Animated Story

The screen will be black and will blurr into the world.

"Hey, are you ok?" came a voice from no particular direction. Vaguely you feel the comforting feeling of soft grass between your fingers. Opening you eyes, the darkness around your consciousness evaporates. You are within a wide open field full of flowers. Out in the distance rolls many hills then finally towering mountains. To you right, a widely used dirt road stretches north and south.

Essentially this will not be exactly what will happen because the user is allowed to look around on their own accord. However these things will be available to see.

Looking up, you see no sun but the clouds themselves seem to brighten up the world. There in front of you is a scraggily traveler. A giant pack sits upon his back stocked with various camping equipment. However, most notable is the many books that hang from the sides of the pack. His outward hand is blackened at the fingers from the bleeding of ink. A writer no doubt.

A small indication like a bubble or other image that intices the user to click will cause the character to reach out and grab the man's hand. There are several of these kinds of things that will happen in the game. The user also has the choice to refuse the man's hand.

Trustingly, you take his hand and he pulls you up. He look expectantly at you, as if he's waiting for you to speak.

Again, the words said by the user are completely up to them. The following is an example of what might happen.

"Where am I?" you ask.

What every the user types, the NPC will respond. If they are friendly enough, they'll say more than three word sentences.

The man laughs at you but gives a friendly smile. "You're in Thaer, but more importantly, you are 10 miles out of Raddoun."

"Raddoun? What's that?"

"It's a small town to the south." He geustures in the general direction. "Though I don't suggest going there at the moment."

"Why?"

"There seems to be something wrong with the villagers. Sure they answer your questions and sell you wares... but all they seem to be concerned about is the forest," the traveler tilts his head to the large forest that lays beyond.

You silently consider checking out the village or visiting the forest. In that time, you finally decide to visit the forest. Quite, possibly there is something interesting there. "Thank you," you tell the traveler and begin heading towards the forest.

 Here's another option. The user could go two ways to investigate or simply ignore it. Thanking, forgiving, and giving gifts will also increase your reputation in game.

Vaguely you remember that this forest is Tel'murin Forest, but despite that, you move on. The light from the clouds brightens up the forest to a glowing green hue. It is alive with sound. There is nothing that seems odd at all. The animals aren't running from anything evil. Seems like whatever is bothering the villages might be harmless. Yet, as you break into a large clearing, you are encountered by a sleeping dragon. Warily, you step back. However, its nose twitches and its large eyes open to reveal golden irises. The black pupils shrink into thin vertical lines that focus on you. For a moment, you feel that you should run away and that I might attack you, but oddly, the dragon smiles at you. It lifts its head off its great paws and shifts its head to look straight at you.

Dragons are the hallmark of the game. All interactions with any NPC are completely freeform as they talk to you. You are also given reactions to use at anytime, like cower, nod, etc. and each of these reactions will affect the NPCs.

"I was wondering what was taking you so long," the dragon grummbled, its voice rumbling the very earth underneath your feet.

"What?!" you asked a little hurriedly.

"I summoned you here only a few days ago, it seems the energy couldn't quite find you on Earth."

Totally confused, you stand there a little stunned and say nothing.

"Welcome to Thaer, I have summoned you for one thing. "

One other great aspect is that the NPCs will be animated. They will  move their arms, explain their situation with gestures and even some, like dragons, might circle you if they are trying to threaten you.

The Story

"Hey, are you ok?" came a voice from no particular direction. Vaguely you feel the comforting feeling of soft grass between your fingers. Opening you eyes, the darkness around your consciousness evaporates. You are within a wide open field full of flowers. Out in the distance rolls many hills then finally towering mountains. To you right, a widely used dirt road stretches north and south. Looking up, you see no sun but the clouds themselves seem to brighten up the world. There in front of you is a scraggily traveler. A giant pack sits upon his back stocked with various camping equipment. However, most notable is the many books that hang from the sides of the pack. His outward hand is blackened at the fingers from the bleeding of ink. A writer no doubt. Trustingly, you take his hand and he pulls you up. He look expectantly at you, as if he's waiting for you to speak.

"Where am I?" you ask.

The man laughs at you but gives a friendly smile. "You're in Thaer, but more importantly, you are 10 miles out of Raddoun."

"Raddoun? What's that?"

"It's a small town to the south." He geustures in the general direction. "Though I don't suggest going there at the moment."

