EXPERIMENT 1: The Physical Effect of an Explosion on Porosity.

DUE: MONDAY 30 AUGUST BY MIDNIGHT.

ASSESSMENT WEIGHTING: 35% (marking schedule)

EXPERIMENT 1: The Physical Effects of Explosions on Porosity.


TIMETABLE: Weeks 2 - 7, 35% of final grade.
ARCHITECTURAL COMPUTING CHALLENGE: To test and document the physical effect/s of an explosion on the 'built' environment.
REFERENCE TEXTS: Simulation vs Narrative: Introduction to Ludology, by Gonzalo Frasca in The Video Game Theory Reader, M. Wolf and B. Perron Ed's, pg's 221 - 235,
Documentaphobia and Mixed Modes: Michael Moore's Roger and Me, by Matthew Bernstein in Documenting the Documentary: Close Readings of Documentary Film and Video, Barry Grant and Jeanette Sloniowski Ed's. pg's 397-415.
SOFTWARE: Blogger, SketchUp, Crysis Wars, Fraps, Premier, Vegas (trial).
TECHNIQUES: Blogging, Modeling, Repurposing Computer Games, Visual Scripting, Machinima, Video Editing, Documentary.
OUTPUTS: 1 x 120 second (max!) video clip, 1 x SketchUp model, 1 x Blog, 1 x Crysis Wars Level, 1 x Crysis Wars Objects File and required files to "play test" your work.
PREMISE: The combination of the physics engines in contemporary computer games with video capture devices provides an opportunity to capture and critically reflect on complex interrelationships between objects, catalysts and space.

PROCEDURE

1. Using the Sandbox 2 editor for Crysis Wars create a level and assemble the structure found in the "benv2423_objects" folder on the FBE resources drve here:R:\samples\benv\BENV2423 - Lowe
2. Use the structure to arrange a 3 dimensional field of 'prefabs' ranging in size from small to large that engages with the notion of Porosity. Adjust the terrain to suit.
3. Carefully place explosive devices and record the interrelationships between objects, the explosive catylists and space as they are triggered.
4. Capture different versions or views of the interrelationships created in step 2 from a custom ramp and platforms made in Google SketchUp. Think expansively about the nature of your ramps and platforms, but at a minimum they should include moving elements (via flowgraph, trackview and/or physics).
5. Compile video captures into a custom Machinima showing several different versions, or views, of the interrelationships into one 120 second (maximum) video clip with titles and captions as necessary.

USEFUL LINKS

http://javimoya.com/blog/youtube_en.php (video downloader, and conversion if necessary)
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=crysis+editor+demo&search_type = (Crysis Editor Demo)
http://www.fileplanet.com/ (See Top 50 Hottest Files > Movies)
http://www.gametrailers.com/previews.php (See the different Channels)

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

In addition to the overall course assessment criteria students will be assessed on the level and extent to which they engage with the criteria listed below:

THE 3 DIMENSIONAL FIELD_ Does the 3 dimensional field bring small, medium and large elements together to suggest a distinctive and significant approach to notion of Porosity?
THE CUSTOM MACHINIMA _ Does the Custom Machinima demonstrate a distinctive and significant approach to notions of Explosion and refiguring Porosity?
THE PLATFORM_Do the ramp and platforms assist in the capture of different versions or views of the explosion/s in a distinctive and significant way?
THE TITLES AND CAPTIONS_ Do the titles and captions make a distinctive and significant contribution to the video clips?