So far as you've seen in in the last post I have begun developing the application. I've been spending the past week developing it, and truthfully I haven't gotten as far as I'd have like as I am learning as3 this time round. This latest video shows what I've been able to achieve lately.
Again, you can't actually see the mouse, but what you see is that with the whole thing not in one of the menu modes, the user can move the screen around when touching an empty area of space. When in the menu and selecting the plow tool, the user can the go and start to plow new plots of land. The user cannot move around in this mode.
Problems I feel I may have problems with is the actual planting seeds on new tiles as I am having troubles with arrays.
Saturday, 12 March 2011
Sunday, 6 March 2011
Creating the Concept
With this one, I have decided to try scripting in AS3. It's not the prettiest looking thing at the moment (visual designs will be done late) as I have been trying to work out the script.
This video has captured what I managed to do for making the plants work.
Its made with a series of buttons and gotoAndPlay scripting.
For buttons I've used the code:
movieClip.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, mouseClick);
function mouseClick(Event:MouseEvent):void{
gotoAndPlay(frame);
}
Mouse Events used were click and mouse_out.
I also learnt a way of going to the parent timeline as it is not as simple in AS2, the code I used was:
MovieClip(parent).gotoAndPlay(frame);
Friday, 4 March 2011
Concept Development
This section has a few sketches that I have created over how I would like the app to look.
This sketch shows the cycle of trees and plants. The user will receive
a price for the crops collected at the store and experience to help the user level up and receive more benefits in the game like the ability to use new crops and decorations as well as the ability to upgrade buildings.
a price for the crops collected at the store and experience to help the user level up and receive more benefits in the game like the ability to use new crops and decorations as well as the ability to upgrade buildings.
The stall is where the user sells what they have harvested from the trees and plants. To learn the benefits of Fairtrade, the user can choose who to sell the harvested items to, if it is a Fairtrade buyer who will give a fair price, or a corporate company who wants to get a much produce for the smallest price. The user also get bonus experience here, the amount varies depending on who the user sells the produce to.
The user starts of with a home, this is a very basic home, giving the user little to admire. The aim with buildings is to use them to get bonus', develop them into better buildings and add more like schools, doctors and shops, all there to help the user develop the area and see how much quicker a farmer can do this when going through Fairtrade.
Tuesday, 1 March 2011
Evaluation
This design has high notes and low notes. The high note is the background concept of getting people involved and looking out Fairtrade products. Fairtrade is a unique charity, and this is a unique approach to introducing Fairtrade to peoples daily lives. By getting people to go out and look for the products, they will be experiencing new places and products which they them may incorporate into their daily lives. This design helps to raise awareness and get people to donate by going out and buying Fairtrade products. By trying new products, people may feel that they can incorporate these products into their lives, generating a constant source of donation.
However, the low note of this design is that it is not all that interesting. The idea of using jigsaws can be boring. Jigsaws can be time consuming and by creating a jigsaw which you have to go on a treasure hunt for can be boring and lead to the user neglecting and ultimately discarding the app. For this reason, the app needs to be developed more. When receiving feedback in the presentations for Collaboration and Professional Association 01, one thing mentioned was to create a mobile game like FarmVille which people could constantly play. This idea had already been thought of, but also discarded almost straight away as it wouldn’t be an original idea. After some thought, and game play on Facebook, however there are several other games like Farmville but not, like FrontierVille which have inspired ideas as to how this could work and not be a copy of FarmVille. Therefore, the app will be developed to a role-playing game with the same thought of going out and exploring Fairtrade.
However, the low note of this design is that it is not all that interesting. The idea of using jigsaws can be boring. Jigsaws can be time consuming and by creating a jigsaw which you have to go on a treasure hunt for can be boring and lead to the user neglecting and ultimately discarding the app. For this reason, the app needs to be developed more. When receiving feedback in the presentations for Collaboration and Professional Association 01, one thing mentioned was to create a mobile game like FarmVille which people could constantly play. This idea had already been thought of, but also discarded almost straight away as it wouldn’t be an original idea. After some thought, and game play on Facebook, however there are several other games like Farmville but not, like FrontierVille which have inspired ideas as to how this could work and not be a copy of FarmVille. Therefore, the app will be developed to a role-playing game with the same thought of going out and exploring Fairtrade.
