Cheylene Thongkham. (2015). How does your mobile app measure up to industry average?.
Available: https://crowdsourcedtesting.com/resources/mobile-app-averages/. Last accessed
06/11/2017.
Natalie - Datascope. (2017). Technical Designer Role – £45k – Oxford – AAA. Available:
https://datascope.co.uk/job/technical-designer-role-45k-oxford-aaa/?sf_paged=2. Last accessed
06/11/2017.
Natalie - Datascope. (2017). Technical Designer – £25-£35k – Midlands – AAA. Available:
https://datascope.co.uk/job/technical-designer-25-35k-midlands-aaa-2/. Last accessed 06/11/2017.
Kar Man HARGREAVES. (2017). Technical Level Designer (140). Available:
https://jobs.smartrecruiters.com/Ubisoft2/743999661490020-technical-level-designer-140-?codes=1-
INDEED. Last accessed 06/11/2017.