"Why?"

"There seems to be something wrong with the villagers. Sure they answer your questions and sell you wares... but all they seem to be concerned about is the forest," the traveler tilts his head to the large forest that lays beyond.

You silently consider checking out the village or visiting the forest. In that time, you finally decide to visit the forest. Quite, possibly there is something interesting there. "Thank you," you tell the traveler and begin heading towards the forest.

Vaguely you remember that this forest is Tel'murin Forest, but despite that, you move on. The light from the clouds brightens up the forest to a glowing green hue. It is alive with sound. There is nothing that seems odd at all. The animals aren't running from anything evil. Seems like whatever is bothering the villages might be harmless. Yet, as you break into a large clearing, you are encountered by a sleeping dragon. Warily, you step back. However, its nose twitches and its large eyes open to reveal golden irises. The black pupils shrink into thin vertical lines that focus on you. For a moment, you feel that you should run away and that I might attack you, but oddly, the dragon smiles at you. It lifts its head off its great paws and shifts its head to look straight at you.

"I was wondering what was taking you so long," the dragon grummbled, its voice rumbling the very earth underneath your feet.

"What?!" you asked a little hurriedly.

"I summoned you here only a few days ago, it seems the energy couldn't quite find you on Earth."

Totally confused, you stand there a little stunned and say nothing.

"Welcome to Thaer, I have summoned you for one thing.

..... brainfart.

Second Screen

This will contain any tweeks to a person's appearance. The final product will allow the user to manipulate their avatars, like Sims, to an utmost perfect reflection of themselves. Parts of their body that need to be fatter or wider will use the scroll on the mouse. However, some attributes like muscle, hair length (which will grow), fat, etc. will use sliders. In particular, hair will not be set styles but instead the user can use the slider to "grow" and "cut" their hair to the desired length.
Color is also something that will not be available via scroll.
Voice will be an option to scroll up and down the pitch of grunts, attacks, etc.

Mini Doppelganger

First Screen
User input of themselves. Bloodtype, birthdate, gender, height, eye color...

Bloodtype will most likely affect the Spirit(mana) pool. One end will be a larger pool but slow regen. The other end will be a smaller pool but fast regen.

Age can effect the classes available to the user.Younger users will not be allowed to be blacksmiths or gunsmen. However the classes that are available will be page, apprentice, etc.

Gender isn't too much of a game changer, but males will tend to be more adapt to physical while females are more mental(magic).

Height merly sets the model in the second screen.

Eye color may or may not have a great impact. Those with green will be considered more in tune with dragons. There will also be a choice for those who have eyes that change color.

Class

starship titanic
Hugo
Animation Explanation

Describe the game in an animation.
Develop a very basic version of the game. Character creation, one NPC.
The only problem with the very basic is that you still need the character creation depth, can't really shrink it down. Maybe to basicnfo.

Dragon Biology Update

While driving back from Arizona, I had plenty of time to think over the game. Though mostly it was over the dragon aspect of it.

One of the endings is that you help the dragons "reconnect" to Earth. Dragons were magically advanced far back in time before the meteor struck Earth. The truth is that the meteor that was supposed to hit Earth, was far greater than what scientists believe.  In fact, what hit Earth was a chunk that could not be avoided by the dragons. What had happened was, before the impact, the greatest of the dragons altered reality and created an identical Earth. This was because they feared that they were influencing the natural habitat of Earth far too much and it was suffering because of that. When the meteor started to head towards Earth, the dragons, unable to destroy such a large quantity of space rock, transported it into their new world of Thaer in which it cracked the planet into several pieces on its northern hemisphere.

Slowly over time, their creation, Thaer, continuously sucked up the magic in the world of Earth in order to fully complete its physical form in the alternate dimension. This lead to the slow disappearance of dragons and drakes on Earth and why we do not see them on our planet any longer. This "reconnection" has been in the process for hundreds of years as the dragons have waited for a sentient species to develop on Earth before starting the connection process. You will help align the supreme vortexes of power with those of Earth's Guardian who is doing the same on your home world.

The Purpose

The purpose that drives the character forward will ultimately be a decision of the player. There will be multiple instances where the player has to pick and choose. Such as an NPC who has learned of your ideal, asks if you are trying to go back home or stay here. Most that have gone through / are on the same path as you will suggest you stay. Though there are the occasional game addicts that will talk to you in DnD language and will express a desire to return home to play video games. Though those are considered crazy. Who would want to leave a world so much like the games they play?

