The demo!

I think there is always a demo that comes out before a game or software is released, and our project is not an exception. We decided to cover the user interaction concept for this project assignment through a demo, because it would allow us to explore the methods to use for the completion of the final project in terms of the user interface and interaction with the world.

Throughout the process of the demo, we developed classes in charge of the construction of world. The classes build each area with the objects, sounds, characters, directions and commands the user will  interact with. We also created a layout of a small section of the world’s map, dividing the section in a grid of areas. Through the parser we developed we were able to setup each area according to its position inside the grid. We also worked on parts of the physical user interface (number display, button commands) and set up the connection between java and arduino. And in the end, we implemented a visual interface similar to the ones used for other text-based experiences.

DEMO:

I believe what I learned from the accomplishment of the demo was, first to work with many of the elements and tools in the java environment; I learned that by using multi-dimensional arrays we would be able to construct the world more easily than doing it through a linked list. I also learned to setup the connection between java and arduino. Working on this demo gave me a notion of how a game or project similar to ours is developed from scratch; how the story, programming aspects and interfaces are put together.

On terms of what modifications we might make to the project; well, we decided to implement the world using multi-dimensional arrays instead of using a linked list graph. Also the introspective concept contained in the experience will be presented to the user ambiguously (i.e. user’s decisions, position and paths discovered) inside the environment of the world, instead of making it obvious by asking the user to choose between a good or bad decision. In regard of the physical interface, we were thinking on the elimination of the LED part at the back of the board but it is still on debate.

In the end, we explored the tools we will use to finish Lenimentum. The demo gives a quick look to the environment and a few areas of the world. The classes as well as the parcer and the interface implemented for the demo will be used for the final project. The same goes for the connection between arduino and java, and the physical components we worked on.

I am very excited to finish this project, I believe so far we are heading in a good direction and will be working now on the physical user interface, the java and arduino interaction and on the story!