This book explores the development of the video game as a new form of interactive media and a template for future modes of entertainment. While television programs and movies are predominantly passive enterprises, video games engage the audience and provide not only audio-visual stimulation but also an enriching interaction that creates a heightened sense of immersion. Through a detailed discussion of gameplay and game design principles, Natkin explores the nature of this interaction and its impact on the entertainment industry. He explains the developmental process behind game design and the new concepts of narration and entertainment it has introduced. He then considers the future of gameplay with its potential for developing new means of artistic expression and its liability to be abused as an outlet for propaganda and coercion.

Virtual Reality Filmmaking presents a comprehensive guide to the use of virtual reality in filmmaking, including narrative, documentary, live event production, and more. Written by Celine Tricart, a filmmaker and an expert in new technologies, the book provides a hands-on guide to creative filmmaking in this exciting new medium, and includes coverage on how to make a film in VR from start to finish. Topics covered include: The history of VR; VR cameras; Game engines and interactive VR; The foundations of VR storytelling; Techniques for shooting in live action VR; VR postproduction and visual effects; VR distribution; Interviews with experts in the field including the Emmy-winning studios Felix & Paul and Oculus Story Studio, Wevr, Viacom, Fox Sports, Sundance's New Frontier, and more.

This instructional drawing book is intended to guide the reader through a story-telling based approach to gesture drawing, utilizing different techniques and exercises that encourage and develop creative problem solving as it relates to observational studies. This book clearly outlines a work flow and process with a simple exercise program that encourages the artist to ask questions and create work that engages not only their audience but themselves. Rich illustrations are included throughout that depict this workflow and also different drawing and mark-making techniques, and how to apply the exercises throughout the course of the book. Included are video drawing tutorials and examples. Key Features The approach to drawing as explained in the book is broken down into simple, clearly defined concepts. Each chapter outlines a further step in the drawing process, ending with a technique or exercise the reader can then execute to begin applying each concept to their work. Ample amount of illustrations drawn exclusively for this book or taken directly from the author's physical classes to clearly show the reader individual concepts, exercises, techniques, ideas, etc., so the reader may feel comfortable enough to follow the program. Each chapter includes a chapter objective as well as a summary and ample amount of illustrations which relate to the chapter objective. Key Terms will also be highlighted and defined so that they may be referenced throughout the book without causing unnecessary confusion. Companion video tutorials that show the reader different topics and exercises for reference.

The success of storytelling in games depends on the entire development team-game designers, artists, writers, programmers and musicians, etc.-working harmoniously together towards a singular artistic vision. Interactive Stories and Video Game Art is first to define a common design language for understanding and orchestrating interactive masterpieces using techniques inherited from the rich history of art and craftsmanship that games build upon. Case studies of hit games like The Last of Us, Journey, and Minecraft illustrate the vital components needed to create emotionally-complex stories that are mindful of gaming's principal relationship between player actions and video game aesthetics. This book is for developers of video games and virtual reality, filmmakers, gamification and transmedia experts, and everybody else interested in experiencing resonant and meaningful interactive stories. Key Features: The first book to define a common visual and interactive language for understanding and orchestrating sophisticated stories in video games Accessible to industry professionals as well as non-developers Featured concepts apply to all media with an interactive component including: transmedia, gamification and interactive art The definitive framework for designing interactive stories

The newest book in Michael Mattesi's Force Drawing series takes movement to the next level. Force: Drawing Human Anatomy, explores the different facets of motion and the human body. As opposed to the memorization technique, Mattesi stresses the function of each body part and how gravity relative to different poses affects the aesthetics and form of muscle. The chapters are divided by the different parts of the body, thus allowing the reader to concentrate on mastery one body part at a time. Color coded images detail each muscle and their different angles. Special consideration is given to anatomy for animation, allowing the reader to create a character that is anatomically accurate in both stillness and motion. Key Features Detailed visual instruction includes colourful, step-by-step diagrams that allow you to easily follow the construction of an anatomically correct figure. Clearly organized and color coded per regions of the body's anatomy, a clarity of design for better reader understanding. Learn how anatomy is drawn and defined by the function of a pose. Visit the companion website for drawing demonstrations and further resources on anatomy.