Storyboard
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| 1. A QR code is scanned. Then the user logs in (if not already). |
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| 2. The user receives the piece linked to the code they scanned... |
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| ...and a letter from the producer (the user can flit between the two by touching the letter/piece). |
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| 3. The user can then go into the puzzle and place the jigsaw piece. |
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| 4. Once the piece is placed, the user can then look to see where to find other pieces to complete the puzzle by holding on the empty piece. |
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| 5. The user can go to the menu and look at other puzzles. |
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| 6. The user can go to other puzzles to view their progress, and place pieces that they didn’t have time to do straight away. |
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| 7. Once finished, the user gets to play a mini game and enters a scoreboard. Or they can enter a competition depending on the puzzle. |
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| 8. With each complete jigsaw, the user receives one new piece for a final jigsaw. |
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| 9. Once they have collected enough pieces and finish the final jigsaw, the user can then enter one last ultimate competition. |
Developing The Concept
When creating the original app in final outcome was a flash file. This section will look into the making and development of the original one.
The app will require an additional app for the QR scanner, but these can be gotten from a app market depending on the phone for free. From there the user can scan a QR code on the package of a Fairtrade product. To begin with, several different codes were created, to see the outcomes they have. The first code when scanned the user receives the words “It Works!’.Originally the app was going to have a password to unlock different pieces that the user would get from scanning the OR code.
The next one created was linked to a page on my own website. It had the same effect as the previous code, expect it took the user to the website. This code is now disabled as the web page it was directed to has now been taken down. This one seems more appropriate as a database can be stored on the website so that when one user finds a code, it can be stored and used in the app, rather than having the delay of having to input a code like the previous one.
Once the QR code is scanned, the user will then be asked to log in if they are not already logged in. This is so that the users information is stored for them and doesn’t get mixed with other users information. Once logged in, the user can then view their new jigsaw piece and also a letter from a producer. The letter will give the user an insight to the life of the producer before and after Fairtrade has helped them. After viewing the letter and new piece, the user can then go and place the jigsaw piece in it’s puzzle. There will be several puzzles all dedicated to different products and brands involved with Fairtrade. Once a puzzle is complete, the user can then enter a competition or play a mini game to be entered on a scoreboard.
The process of this can be seen on a blog documenting the progress of making the original design. This can be seen at http://de0966.blogspot.com/.
The Benefits
The benefits of this application are wide. For starters, the app promotes Fair Trade, making even more recognisable as more people learn what it means. It also means that people will be more open to it as it is something they see more of, recognise and decide to try. Another benefit of the app is that it demonstrates the amount of Fair Trade products there are, as well how your regular brand is incorporating Fair Trade into their products. This will eliminate the perceived idea that Fair Trade is expensive. In some cases it may by more than your regular, but in the end it is never that much and the user may be will to switch and become loyal to that new brand. The app is also good for companies who sell the products too as it takes them into account for people looking for different products. This could change where people shop as it is introducing them to places they may never have thought to go and this generates sales for that company.
The app will require an additional app for the QR scanner, but these can be gotten from a app market depending on the phone for free. From there the user can scan a QR code on the package of a Fairtrade product. To begin with, several different codes were created, to see the outcomes they have. The first code when scanned the user receives the words “It Works!’.Originally the app was going to have a password to unlock different pieces that the user would get from scanning the OR code.
The next one created was linked to a page on my own website. It had the same effect as the previous code, expect it took the user to the website. This code is now disabled as the web page it was directed to has now been taken down. This one seems more appropriate as a database can be stored on the website so that when one user finds a code, it can be stored and used in the app, rather than having the delay of having to input a code like the previous one.
Once the QR code is scanned, the user will then be asked to log in if they are not already logged in. This is so that the users information is stored for them and doesn’t get mixed with other users information. Once logged in, the user can then view their new jigsaw piece and also a letter from a producer. The letter will give the user an insight to the life of the producer before and after Fairtrade has helped them. After viewing the letter and new piece, the user can then go and place the jigsaw piece in it’s puzzle. There will be several puzzles all dedicated to different products and brands involved with Fairtrade. Once a puzzle is complete, the user can then enter a competition or play a mini game to be entered on a scoreboard.
The process of this can be seen on a blog documenting the progress of making the original design. This can be seen at http://de0966.blogspot.com/.
The Benefits
The benefits of this application are wide. For starters, the app promotes Fair Trade, making even more recognisable as more people learn what it means. It also means that people will be more open to it as it is something they see more of, recognise and decide to try. Another benefit of the app is that it demonstrates the amount of Fair Trade products there are, as well how your regular brand is incorporating Fair Trade into their products. This will eliminate the perceived idea that Fair Trade is expensive. In some cases it may by more than your regular, but in the end it is never that much and the user may be will to switch and become loyal to that new brand. The app is also good for companies who sell the products too as it takes them into account for people looking for different products. This could change where people shop as it is introducing them to places they may never have thought to go and this generates sales for that company.
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