Assignment brief

Qualification Level 3 90 Credit Diploma in Creative Media Production – GAMES DESIGN Y1

Unit number and titleUNIT 74: COMPUTER GAME STORY DEVELOPMENT

Start date 23rd February 2015

Deadline 22nd May 2015

Assessor name Jordan Eastwood

Assignment titleCOMIC/GRAPHIC NOVEL

The purpose of this assignment is to:

Understand the elements of storytelling for gamesBe able to create story for a game following industry practiceBe able to create game dialogue following industry practice.

ScenarioMarjane Satrapi is a graphic novel writer and illustrator. She has created very successful graphic novels about growing up as a young woman in the fraught political climate of Iran in the 1970s. They are beautifully illustrated, full of strong cultural references, emotion and humour. Along with other artists, Satrapi has launched a national competition for students aged between 15-19 to create their own comic strip/graphic novel based on their own lives set in the past, present or future. All entries must be illustrated on an A2 storyboard.

Building upon some of your studies completed and skills developed in the last 2 assignments, you will write and illustrate a short comic or graphic novel extract. This will feature you as the main character and/or narrator. The story will focus on specific events in your life that have already happened or are yet to happen. So the story can be based in reality or in fantasy.You will produce a collection of environment, object and character drawings through first hand observational studies and photographs. You will gain an understanding of story writing strategies such as narration, monologue, dialogue, learning how to create dramatic tension and build more intricate storylines. You will apply your own observations of human attitudes and emotions to the development of convincing characters for your story concept.All work will be carefully evaluated as you work through the creative process, then uploaded onto your blog and discussed in the form of a group critique.

Work to be submitted

Research into diverse cultural, historical & contemporary comics, graphic novels and illustrations.Initial drafts & final written story.Collection of drawings/photographs of objects, character and environment.Storyboarding ideas.Outcome- A2 size fully illustrated storyboard.Evaluations & group presentation.

Tasks Grading Criteria Mapping

Task 1: Research into story writing techniques & historical/contemporary comics, graphic novels &

illustrations.

You will gain an understanding of story writing strategies such as narration, monologue & dialogue. You will learn about the importance of dramatic tension and how to develop more intricate storylines.

You will gather research of diverse cultural historical & contemporary comics, graphic novels and illustrations.

You will collect secondary source images to build a mood board. This mood board will begin to inform your ideas for your own story, characters, environments and objects.

Remember: You are trying to comprehensively explain the elements of storytelling for games with elucidated examples and consistently using subject terminology correctly.

P1, M1, D1

Task 2: Writing your story

You will produce a series of drafts for a story which will span 24 hours in the life of you. This can be a you in the past, present or future. You will apply your own observations of human attitudes and emotions to the development of convincing characters for your story concept. You will carefully consider the environment for your characters and the objects in that particular environment and those used by the characters.

Remember: You are trying to comprehensively explain the elements of storytelling for games with elucidated examples and consistently using subject terminology correctly. You are also attempting to create story for a game following industry practice, showing creativity and flair and working independently to professional expectations.

P1, M1, D1, P2, M2, D2

Task 3: Generating visual ideas & artwork for your story

You will generate ideas for your story, through first hand observational studies and photographs.

Remember: You are attempting to create story for a game following industry practice, showing creativity and flair and working independently to professional expectations. You are also trying to create game dialogue following industry practice, showing creativity and flair and working independently to professional expectations.

P2, M2, D2, P3, M3, D3

Task 4: Development of a storyboard

Using a storyboard template, you will begin to experiment with the sequence of events in your story and attempt to include dialogue, monologue and dramatic tension through layout, focus and detail.

Remember: You are attempting to create story for a game following industry practice, showing creativity and flair and working independently to professional expectations. You are also trying to create game dialogue following industry practice, showing creativity and flair and working independently to professional expectations.

P2, M2, D2, P3, M3, D3

Task 5: Further Development of storyboard

Once you have drafted up your illustrated story, you will refine areas and develop alternative and appropriate ideas for a colour palette. Using coloured pens or paint, you will add colour to your illustrations.

Remember: You are attempting to create story for a game following industry practice, showing creativity and flair and working independently to professional

P2, M2, D2, P3, M3, D3

expectations. You are also trying to create game dialogue following industry practice, showing creativity and flair and working independently to professional expectations.

Task 6: Outcome

Produce a full colour A2 illustrated storyboard for your comic/graphic novel. You will also include a synopsis of your comic/graphic novel. All of this work will be scanned in and uploaded onto your blog.

Remember: You are attempting to create story for a game following industry practice, showing creativity and flair and working independently to professional expectations. You are also trying to create game dialogue following industry practice, showing creativity and flair and working independently to professional expectations.

P2, M2, D2, P3, M3, D3

Task 7: Present & Evaluate

You will introduce your comic and graphic novel extract to the rest of the group in a group critique, showing all of your earlier development work and inspirations. The rest of the group will ask you specific questions, all of this will be videoed and uploaded onto your blog along with the rest of your work.

Remember: You are attempting to create story for a game following industry practice, showing creativity and flair and working independently to professional expectations. You are also trying to create game dialogue following industry practice, showing creativity and flair and working independently to professional expectations.

P2, M2, D2, P3, M3, D3

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Unit 74: Computer Game Story Development

P1 summarise accurately theelements of storytelling forgames using some subjectterminology appropriately

M1 explain the elements ofstorytelling for gameswith reference to detailedillustrative examples andwith generally correct use ofsubject terminology

D1 comprehensively explainthe elements of storytellingfor games with elucidatedexamples and consistentlyusing subject terminologycorrectly

P2 create story for a gamefollowing industry practice,working within appropriateconventions and with someassistance

M2 create story for a gamefollowing industry practice,showing some imaginationand with only occasionalassistance

D2 create story for a gamefollowing industry practice,showing creativity and flairand working independentlyto professional expectations

P3 create game dialogue M3 create game dialogue D3 create game dialogue

following industry practice,working within appropriateconventions and with someassistance.

following industry practice,showing some imaginationand with only occasionalassistance.

following industry practice,showing creativity and flairand working independentlyto professional expectations.