Feed Back (P5/M2/D2)

PDP

M2/D2 Part 1

M2/D2 Part 2

This feedback really helped and without it, I would have achieved a lower grade. All the feedback that I receive I implemented them into my work.I missed some of the basics... The basics are as crucial as the terminology. If you cannot write in correct English, with good grammar and punctuation, it will let you down as much as having no terminology.

Game Design Document

P5

Debbie Eacott my lecture went through my game design document looking for feedback that she could give me. One thing that stood out to Debbie was the inconsistency of my work (text bigger in some locations, using different font, using different colors, using different shades of those colors,having larger spaces after heading and then not). I went through all Debbie's feedback and altered by design and made it look more professional - adding themes and settings a font style and size.

PDP And Game Design Document Review (D2)

Completed PDP

Thanks to Cameron Mason, who gave me feedback on my work. He helped me improve my PDP and now I have completed it using his feedback. I sorted all my punctuation out and added extra terminology when and where needed.

What has the PDP done to help me?

The PDP has helped me understand what I have learnt, it has shown me how I have over come certain barriers that I have come across. This document is good because you can use this at any time, if you want to record the skills that you acquire and to know when you learned them and how. This document helps show this.
The PDP also shows skills that I wish to develop. This document also helps me see personal goals and things that I wish to learn and develop.

Will I use the PDP in the future? I believe this document is dry for-filling and will work well with any future development that I may wish to make. It's also good to show potential employer because they will want to know the skills and determination that you may have.

Completed Game Design Document

Thanks to Jack Mullen, who gave me feedback towards my game design document and helped me in making my design document look better and more professional, all the comments that he left where added and the completed version is linked above.

What has the Game Design Document done to help me.

I learnt a lot of new things in the making of my game design document. I learnt how to keep my document consistent, this made my work look more professional and I learnt about styles, which you can use to make sure every heading is the same for example. I learnt that you must proof read your work, its very easy to miss 'a word, a full stop, a capital'.  

PDP And Game Design Document Draft (P7/P8/M2)

My PDP

This is a draft copy if my PDP. Cameron Mason is going to be going through it and pointing out any room for improvement. I will the apply these and re-upload the final draft.

Peer PDP Feedback

My peer's name is 'Cameron Mason', Cameron gave me feedback on how to improve my work. In response I reviewed his work to help him achieve a higher grade. I was mainly looking for the basics, dew to missing something as simple as a full stop can alter your grade. His content was great along with his layout. Just a few grammar and punctuation issues, once that's sorted, he will be done.

Game Design Document Draft, With Feedback

My peer's name is 'Jack Mullen', Jack went through my game design document looking for any outstanding issues. He was looking for lack of terminology, grammar, punctuation and any inconsistency. If Jack found any, he added a comment stating where it was and what was wrong, I then went through all the comments and made the changes to my work.

MY GAME PITCH (P4,P5,P6,D1)

My Presentation - My Pitch

Analyse
What I Had To Do? I had to use my written skills to make a presentation about my game idea, I then had to use my verbal skills to pitch it to the class, lecturer and camera.

Assess
I had to put my fear behind me, presenting in front of people and I had to make sure that I progress through my pitch making sure I use all the correct terminology at the correct times. I had to talk positively and use that positivity to sell my game.

Evaluate
I was determined to show of my game and advise the audience about it. I also wanted to tell them why I had to make it.. Now from my PowerPoint which you can see in the link above, that I tried asking myself questions... why? well I thought it would be easier for stimulating my memories. This turned out to be a good idea if you could remember what you wrote within your design document.

Comment Critically
I believe my pitches went well, however I had that moment where once I stepped up and took my position I forgot everything that I was going to say. This was quite embarrassing, yet I carried on forcing myself through it.

Evaluate Critically
I missed a lot of terminology when coming to present my pitch, I forgot loads of the relevant terminology and panicked. I should have added reminders in my presentation to stimulate the correct words. Its crucial that you stay calm when presenting, it can cause you to loose a whole grade like I found out.

Summarize
I gained a Merit and I'm happy with the result, I'm not a confident speaker and to get a Merit is amazing. I would have liked to get a Distinction but like I said, I am very happy with acquiring a Merit.

VOIP EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION (P5/D1)

What is VOIP

VOIP is an acronym for Voice Over Internet Protocol. VOIP is a online phone service. VIOP can also be used to make cheaper phone calls, some of them are free.

Where VOIP is used and why?

VOIP is used on different types of software an example is in the picture below.

This picture shows the top 10 software which uses VOIP. Lets take Skype and Lingo as examples. Skype's whole idea was to make a software which can call people for free. Skype was made to help people in other countries communicate with others over seas, saving loads of money. Lingo is very similar, they both specialise in calling people in other countries. They help if any phone services go down to, they can be a backup way, using it through the internet.

Advantages of using VOIP in a work place.

• Free
• Gives you access to applications you would usually have to pay for, for example Caller ID.
• Easy to use.
• PC - PC free no matter the difference
• Its professional

Disadvantage of using VOIP in a work place

• Requires internet
• peoples internet speeds different
• VOID is dependant on wall power
• Emergency calls may be an issue with most VOIP
• The VOIP is as good as your computer is, so if your computer is faulty and slow then your calls will be to.

