Maker Faire Game Design Team

I would like to do the Oversight for the design team. I want to make sure the game 'plays well' and that the parts move smoothly together. I have experience leading group projects so I think I'll be a good fit for Oversight. I will listen to and incorporate everyone's ideas and coordinate with the engineering oversight to make a final product that we'll be proud to present at Maker Faire.

Dimensioning Standards

Reflection Questions:

1. Size dimensioning shows how large a specific line or distance is, while location dimensioning shows where a point is.

2. Chain dimensioning shows the dimensions of adjacent parts in a series. Datum dimensioning shows sizes in relation to a specific point or line. This is more accurate than chain dimensioning.

3. Using a dimensioned drawing makes it absolutely clear how an object is physically constructed. It is easier to visualize or use than a written description. Also, since dimensioned drawings follow a set of standards, they can be understood by everyone.

Game Research

I don't really play many video games beyond a few Wii games that we have. I chose to research one of these, Lego Indiana Jones.

This game recreates the adventures of the original Indiana Jones movies. It's divided into 3 stories -- Raiders of the Lost Ark, Temple of Doom, and the Last Crusade. Each story has many chapters where you (as any of the characters in the section) have to explore your area, collect coins, battle enemies, and find a way to the next level. Once you beat all the levels, you can replay them using any characters you like and try to collect hidden treasures.

The game was developed as a complement to the Indiana Jones movies, and it was modeled after an previous similar game, Lego Star Wars. It was developed by Travellers Tales for Lego.

I think this game is really fun to play -- the levels can sometimes be challenging but are never too complex. There is a good mix of story and action, and there are many extras throughout the game. There are over 60 characters, some with special talents.

Screenshots from the Lego website:

Reverse Engineering Reflection

This week, we reverse engineered an Automoblox toy car and analyzed it visually, functionally, and structurally. We found that visually, the car has a simple and sleek design. It is composed of mostly curved lines to give it a smooth and clean aesthetic appeal. There are only 3 colors used -- blue, silver, and wood -- with the blue emphasizing the wheels. The car is symmetric and has a minimalist design.

Functionally, the car's parts work towards the purpose of entertaining children. The parts are designed to allow smooth movement and easy assembly. In the black box model, we listed the parts and their uses (the inputs and outputs) so that we could understand the purpose of each piece.

In general, engineers use reverse engineering to better understand products and how they work. This knowledge can be used to improve a design, make similar products, or fix problems. Reverse engineering means analyzing the product as a whole and then examining each part to determine function and aesthetics.

If I could improve the Automoblox design, I would change the car to allow turning. Right now, it only travels in a straight line and that limits its use as a toy.