Once the realm of a few stalwart artists, animating with sand, clay, and wet paint is now accessible for all filmmakers with an experimental frame of mind. Created directly under the camera with frame-by-frame stopmotion, this "fluid frame animation" provides a completely unique visual world for animators. While pioneering animators such as Caroline Leaf, Alexander Petrov, and Ishu Patel paved the way, the availability of frame capture programs, compositing software and digital workflow is opening up new avenues of exploration for artists of all experience levels. This book will walk you through setting up your studio, choosing and working with your materials, and combining the physical under-the-camera production with digital compositing and effects to enhance your animation. * Firsthand advice from experimental animation veterans and rising stars in the field * Covers the digital aspects of experimental animation, including the latest techniques in After Effects CC * Tutorials and source files for under-the-camera approaches and After Effects enhancements on the book's companion website In addition to the practical advice, you'll find historical and contemporary examples of successful films, step-by-step tutorials for working under the camera and working with the footage digitally, and interviews and tips from artists who are currently pushing the boundaries in these experimental mediums. Stacked with information and images from over 30 artists, this book is an indispensable resource for both the student and professional wishing to get their hands dirty in an increasingly digital world.

Foundation Adobe Edge Animateis a project-oriented book that will walk you through the features ofEdge Animate - Adobe's exciting new motion and interaction tool forweb standards development. Edge Animate is an application that allows web designers and developers to make full use of many of the features of CSS3, JavaScript, and HTML5. Edge Animate enables you to animate graphics without the need to hand code everything using canvas or SVG. It exports well-formed, standards-compliant code that you can either use to create new web products, or add directly into existing projects. It also features full JavaScript and DOM manipulation, enabling you to get under the hood and create fantastic interactive experiences. Using a unique project-oriented focus you will be creating carefully developed projects designed to give you the skills and confidence necessary to undertake interactive and web design experiences aimed at devices ranging from smart phones to the TV set in your living room. Along the way you will discover how many of the tools in the Adobe Web Design CS6 collection can be fully utilized to create expressive and engaging web applications. This includes: Building interactive projects using the Edge Animate timeline and coding tools. Learning how Fireworks, Photoshop, and Illustrator are used for Edge Animate content creation. Discovering how pages created in Dreamweaver and Muse can become fully interactive and contain motion graphics in Edge Animate. What you'll learn Use Edge Animate to create web sites and applications Create web graphics without the need to hand code in canvas Add JavaScript animation and interactivity to your projects Integrate Edge Animate content with your own HTML5 projects Easily handle DOM events Combine Edge Animate with Dreamweaver and Muse Who this book is for

Web standards developers needing a simple tool to create interactive experiences in HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript Table of Contents Learning the Edge Animate Interface Creating Timeline Animations: Part 1 Creating Timeline Animations: Part 2 Creating Graphics for Edge Animate Working with Type in Edge Animate Adding Interactivity in Edge Animate Edge Animate and the Web Adding a Bit of "Wow"EdgeAnimate and Digital PublicationsEdge Animate Goes Mobile

Character rigging is the method with which you create a system for animating a character. A rig is represented by two primary mechanics: the skeleton, consisting of hierarchical rotations to drive the motions, and a skin, or method of deforming the geometry that makes up the character model. Essential Skills in Character Rigging is a beginner's guide to learning and understanding the essential aspects of character setup, evaluation, skeletal construction, and deformation. Borrowing from the author's extensive experience in the field, it presents the primary theories, constructs, and objectives for constructing a basic rig from the ground up, just as it would be done in a professional studio. The book explains the basic elements of hierarchies, skeletons, kinematics, deformation, skinning, and creating relationships between nodes. It gives hands-on experience with taking a completed character model and setting it up with a skeleton with kinematics and soft-skin deformation. It also gives specific instructions on using inverse kinematics systems, and how to set up the essential mechanics of a human rig with these systems. All of these lessons are conducted using a simplistic, conversational style that keeps technical and mathematical jargon to a minimum. The book also includes video tutorials corresponding to specific modules. Essential Skills in Character Rigging takes aspiring character artists through the vital components in the process of taking a 3D character model and turning it into an animatable rig that is ready for production in film or games. It identifies the universal fundamentals at work behind character rigging, and the practical complexities of the process are broken down into simple steps that are easy to comprehend and execute.