Skype
Skype is a type of VOIP. On Skype you can make calls, video calls and instant messaging. This is good because its all free. Skype like mentioned is a VOIP, so all the advantages and disadvantages apply with it. In a business you may need to make conference calls. Skype has this... However its not free. So if the business was looking to cut back on their money, wasting it on a program may not be the smartest ideas. However its what you would pay for a phone contract, except the whole of your business could use it.

Hotmail - Email
Hotmail is a type of effective communication. You can send electronic mail to your work peers, friends and family. You can send professional looking messages to present your self. The emails you send can contain images and files. This will help if you are wanting to send something to your manager. Once again this program is free, so the business will not have to waste any money.

Facebook
Facebook is a type of effective communication. You can send messages to people all over the world. You enter their name and it locates them and you can click 'send message'. This is good as long as you keep the images on your account professional, because if your boss decides to look you up and sees you in a bad state, he will think twice before keeping you on the job. Facebook can show how people feel through statuses. This helps people know how you are today and let them be aware on how your behaviour may be during the day.

The Comparison
In my opinion 'Facebook' is the best, its the best because it got be hooked first, it was addicting. It was easy to use, it was easy to locate my friends and family and it was easy to communicate with others. Email however looks more professional, Email should defiantly be used for most work places because its very reliable, and not everyone can have access to the email address, without knowing the email address then you wont get hassled. Skype is good for its free video and call idea, being able to ring people in other countries for free is always a bonus. So overall they all have their benefits, that's what makes them different, their edge.

EVALUATE WRITTEN TECHNOLOGY (D1)

Game Design Document For GTA - Race N Chase

Good Points - Things I Liked About The Game Document

• I like the layout, what I mean by this is. At the top of every page it tells me the game design document that I'm looking at, which is 'Race N Chase'. It tells me what page I am on. It tells me the date in which this document was issued. Lastly it tells me what version of the document I am reading. Now that not all I like about the layout, that was just about the headers. I love the use of headings on each page telling me about the information below it. For example it says 'Players' below it, it will tell me all about the player. This makes navigating through the document easy, especially if your looking for a particular set of information. I like the use of tables which it uses throughout the document. This helps to explain certain pieces of information like dates and issues etc.
• I like the use of consistency throughout the document. What I mean by this is, how all the text is the same size for each heading and the writing below. There is not a page where the writing is a nice bright yellow then on the next a dark black. Its the same through out (black and white).
• I like how it uses dates, this helps you understand the exact day in which this document was either finished or edited or finalized. All information that we can use for references if needed.

Overall this document looks very professional with it being all words. However in other peoples eyes people may not like that so onto the bad points.

Bad Points - Things I Disliked About The Game Document

• This document is lacking images, this is a key thing to include with your document because it can show many things, the main thing is development. For example they can show a character that they have created. Due to this game being part of a sequel in the next game, people who played this one will know who the characters are and how they have changed. Images also explain certain parts a game that text cant. 
• Linking with images, there is no colour, this can be quite a important aspect it will catch the readers attention. However this is a professional document and does not require fancy finishing touches like that. Also they are not trying to attract a large audience. This document is mainly for the people creating the game, or the next game and for people who are interested in making there own document about their own game. 
• This document has been displayed horribly, its been scanned through a printer and uploaded poorly. It does not take long to align a piece of paper within a print scanner and to make sure it comes out alright... If not it will take merely seconds to do it again. This person who uploaded this did not care, it looks like when he/she was scanning it he or she did not find away to stop the text coming through from the other side. This could have been stopped by simply adding more plain paper below it. So from this you can see they were either rushed or did not care about the quality of the document. 

LEARNING STYLE (P4/M3)

My Learning Style

Three Types Of Learning Styles

Kinaesthetic - Being able to learn from doing things.

Auditory - Being able to learn from listening to things.

Visual - Being able to learn from watching things.

I'm a Kinaesthetic and visual learning and by a practical that we did during class me and my peer finished a task first and we passed all the criteria needed.

I took a test on the link above to find out what type of learning style I was. I answered them to the best of my ability and came out a Kinaesthetic.

Four More Different Types Of Learning Styles

• Pragmatic - Being able to deal with situations in a sensible realistic way. This learning style is based more on a practical side of things.
• Reflector - Being able to watch and learn from the side lines. Learning by watching someone else do it.
• Theorist - Being able to learn from facts and apply them to what he or she is doing
• Activist - Being able to learn from hands on work. Being able to dive in and accomplish what is needed that way.

From these four types of learning styles I found when doing an activity that I was an activist. I found that taking the lead role and actually working, giving out commands helped me and the rest of the group at attempting the activity. We may not of completed the task, however it did not stop us from retrying. The group was consistent and did not give up, this also brings another learning style into this. This learning style being 'reflector', we listened to each other and watch others use their ideas and apply them to the task, we then commented if it was ok and worked as a group.