A Breif History of Dragons in Thaer

Dragons will be a constant reminder in the background of the story... of course unless you are a Shapeshifter. Those of the highest order of the shapeshifters are all dragons.

In front of the story, you see dragons as a rarity, the normal kind, there are those that are wise and those that are blinded by animal instinct. Dragons naturally horde gold and jewels in order to strengthen their scales. If you are defending a wagon full of gold or just happen to carry a good large satchel of it, chances are, you'll find a dragon nearby.

In the back of the story, Dragons are indeed the dominant species in every shape and form. They are the most technilogically advanced and phyisically they don't need much else than their claws to destroy you. Of course, they have much more than that. You see. In order for the universe to be balanced (and not overrun with dragons), as the dragons evolved, their younger selves grew more instinctual. 1 out of 10 eggs laid in a clutch would wield a "dragon", while the rest are denounced as "drakes".  For the first few hundred years, most dragons and drakes are hardly told apart. It is when the dragon begins to understand its true powers over nature, and its curiousity grows, that it soon seeks out more like it. These dragons will travel all across Thaer for knowledge. It might take centuries for a dragon to stumble upon the capital city, others, it might only take a few days.

The Capital is where most dragons live. It is also the only space port on the planet in which the dragons can travel to other solar systems. Yes, I said other solar systems. You see, dragons have become so technologically and magically advanced that they have crowned themselves with the duty to oversee the universe. They are what humans have called guardian angels, spirit guides, muses, etc. By using their shapshifting powers, (which is ultimately their power to control energy and matter) they form themselves to their liking.

Story

How should the game begin? Should you be waking up? Waking up to start a new day? Waking up from sleeping during class? [One choice in creation could be your average sleep schedule and what they 'wake' up from can be such. Another factor is if they work or not and if it is during the day or night.]
Someone would be waking you up. [This person would be the one who is most important to you, but you don't see their face as they soon leave.] And you'd find yourself in somewhat familiar surroundings. [Current residence would be added as a configuration. The place closest to where you live now will be a choice. This could include about 10-20 different game sets alone, not to mention the particulars that happen to you in game. Doppelganger WILL be a recreation and will require lots of advanced ways to minimalize the data that will be required to house such a database in which most of it might not even be used. ] All in all, this beginning area will be what introduces you to the game mechanics. You can lift objects, throw them, and break them. You will be taught the Text communication with the NPC and the wonders that can foretold with that mechanism. Basic fighting might be introduced here but that can ultimately depened on what your personality turned out to be in the game.

The greatest obstacle will be WHY and HOW are you transported into Thaer or Ohm... Probably Thaer since it'll be more easy to explain...Will those with higher intellect already be studying into alternate dimensions?

Doppelganger's User Recognition

Changing the voice/language recognition to more of a typing recognition. You type your reply and based on the words or phrases in the sentence you said, the NPC will respond accordingly. You can also ask a bunch about them depending on how well they trust you. Things like their favorite foods, hobbies, or some good rumors might help. Also, NPCs that trust you can be asked how to do things like fight, etc. just in case you forgot.

"Have you heard any rumors lately?"
"I'm bored and I need something to do."
"How do I cast spells?"


If the NPC does not recognize what you are trying to say they will respond with something along the lines of "What did you say?". Kinda like Blizzard, if they don't understand you repeatedly, they'll start to get angrier and angrier until they'll just ignore you and won't talk to you. Everyone knows someone is going to try and say "Fuck you" or something along those lines if this is implemented. So if this happens, the NPC will respond and stop talking to them (if they are good, evil might respond differently).

"Hello"
"Sorry, I didn't hear that."
"What did you say again?"
"I don't think I get what you are trying to tell me."
"Why are you speaking so strangely?"
"Are you making fun of me?"
"I'm sorry, I don't speak stupid."
"That's what your mother said last night."
"Stop bothering me."
"Why don't you go and be retarded elsewhere."

Typing instead of selection will ultimately keep this game on the PC. Possible versions where selections are available will be on the systems. These selections might be decided by a scrollable bar that is green to yellow to red which represents a good, in-between, or negative response.

Doppelganger

During work, I decided to share my game idea with one of my friends, hoping that they would listen and wait til I was done before judging. Our conversation really helped me somewhat flesh out my idea.