In a follow-up book, which re-iterates the principles of "Digital Creature Rigging: The Art & Science of CG Creature Setup in 3ds Max", and enhances their relativity with advanced wing, tail and tentacle setups. This book will discuss advanced rigging techniques in 3ds Max, while readers create a fish, octopus and a Game of Thrones style dragon! Key Features This is the next step in CG creature setups in 3ds Max. Although 3ds Max specific, the techniques and foundations will work for any 3D application. By following the step-by-step guides in this book, you can finish and complete a portfolioready. Each chapter will include an introduction and a summary, giving significance to the start and end of each chapter where our readers can rest! This book includes a companion website where chapter supplements and core files and documents could be easily accessed.

While comedy writers are responsible for creating clever scripts, comedic animators have a much more complicated problem to solve: What makes a physical character funny? Comedy for Animators breaks down the answer by exploring the techniques of those who have used their bodies to make others laugh. Drawing from traditions such as commedia dell'arte, pantomime, Vaudeville, the circus, and silent and modern film, animators will learn not only to create funny characters, but also how to execute gags, create a comic climate, and use environment as a character. Whether you're creating a comic villain or a bumbling sidekick, this is the one and only guide you need to get your audience laughing! Explanation of comedic archetypes and devices will both inspire and inform your creative choices Exploration of various modes of storytelling allows you to give the right context for your story and characters Tips for creating worlds, scenarios, and casts for your characters to flourish in Companion website includes example videos and further resources to expand your skillset--check it out at www.comedyforanimators.com! Jonathan Lyons delivers simple, fun, illustrated lessons that teach readers to apply the principles of history's greatest physical comedians to their animated characters. This isn't stand-up comedy-it's the falling down and jumping around sort!

This volume provides a comprehensive introduction to foundational topics in sound design for interactive media, such as gaming and virtual reality; compositional techniques; new interfaces; sound spatialization; sonic cues and semiotics; performance and installations; music on the web; augmented reality applications; and sound producing software design. The reader will gain a broad understanding of the key concepts and practices that define sound design for its use in computational media and design. The chapters are written by international authors from diverse backgrounds who provide multidisciplinary perspectives on sound in its interactive forms. The volume is designed as a textbook for students and teachers, as a handbook for researchers in sound, design and media, and as a survey of key trends and ideas for practitioners interested in exploring the boundaries of their profession.

Dive straight into hot Fire phone features you won't find in any other device - like Firefly, Mayday, and Dynamic Perspective - with this concise hands-on guide. You probably already know how to make calls, text, and take photos with Amazon's new phone, but where it really shines is in innovative features you've never even seen before. This intuitive, easy-to-follow book opens a world of possibilities with the Fire phone, right out of the box. Instantly identify and order just about any product with Firefly - from DVDs, CDs, and books (or their electronic equivalents) to nearly anything else with a barcode Use Mayday to get live, hands-on tech support and customer service right on your phone Immerse yourself in 3D games, maps, and apps with the Dynamic Perspective sensor system Navigate easily with new one-handed (and no-handed!) gestures found only on Fire phone

Over 200 high quality head shots and film stills to add visual reference to your research Detailed information on hundreds of never-before researched animators and films Coverage of animation from more than 90 countries and every major region of the world Chronological and geographical organization for quick access to the information you're looking for

