Narrative & Interactivity

The house itself, it's layout, should tell the narrative. If I can find a free audio recording of the book, and rip key lines to be triggered when walking from room to room, to narrate the users experience. Especially with those unaware of Dorian Gray's story (Also cause I think I've over analysed it so feel like I might miss something when explaining through visuals with twin meaning eg the hat in the library is Basil Howard's, but how would the user know this? Through the narrative audio)

Interactivity which is important to this module is connected to the narrative. What I'm hoping to acomplish is to code a basic key and lock. So the player will find the key in the bedroom which will unlock the attic door. In the book, he never lets the key leave his side. But at one time, he does have both the portrait and the key in his room. Of course it's no where near the same scale, but I'm inspired by the 'Gone Home', when you see the brightly lit and locked attic hatch for the first time, and its both terrifying and exciting, but it's the final destination in the game, so you don't get the key til later on. In my case, you pick up the key as you follow the story.

I haven't used UDK in a long time and I'm scared to code in the audio triggers, the key and the lock but hopefully it shouldn't be too troublesome.

Colours and Descriptions

As said in my last post, I've stopped the 3D layout for now - and have yet to face my UDK horrors... - to go back and address key things I forgot to. I've done them, but time to post!

Firstly, I uploaded the Dorian moodboard, but forgot the Victorian moodboard, so here:

Secondly, colour schemes. There are some colour references stated in the book, but not for everything. For instance, the book states the library has 'high panel oak', 'cream frieze walls', 'ceiling plaster works', and a 'tiny satinwood table'. His bedroom has a 'silk Persian rug', but theres no mention of it's colour. The skies weather is always beautifully detailed, but since the book describes several different seasons and times of day, I can't convey them all, but think I will change the sky in the 3 different rooms to fit the mood/atmosphere, and to tell the player as they progress, the environment is changing.

For now, this a simple colour scheme I'll go by. I might change it as I notice things that really mesh well in 3D and edit. 

I'll be using this for some concept paintings for now, going to try paint the Hallway, Library, Attic and Bedroom, if time permits... :S

Layout so far

Just a quick progress shot of my house so far...Going to stop here with the 3D and go back to trusty Photoshop. It's important that I don't get too carried away. I've just noticed scrolling past posts that while I did read and re-read The Picture of Dorian Grey (I'm using a Collins Classic 1st Edition published 1994), and noted everything of visual interest, but I haven't uploaded my mood boards of other Dorian Grey media:

The biggest nit pick I have is; Most the recent Dorian Grey's represented in media has dark hair, when the book states several times how fair he is and his blond strands of hair. So at least, when I'm painting the portrait I shouldn't make this mistake.

References for photos...

Attic Painting - http://www.ayseturemis.net/03_stage_costume/09_dorian_gray/attic/attic_watc.jpg
Dorian Gray (movie) & screenshot - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1235124/
Oscar Wilde's most famous novel - http://salsa-rain1994.blogfa.com/
'The Picture of Dorian Gray' photo series - http://accessibleartny.com/index.php/2009/09/yinka-shonibare-mbe-at-the-brooklyn-art-museum/
Penguin edition cover - http://dublin.metblogs.com/files/2010/04/doriangray.jpg
Black and white picture - http://eyeoflynx.wordpress.com/2013/08/28/why-you-should-read-the-picture-of-dorian-gray/
Grotesque half painting - http://www.scifiscoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/dorian_gray-4.jpg
Movie Poster 1970 - http://images.moviepostershop.com/dorian-gray-movie-poster-1971-1020203698.jpg
Dorian Gray: Marvel Comic, available here - http://www.amazon.com/Picture-Dorian-Gray-Marvel-Illustrated/dp/0785126546?tag=bebugapcsh-20

Dorian's Home

Finished up re-reading the book, going back and making further notes on what I've chosen to do, Dorian's House. There is little explanation to which rooms are connected in what manner, but the rooms they do describe are pretty detailed.

Another page of scribbles:

I really need to get a defininitve list of assets down. I've written down some of the more important/mentioned assets, but the scale of doing 3 complete rooms is alot. I'll draw some quick concepts to get a better understanding, I think.

For now, I'm modelling a book. I have a friend coming round Sunday to show me her pipeline for creating 3D assets in her games, and I'm going to compare it with my own. From there, it'll be the leap to re-learning UDK...

Notes on Environments

As I'm reading through Dorian Gray, I'm taking notes of all the possible environments I have to model for this module. Obviously I want the centerpiece (the painting) to be in the final environment, since it's the key to the story, but I still want to keep my options open. I've covered up to chapter 8 so far, and will post another blog when finished, but so far my choices are:

Lord Henry's House
Lord Henry's Library
Basil Hallward's Studio
Lady Agatha's House/Dinner
The Jewish Playhouse (downstairs and upstairs)
Dorian's Room

Bolded environments are those that have had the Portrait in it thus far. But that doesn't mean they're the most interesting. I'm really drawn to Lord Henry's Library so far, which is arguably the best described room so far and is the scene where Dorian learns of Henry's wife, and speaks of falling in love with Sibyl Vane for the first time.

I'll need to finish reading it to get the rest of the possible environments, and clean up my notes so far. Here is a screenshot of scribbles mostly for me:

A Picture of Dorian Gray

First post of the semester for Spatial Construct! I'm lucky enough to have done a previous version of this class back in 3rd year Undergradate Computer Arts. This time round, we are given an author/book to convert into a 3D navigated story piece... I chose to do A Picture of Dorian Gray, actually one of my favourite books back in the day!

Since I've not read it in awhile and I want to pay close attention to detail, my first job is to get my hands on the book. Then comes my painful and slow reunited welcome with UDK. I've got a few ideas budding for this project but need to read the book again first and brush up on skills. :)