In Doppelganger, the first thing you'll see is the character creation screen in which you'll be creating your virtual self who will be at most like you. All this information that you input into the game will translate and effect the incoming world that you will be "visiting". Once done with the creation process, the game starts with you waking up at home normally. This stage is to get the user used to the controls. Things like picking up objects and affecting the world around you will be covered in this stage. Then something strange happens (depending on the tendencies in your profile) and you are whisked away into the world of Ohm. There will be two or three main branches in which will affect your gameplay. Your goal. Either you are trying to return to Earth or you don't care and wish to remain in this world forever because it was one of your own personal fantasies. No matter the reason, you are on Ohm and soon encounter the townsfolk of the local village. Weirded out by your strange attire, they ask many questions.

Skipping a bit, eventually you will learn the fact that you can learn a class. Here's where Heidi and I really talked.

In the beginning, you entered your bloodtype. This piece of information is important because the type of blood type you have affects the amount of Intuition and Logic you possess. These are effectively mana pools but work differently for different classes. Such as the Shapeshifter class would need a huge pool of Intuition to be ultimately effective.

Another thing I was thinking about adding to the game is voice/language recognition. Meaning that the NPCs will actually understand what you say to them through the microphone provided.

Also, Doppelganger has the ability to be multi-player through system or LAN so that you may explore the world around you with your friends.

Looking Back 3.2 & SIP Decision

Jnana

• Why would someone want this?
  People who like to stay in touch with the world. Random news and information will increase the users' knowledge.
• How is your major involved?
  Animations for the different information that goes out to people. Will be a huge project to include all cities, countries, and people can upload some about themselves.
• What other majors would be involved?
  Programming.
• What more did you develop as you were asked the questions?Users can choose to make their own card to be displayed to random people. There might be future issues with stalkers. However user input will be limited in order to keep them safe. A/S/L(though only to city) + Name + favorites

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Here is a list of some good ideas that I might like to go through with:
Doppelganger
Jnana
Virtual Plant
Language Buddy

Of all of these, Doppelganger seems to be the best of them though they all have their own nice quirks. Jnana might be a good back up. Language Buddy seems a bit difficult and relies heavily on robotics and programming. Virtual Plant seems like a good idea, but interest in it would be very low. It's not really needed.

So in the end, I think I'll go with Doppelganger and call it rightly so :D Only problem is, it might not be too "innovative". We'll see.

Looking Backwards Version 3.0

Doppelganger

• Why would someone want this?
  There's always that fantasy that everyone has of putting themselves in their character's shoes. Or even just tagging along with the character.
• How is your major involved?
  Animations for the characters in the game. Design for the game.
• What other majors would be involved?
  Game Design, Game Programming, Game Art & Animation (maybe).
• What more did you develop as you were asked the questions?
  All things about yourself are implemented into the game. Age, sex, gender, birthplace, sign, bloodtype, everything. If you've won awards, if you've gone to the hospital... everything. Even a personality test to give your character the emotion it needs.

Looking Backwards ... Still...

Virtual Friend

• Why would someone want this?
  People who like cute things? Maybe someone who can't type? Instead the dragon can type for you.
  
• How is your major involved?
  I will be animating and modeling the creature or dragon that runs around the screen. I'll also model the more detailed model that is printed and can be interacted with.
  
• What other majors would be involved?
  Programming for the software, and possibly robotics for the sense touching on the little dragon.
  
• What more did you develop as you were asked the questions?The screen buddy can type for you. It's like Dragon with an actual dragon! or other creature. So it has voice and touch recognition. Also it will have its own personality and continueally develop it depending on what you do daily. So if you are a gamer it it might whip out game items and play with them. Or of you check your mail a lot, it will notify you if you have mail. The dragon/creature does not speak English unless the creature is a human. Elves would be made to speak in Queyan when it needs to. etc. etc.

