Multimedia (game/web)

Game design (The total war series)

The total war games are designed and played on PC, it is a strategy battle game and has loads of games in its series,  these games include... Shogun (2000), medieval (2002), Rome (2004), Medieval 2 (2006), Empire (2009), Napoleon (2010) and finally shogun 2  that is soon to be released. the graphic quality between the first and second is incredible. the use of more advance programing and application of techniques such as Ray tracing (giving added thought to light and how it effects an object), applying a better understanding of human anatomy (how the figure moves and reacts to things) ect ect.

Shogun screenshot

 

as you can see for 2000 the graphic detail was OK for the time but by today's standards isn't very impressive as the units are not very detailed they dont move individually, and are pixalated not allowing you to zoom very far in. 

The scenery is not detailed and rely s on colour alot, for example the sand is only distinguishable by the sandy brown colouring and the water is stationary so again its only because its blue that we understand what it is. 

 unlike in later games in this series objects, buildings and other scenery are few and far between creating a empty and rather boring battle.

Shogun 2 screenshot

this is the newest release in the total war series, as you can see the change in quality is amasing this is an actual in game shot zoomed in on a unit, the detail is ridiculous with incredibly realistic textures and surfaces on the the units and the environment around them, also all the units move individually giving character to individuals and adding realism, this allowes the gamer to get way more involved with the game.

The sence of realism in modern games/ technology has a huge impact on the player due to the fact the player will for a kind of relationship with the in game characters, this is ultimately a good thing as the player will get a much better gaming experience.

This advance in gaming and tech isnt all good though due to the fact people will much easily become obsessed and addicted to these game, this is sparking wide controversy amongst the media after an incident in Korea where a couple got so addicted to playing a second life game where they had to look after a virtual child they allowed their reall life baby to starve to death!      

Optical illusions and visual effects

Optical illusions

generally are a picture that at a glance you see an object but once you pay more attention to it sometimes will come out of the page at you or can give the impression of movement and sometimes will reveal a completely different object/ image altogether.

 

this one messes with your ability to judge perspective, giving the impression that the top of the image is looking up at a balcony or roof top and the bottom is some kind of garden.

 

this one give the impression that the bottle is 3D when really it is only a poster on the side of the lorry, this will only work at a certain angle.

 

this one at a glance looks like an elderly couple but on closer inspection reveals a 3d challis and on even more attention reveals highly detailed images within their faces. 

Stereo-grams

this sort of illusion takes alot of effor to get it to work you need to train your eyes to focus on the 3D object in the image at first it is rather frustrating but once you master it it can be stunning and sometimes rather scary.

 

 

once you focus correctly a 3D butterfly will start to come out at you from the center of the page this is the first one i manege to see (after trying loads of the things!).

 

 

this one is meant to give the impression of a whirl pool spiraling out of the screen towards you. at a glance it just looks like a mess of colour and can hurt your eyes if you don't focus right. 

 

in this stereo-gram animation you should (eventually) see a snowman animation, its very hard to see compared to the still images but once you get it it looks insane! 

Ways of seeing (advertising)

Advertising  

companies have always used adverts to try and sell their products since forever, they are an extremely effective way of selling generally by emotionally manipulating us. the most common way of manipulation is through jealousy or envy making you look at the beautiful/successful people on the add and thinking that by purchasing whats being sold their life will get better or they will be more attractive.

 Perfume add

 these sorts of adds are a perfect example of advertising with envy. at a glance its a massive, good looking woman not wearing a lot holding some perfume, but the psychological meaning behind this images is making out that by using this perfume the opposite sex will find you attractive and the fact she is towering over the city gives a sense she is powerful and successful again reinforcing the fact that you will be admired, sexy and successful if you use this product.  

    Clothing add

 again a perfect example of making people mainly girls feel like they need something or by purchasing something will give them a certain social status. all that is in this image is a horse, a pretty girl and some expensive looking clothes. but the psychological effect is massive! starting with the horse its a well known marker off social status you automatically assume that if somebody has such a perfectly white horse  they must be loaded! again this gives the impression of class. then moving on to the girl the fact that she is pretty alone makes her desirable  then by making her have these expensive looking clothes and head piece adds to the idea of class.

 Shock Advertising

Other examples of advertising include "shock advertising" mainly used in campaigns like raising money for the disabled or making people think twice about smoking. as the name shock advertising suggests they are intended to shock/disturb. 

this is a prime example of a shock advertisement, the use of the gory/disturbing images catches the readers attention and makes the image stay on his/hers mind, then the simple head line gives a simple message that will make you think. in this case that to many people get hooked on smoking and that you shouldn't to or if you already are to make you think about stopping.

this is an advertisement to encourage careful driving around schools by placing a flyer of a child on you windscreen making it look as if you hit one! again this sort of campaign hits hard and creates mental images that create fear and make you think about the subject constantly.


Propaganda

this for of advertising is generally used as for getting across an idea or to get the reader to think something rather than to purchase something it was used alot in the first/second world war to enspire young men to join the army and to enspired people left at home to do their part.

 this is a group of posters designed to inspire the British public  to do join the war effort, that in most cases was aimed at young men to join the British armed forces portraying the army as glamorous and heroic but the reality was completely different.

this is another poster from wartime Britain it kind of borders on a shock poster, as it has a very strong image of a innocent looking woman labeled as a murderer, this grabs the readers attention then when they are drawn in gives the important message not to talk carelessly.