The essential fundamentals of 3D animation for aspiring 3D artists

3D is everywhere--video games, movie and television special effects, mobile devices, etc. Many aspiring artists and animators have grown up with 3D and computers, and naturally gravitate to this field as their area of interest. Bringing a blend of studio and classroom experience to offer you thorough coverage of the 3D animation industry, this must-have book shows you what it takes to create compelling and realistic 3D imagery. Serves as the first step to understanding the language of 3D and computer graphics (CG)Covers 3D animation basics: pre-production, modeling, animation, rendering, and post-productionDissects core 3D concepts including design, film, video, and gamesExamines what artistic and technical skills are needed to succeed in the industryOffers helpful real-world scenarios and informative interviews with key educators and studio and industry professionals

Whether you're considering a career in as a 3D artist or simply wish to expand your understanding of general CG principles, this book will give you a great overview and knowledge of core 3D Animation concepts and the industry.

This book provides readers with a solid understanding of game development, design, narrative, charaterization, plot, back story and world creation elements that are crucial for game writers and designers as they create a detailed world setting, adventure, characters, narrative and plot suitable for possible publication. Game design and development issues such as writing for games, emergent complexity, risk reward systems, competitive and cooperative game play will be investigated, analyzed and critiqued. Examples will be used to highlight and explain the various concepts involved and how the game development process works. Key Features Provides the critical skills any good game designer should have, such as narrative, characterization, progression, challenges, world building, plot, and rewards Using a hands-on, learn-by-doing approach, this book teaches prospective game designers how to excel in creating their own worlds and adventures without having to learn any programming or technical computer skills Includes clear and concise chapter objectives, chapter overviews, examples, case studies, key terms and multiple in-depth analyses Multiple case studies are provided and thoroughly analyzed so that readers will be familiar with the concepts and methodologies involved in each task Over the course of the book, readers will develop a professional level asset for inclusion in a portfolio of work suitable for submitting to job applications

Game design is changing. The emergence of service games on PC, mobile and console has created new expectations amongst consumers and requires new techniques from game makers. In The Pyramid of Game Design, Nicholas Lovell identifies and explains the frameworks and techniques you need to deliver fun, profitable games. Using examples of games ranging from modern free-to-play titles to the earliest arcade games, via PC strategy and traditional boxed titles, Lovell shows how game development has evolved, and provides game makers with the tools to evolve with it. Harness the Base, Retention and Superfan Layers to create a powerful Core Loop. Design the player Session to keep players playing while being respectful of their time. Accept that there are few fixed rules: just trade-offs with consequences. Adopt Agile and Lean techniques to "learn what you need you learn" quickly Use analytics, paired with design skills and player feedback, to improve the fun, engagement and profitability of your games. Adapt your marketing techniques to the reality of the service game era Consider the ethics of game design in a rapidly changing world. Lovell shows how service games require all the skills of product game development, and more. He provides a toolset for game makers of all varieties to create fun, profitable games. Filled with practical advice, memorable anecdotes and a wealth of game knowledge, the Pyramid of Game Design is a must-read for all game developers. Key Features Harness the Base, Retention and Superfan Layers to create a powerful Core Loop. Design the player Session to keep players playing while being respectful of their time. Accept that there are few fixed rules: just trade-offs with consequences. Adopt Agile and Lean techniques to "learn what you need you learn" quickly. Use analytics, paired with design skills and player feedback, to improve the fun, engagement and profitability of your games. Adapt your marketing techniques to the reality of the service game era. Consider the ethics of game design in a rapidly changing world.

