Research: iBooks Author.

When talking about interactive story telling, you can't really forget to talk about Apples new iBooks Author. I was lucky enough to try it out last year before general release. It allows you to make books for iBooks app on iPad and iPhone. Its a very simple program, that can be used to make very simple text or story books that have the built in code for swiping to the next page. Saying that though, you can use it to make it infinetly more interactive by adding your own menu using link work arounds and such.

Research: Interactive Flash Animations

Okay, so ive been looking into some of the ways people have made flash interactive, and I found this cute little thing: http://www.tongsville.com/city/index.html

Flash has also been used for interactive menus, like in Homestarrunner.com. I feel like flash could be a very interesting way of making something interactive. Now all I need to do is add the social element.

Research: Crowd sourced music video.

I found this really awesome crowd source made music video. It records your mouse movements, and adds it to everyone else's mouse movements, creating a really nice looking effect. I urge you to do it your self, its really cool.

It's Here!

Research: Video games.

When talking about interactivity within digital media, you can't really forget to talk about video games. The ultimate in narrative interaction. Since the idea of using Cathode ray tubes to simulate a simple tennis game in Tennis for two back in the 50's, video games have made huge strides in how a user can interact with different aspects of the virtual world that has been presented. This is thanks to the technology improving, but also because the way humans socialize and interact with each other. With the invention of the internet came a brand new way of communicating with each other, a much easier way of getting to know people. This invention has made the world a much smaller place, allowing us to talk to anyone from all over the world with the click of a mouse. The first game that was able to network play with another computer was Space war!. It was just a small space fighting game, but it showed how the digital interactive game could be a communal thing, bringing people together. Fast forward to the future, and I can go home, turn on my Playstation 3 and connect with millions of people all over the world to play Grand Theft Auto at the same time, on the same map, and even talk and progress through the game with them.

Video games are a great example of how something digital can be bother interactive and social. This is also the same for social media websites like Facebook, and even user generated content sites like Newgrounds or Youtube.

Research: Interactive Video.

A cool part of interactive design is the use of YouTube to make interactive stories with different outcomes. This is done simply by having links at the end of the video that go to other videos, depending on the choice of link. A good example of this is Luigi's mansion: An Interactive Adventure Game by DrCoolSex.

Another, and possibly better example is the recent video released by Bob Dylan, which has you flipping through channels, while all the actors of the TV shows are mouthing "Like a Rolling Stone". I love this so much, and I would love to do something along these lines.

http://video.bobdylan.com/desktop.html

Brief Two: Design for interactivity

Another brief! This time its for Design for Interactivity:

From reading the brief I got that I have to design and develop an interactive project that explores and plays with concepts of human and machine relations. It can be anything! I don't have an idea straight of the bat for this one, so i'm going to have to bite to bullet and do some real research..

Adverts/explanations.

Click here to see how it works on the web.

Shot by Shot.

Snazzed up story board shots from the composition.

Story Board sketch and Logo sketch

Progressings

H'ok so.. I've finished the bulk of my animating, and I have decided that I'm not going to do my own voice work, So I have gotten someone to come and do it with me on Thursday night, which is good..! So for this project I have an advert, but I feel like I can do more.. Sarah suggested that I do a PDF explaining my product, But I think I'm going to go one step beyond and make an illustrated HTML document. It'll look a lot nicer, plus I can set it up to be responsive so that it will work on multiple devices. So'll ill spend some time doing that tonight, hopefully I can get all the illustrations done, and even some of the code. Just one more week to go till deadline, but I'm feeling pretty confident that I'm on top of it all.

LOUD NOISES

OK! So ive got the bulk of my animation all finished up! It may need me going back in to clean it up a little, but for the most part its all good..! On Monday evening I will be recording my Voice Over, then I have something that I can hand in..! Right now I'm playing with various sound effects, and seeing what fits. I have this GREAT website that I use. Www.Freesounds.org/

Gots a script and have started to animate!

Okay! So ive got a script! which is good.. I'm struggling to get hold of a good enough microphone to record, but I should be getting one soon. Ive been playing around with the animation for a while now, and I think ive come up with a good look for it! Below are some screenshots of what I have so far! I am mostly using Flash and After Effects, plus Audition when I get hold of a decent microphone! But the balls rolling! I should be done pretty soon!