OCR Nationals Level 3 Unit 30 AO5 Presentation

1. Unit 30 Design for Games
AO5 – Design a Game Interface
and Control Mechanism

2. AO5 asks you to design your
game's Input/Output structure –
the on-screen game interface the
player will see and hear and the
control mechanisms the player
will use.

3. You are going to do this by considering
different styles of
* Interfaces
* Navigation structures
* Screen layouts
* Game controllers
and deciding what of these are best for your
game.

4. Interfaces
The game interface is the fundamental way
the player communicates with the game, and
the game with the player
For example – traditional PC games use a
mixture of graphical and text onscreen
information along with sounds (the output
structure), and players use a keyboard, a
mouse and sometimes peripherals such as a
joystick (the input structure)

5. The Nintendo Wii, on the other
hand, has a radically different
input structure through use of a
motion sensitive control –
although it's output structures
are very similar to other
interfaces.

6. Interface Task
● Identify at least two
different interfaces that
might be appropriate for
games such as yours
● Choose and fully describe
an interface for your game
and justify your choice in
relation to game play and
your target audience.

7. Navigation Structures
Think of this like the DVD menu – how do
you navigate through the start up phases of
your game as it loads – what useful activity or
information should be available to you as a
player?

8. Navigation Structure Task
● Identify at least two
navigation structures in
games similar to yours
● Choose and fully
describe the most
appropriate navigation
structure for your game
and justify your choice
in relation to your target
audience.

9. Screen Layout
You need to explore the different
styles of playing screens,
information screens, HUDs and
other ways of visually presenting
information to the player

10. Screen Layout Task
● Identify at least two styles
of screen layout and uses
of HUDs in games similar
to yours
● Choose and fully describe
the most appropriate
screen layout for your
game and justify your
decision in terms of game
play and your target
audience

11. Game Controllers
You need to explore the different styles of
input structure – the game controllers –
available to you. For a distinction you need to
demonstrate and understanding of the
'cutting edge' of technology – although you
might decide not to use that for your game.

12. Game Controller Task
● Identify at least two different
available game controllers
which would be suitable for
your game
● Investigate and report on the
latest technical developments in
computer/human interaction
● Choose and fully decribe a
controller suitable for your
game and justify your choice
with reference to game play,
target audience and available
technologies

13. Presentation
All of your work needs to be posted on your
blog.
You may need to scan designs for your user
interface or your controllers – or you may
create them as digital designs ready to upload

14. Assessment
Pass - You identify and define a very simple game interface and
control mechanism for your game, although the underlying concepts
may not be fully grasped.
Merit - You demonstrate a good understanding of interfaces and
control mechanisms, which are well defined.
Distinction - You demonstrate a thorough understanding of
interfaces and control mechanisms incorporating some advanced
concepts in Human - Computer Interaction Design. You produce an
excellent interface design and control mechanics specification for the
game.
These tasks are designed so that if you complete them
in full you should be working at Distinction