The purpose of this book is to look over the past 35 years of games to discuss titles whose design deserves to be studied by anyone with an interest in game design. While there are plenty of books that focus on the technical side of Game Development, there are few that study the nature of game design itself. Featuring a mix of console and PC offerings, I purposely left off some of the easy choices (Mario, Starcraft, Call of Duty, Overwatch) to focus on games that stood out thanks to their designs. Key Features An informative breakdown focusing on the design and gameplay of successful games Written to be useful for students or designers starting out in game development Books focused specifically on design are rare Perfect for students and professionals alike, or can be read for the nostalgia and history

When making games for kids, it's tempting to simply wing-it on the design. We were all children once, right? The reality is that adults are far removed from the cognitive changes and the motor skill challenges that are the hallmark of the developing child. Designing Games for Children, helps you understand these developmental needs of children and how to effectively apply them to games. Whether you're a seasoned game designer, a children's media professional, or an instructor teaching the next generation of game designers, Designing Games for Children is the first book dedicated to service the specific needs of children's game designers. This is a hands-on manual of child psychology as it relates to game design and the common challenges designers face. Designing Games for Children is the definitive, comprehensive guide to making great games for kids, featuring: Guidelines and recommendations divided by the most common target audiences - babies and toddlers (0-2), preschoolers (3-5), early elementary students (6-8), and tweens (9-12). Approachable and actionable breakdown of child developmental psychology, including cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development, as it applies to game design Game design insights and guidelines for all aspects of game production, from ideation to marketing

This entry in the BEA Electronic Media Research Series, born out of the April 2017 BEA Research Symposium, takes a look at video games, outlining the characteristics of them as cognitive, emotional, physical, and social demanding technologies, and introduces readers to current research on video games. The diverse array of contributors in this volume offer bleeding-edge perspectives on both current and emerging scholarship. The chapters here contain radical approaches that add to the literature on electronic media studies generally and video game studies specifically. By taking such a forward-looking approach, this volume aims to collect foundational writings for the future of gaming studies.

This collection offers an expansive, multiplatform exploration of the rapidly-expanding area of motion design and motion graphics, taking into account both theoretical questions and creative professional practice. Spanning interaction design, product interfaces, kinetic data visualizations, typography, TV and film title design, brand building, narrative storytelling, history, exhibits and environments, editors R. Brian Stone and Leah Wahlin offer an interdisciplinary range of academic essays and professional interviews that together form a dialogue between motion design theory and professional practice. Written for both those critically engaged with motion design as well as those working or aspiring to work professionally in the field, the book features a range of international contributors and interviews with some of the best-known designers in the field, including Kyle Cooper, Karin Fong, and Daniel Alenquer. The Theory and Practice of Motion Design seeks to illuminate the diverse, interdisciplinary field of motion design by offering a structured examination of how motion design has evolved, what forces define our current understanding and implementation of motion design, and how we can plan for and imagine the future of motion design as it unfolds. An accompanying online resource site, www.motionresource.com, contains visual representations of the examples described in the text.

Through the analysis of the work of the main Japanese animators starting from the pioneers of 1917, the book will overview the whole history of Japanese animated film, including the latest tendencies and the experimental movies. In addition to some of the most acclaimed directors Miyazaki Hayao, Takahata Isao, Shinkai Makoto, Tezuka Osamu and Kon Satoshi, the works of masters of animation such as Kawamoto Kihachiro, Kuri Yoji, Ofuji Noburo and Yamamura Koji will be analysed in their cultural and historical context. Moreover, their themes and styles will be the linking thread to overview the Japanese producing system and the social and political events which have often influenced their works. Key Features Insight into both mainstream and independent cinema Scientific reliability Easy readability Social and cultural context

Get the most from the most widely used application in the postproduction field! Gain the insider tips you need to compose eye-catching, imaginative Adobe After Effects projects quickly and effectively. In How to Cheat in After Effects, Second Edition seasoned AE expert Chad Perkins provides dozens of concise, step-by-step tutorials and lavish 4-color illustrations to get you on the fast track to producing amazing motion graphics and visual effects. Updated for CS6, this new edition has been revised to include: A brand new chapter on the most popular 3rd party effects including Trapcode Particular and Video Copilot's Element 3D New cheats on professional compositing, expressions, and high end visual effects Tons of cool light tricks and lessons on how to use Video Copilot's Optical Flares A thorough explanation of the Ray-trace 3D engine introduced in After Effects CS6 Downloadable resources with project files allowing you to work alongside the exercises in the book, as well as QuickTime movies displaying techniques There's no time to waste! Whether you are an intermediate After Effects user in need of its more advanced tools or a novice looking for techniques to up your game, this book will bring your motion graphics, visual effects, and graphic compositions to the next level. Downloadable resources project files are available at www.focalpress.com/9780415661065