In conclusion, I can apply my learning styles when and where needed. All depending on what the subject is will influence how I learn.

BARRIERS AND SOLUTIONS TO EFFECTIVE COMMUNITCATION (P3/M1)

Barrier Introduction

Barriers occur in everyone everywhere. No ones perfect and everyone act towards others differently. However employees like to see that people can overcome those barriers. This shows dedication, this is a valued aspect in the gaming industry.

Specific Barriers

Physical Barrier - Body language, how you address yourself.

Language Barrier - Way with your words, how you address your speech.

Perceptual Barrier - How you perceive others. This could be in the gaming area, a gaming developer will expect a hairdresser not to under stand any technical language that the developer understands same visversa.

Cultural Barrier - People with cultural barriers may take information differently and use that information differently. In gaming, people who believe in non violence will not tolerate that and may prefer to work in a different area.

Mental Barrier - People may have a issue mentally with different areas and may limit them. For example in gaming flashing images within a game must have some sort of disclaimer at the beginning to warn people with obsessive compulsion disorders etc.


Specific Barrier Solutions

Physical Barrier - A solution would be, to look and act smart and try to give full attention.

Language Barrier - A solution would be, trying to talk formally and try to talk at a calm pace which everyone can understand.

Perceptual Barrier - A solution would be, going to a given location such as a workplace, try learning a few of the basics so you can go prepared. An example would be a hair dresser learning the basic terminology to enter the gaming world.

Cultural Barrier - A solution would be, before assigning for a particular contract review all the small print an take into consideration the cultural issues which may occur.

Mental Barrier - A solution would be, to enter a particular field that you will feel comfortable it and will not be effected by your surrounding areas.


My Barriers

Eye Communication. I can look into peoples eyes and address my point. However when people look away and do not make eye contact, it makes it harder to know what they are taking in. I struggle to keep eye contact because I find that looking at people might make them feel on the spot and make them feel that they have to speak formally.

Body Language. The way I address people via my body. Within a presentation I find it worrying to adress a speech to a group using my body language.

My Barriers Solutions

Eye Communication Solution. I make eye connection for a short amount of time and look away and make eye contact again. This keeps it a friendly, and ensures that the person is not on the spot. This also shows that they are paying more attention to make eye contact every time.

Body Language Solution. To help my barrier I focus on a person at a time and imagine they are the only one in a room. I cycle through this over and over to show that everyone gets addressed.

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION (P2)

Communication Introduction

Communication is a very key skill that is required to get anywhere in life. Employers need to know that you can communicate to them and other customers.

General Communication
In gaming this could be something simple such as getting feedback and using that feedback to develop you work. Other types of general communication could be emails, letters, radio etc.

Interpersonal Skills
These are skills that we use everyday to communicate with people. These skills, the better they are, the better the work place and your home life will be. Employers look for good interpersonal skills, it looks good and sounds good. Now in gaming this is like working in a particular group of people and learning to work together. It also means some times you may have to work independently.

Writing Skills
These skills we use when we are writing a piece of text. We need good writing skills to write different pieces of text. For example, writing a letter needs to be really formal, and using text talk in a letter will make you look incapable. Whereas if you have clear writing skills which are fully developed, your way in which you apply for jobs will become easier. In gaming this could be passages during a game, a piece of narrative. If this is unclear, it will make the developer look bad and it will come down on you the programmer.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES VALUED BY EMPLOYERS (P1)

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES VALUED BY EMPLOYERS

Attributes Introduction

Attributes are important to employers because it helps them understand a little bit about who they are hiring. It tells them what the are specifically good at and what they are generally good at.

Specific Attributes
1) Proficient in C++ - Being able to understand the language and being able to use it in a work place. If you did not know it then you in the wrong place. This language is not common because it's hard to understand. 

2) Meet the requirements - Being able to meet the requirements will please the employer because you have what he/she is looking for. This can be GCSE results etc.

General Attributes
1) Talented, being talented in a work place would be to show the employer certificates, rewards. Anything that is relevant that will please the employer.

2) Passionate, being able to stay dedicated to what your doing. This will show that your passionate in what you are doing. Doing things like turning up everyday without fail. This is a perfect example in being passionate about your work.

Attitudes

1) Problem solving is a very common attitude that links with gaming. This is because if a problem occurred say during programming. Being able to locate that problem and fix it. Is defiantly valued by employers.

2) I am polite. This will help in the gaming work place because you need peers to respect you. If you have no respect because your not polite. You also sound nonintellectual, in the workplace you want to be the best of the best. You cannot be the best without manner. 

INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION

Past, Present, Future.
Past - I achieved most of my GCSE's needed to go on with my dream in making computer games. I have liked computers since the age of 4. I know this from written evidence given to me back from preschool.

Present - I am working my way through college regaining my English Language and Gaming and programing LvL3. This will hopefully help me get into university. I am also thinking about staying on this course as long as I can doing LvL4. Before going to university and getting my degree either in computer programming, computer engerneering or game development.

Future - I wish to become a large company owner, building my own business for a gaming industry. Making my millions in my life time... That's the dream anyway.