Looking Backwards

Virtual Plant

• Why would someone want this?
  People who do not have the time to water plants. Also gives a house a unique floral display because the plants will be different or alien to what we see normally.
• How is your major involved?
  Animation is within the software. Plants will grow according the parameters set. Models and texture of the software plant. Ending print will be "re-modeled" to be as realistic as possible when printed.
• What other majors would be involved?
  Programmers for the software. Other artists and robotics...? Robotics majors can work on installing the electrical components of the pot and developing a way for the plant itself to change color if possible.
• What more did you develop as you were asked the questions?
  The printed plant may be able to change color depending on how much "water" it has not or has been given. There would be a little health point monitor on the bottom of the pot to show how alive it is. You press a button to water it everyday. But you can also set the plant to not 'need' to be watered. The printed plant would be in normal soil and a real porcelain pot for ultimate realistic quality.

Creature

• Why would someone want this?Probably aimed towards children. They are able to create their own toy creatures and experience as their creations are given habits and sounds.
• How is your major involved?Probably the animation part of the game or the software in which the child can view a model of their creature on the computer with it making sounds.
• What other majors would be involved?Game design, game art and animation, game programming will work on the game aspect. Robotics will develop a way to put the chip inside the piece for the computer to read.
• What more did you develop as you were asked the questions?There will be a game element in which the developed creature can fight its way through an online world. Kids can fight each other or NPCs.

Language Buddy

• Why would someone want this?Multilingual families can be rest assured that their child will learn the languages they need to live in their parent's world. Learning languages is best started when the child is young, because their learning capabilities are so strong at that age. Even if a child doesn't belong to a multi-lingual family, the parents can start them off learning another language and the child will easily breeze by school or college classes. Also this might develop into versions for adults or teenagers.
• How is your major involved?My major is not very involved into this aspect. Models can be created in modeling software before they are made and designed into the physical world.
• What other majors would be involved?This will be BIG on programming and for robotics. Language software will need to be created for the Language Buddy and components put into its body.
• What more did you develop as you were asked the questions?
  Adults and teenagers won't be subjected to  carrying around a plushie (if they don't want to). As progress is shown, later versions for teenagers and adults will be made. These will and can carry advanced or early language programs. Models might be robotic pets or a simple hand held that you take a picture of the item you are looking at. Could be a hat, or a pet that can sit on your shoulder.

New and Old Ideas

Empathsize
I am animation. I am the creator of life. I am a tool in which life is created. AR animation software? Animate with your hands. Sculpt with your hands. Who am I? A dragon with the powers of space manipulation...

Weather or Not
Sky box weather generator? Depending on the amount of industrial or organic things on the map, the sky's weather will adjust accordingly. Also input real world coordinates. Have a bar on the side that tells you how much rain, snow, sleet, hail, tornados, etc. will appear on the map and the skybox. Will need to research into how plants and world elements effect the weather. Do some tests. Title: Weather or Not.? LOL. Definitely need a programmer. It would be an addon to a game engine maybe? or ...some world editor. Input models for trees and all sorts of other plants. Each model requires what type of plant or object it is. Insert all your own models.
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Evolve 2.0
A morning widget displaying a random country or county or city or town or person... letting you know who they are, what they are, how they are like, what they like, what they dislike.. A way to evolve global awareness of fellow Earthians.
How to impose this onto an animation major. Maybe animations of the people? Cartoonist-ic ones? the nationalities, flags, water, ships... Just to add some flavor. Title -> Known or Arimasu which is existence... or a cute name, like Chi which happens to mean wisdom,higher knowledge. Jnana  is the same but a Buddhist term.

+3

Transformation

Animation to nature. Steampunk in terms of animation? What if the world was controlled by the power of magic/energy instead of mainly technological advances through electric devices. What would the world be like? Does innovation have to be along the lines of technology? What about a story element never seen before? What about... something where you input who you are, what you have done, into a game, and the way that the NPCs react to you, have something to do with that? Might even be a mind thing...convincing people to make things out of themselves.

Animators constantly separate themselves from the workplace to observe the world around them. How the world animates itself. Their job is to simply copy and hopefully represent the same item that you would find in the real world.


Reverse
The opposite of animation. To create something living and breathing. Maybe work backwards? Bring dead things to life? Dead people or animals. Animated bones. Zombies... If animators actually were necromancers? Or are they already? Though the things that modelers create were never alive before hand. Happy Birthday. Deathday. Animators kill their own creations... and reanimate it into something else. Zombimation.


Animation
Ha, a method the same as the topic. Bring to life the computer? Think outside the box. AR sculpting. What if all living things became inanimate and inanimate became animate? Repetition... repeating the same movement... That's already Motion Capture. Tell a creature on the computer to do the things you want on your computer?