Your Adobe Creative Cloud subscription delivers a breathtaking collection of state-of-the-art creativity tools-for web, print, video, interactive, digital marketing, UX/UI design, and more. With so much power, where do you start? If you're familiar with one or two of Adobe's tools, how do you extend your knowledge to make the most of the entire Creative Cloud, choose the right tool for each job, and do amazing work? Start right here, with the only classroom-proven guide to the entire Adobe Creative Cloud suite: Adobe Creative Cloud Classroom in a Book. Authored by leading designer and instructor Joseph Labrecque, this guide reflects his experience teaching hundreds of students at the University of Colorado Boulder College of Media, Communication & Information. Each chapter combines an overview of a Creative Cloud app with well-crafted hands-on practice. Labrecque introduces the software, explains essential concepts and design principles surrounding its use, guides you through basic tools and workflows, and then walks you through executing a project from beginning to end. You'll learn how each tool works in real life, and how to apply design concepts and theory in your own creative practice. Labrecque introduces the fundamentals of Creative Cloud for both desktop and mobile, Creative Cloud Express, and all these skills: Cloud-based photography with Lightroom Raster image compositing with Photoshop Vector graphics design with Illustrator Page layout management with InDesign Prototyping for screens with Adobe XD 3D rendering with Dimension Audio content production with Audition Video content sequencing with Premiere Pro Motion graphics compositing with After Effects Live performance capture with Character Animator Interactive content animation with Animate

Storytelling for Virtual Reality serves as a bridge between students of new media and professionals working between the emerging world of VR technology and the art form of classical storytelling. Rather than examining purely the technical, the text focuses on the narrative and how stories can best be structured, created, and then told in virtual immersive spaces. Author John Bucher examines the timeless principles of storytelling and how they are being applied, transformed, and transcended in Virtual Reality. Interviews, conversations, and case studies with both pioneers and innovators in VR storytelling are featured, including industry leaders at LucasFilm, 20th Century Fox, Oculus, Insomniac Games, and Google. For more information about story, Virtual Reality, this book, and its author, please visit StorytellingforVR.com

Experience the thrill of crafting your own HTML5 game with Phaser.js game engine. HTML5 and modern JavaScript game engines have helped revolutionized web based games. Each chapter in An Introduction to HTML5 Game Development with Phaser.js showcases a sample game that illustrates an aspect of Phaser.js (now Lazer.js) that can be used as is, or in remixed games of the developer’s design. Each of these examples help the reader to understand how to optimize JavaScript game development with modern project tooling like Grunt and Bower. Though the world of HTML game development continues to grow and evolve, An Introduction to HTML5 Game Development with Phaser.js, provides a grounded resource and vital learning tool to anyone looking to optimize web game development process.

Key Features

Chapter objectives and examples with sample code make concepts easy to grasp

Master questions and chapter summaries further help to solidify these concepts

Feature boxes that contain important hints and things to note help keep readers on the right path

This book uses a "building blocks" approach to game development and starts with the technology required to get things running

Each chapter will be a small sample game that demonstrates one piece of Phaser.js, giving the reader time to grasp and understand the core concepts

Subsequent chapters will demonstrate new features, building upon the knowledge of previous examples

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: About HTML5 Games

Chapter 3: Workspace Setup

Chapter 4: Phaser – Basic Setup

Chapter 5: Phaser Basics

Chapter 6: Game Examples

Chapter 7: Deployment

Chapter 8: Conclusion

Appendices