Wednesday 18 November 2015

LO3 - Updated production plan

I made changes to my production schedule because I realised that I would need more time to produce the articles for the magazine. I spent less time taking photographs and creating the documentation for the photo-shoot than I expected, so I used this time to create original content for the magazine as well as ensuring that it included all the conventions of a amazing magazine. In order to check that it did fit the conventions of a gaming magazine, I compared my magazine (Delta Magazine) to the Official Xbox magazine.


Tuesday 17 November 2015

LO3 - Magazine comparison and research

I decided to compare my magazine (Delta Magazine) with Xbox Magazine. I did this in order to make sure that I was using the typical conventions of a magazine and ensure that the magazine would have some familiarity with readers based on the layout.
 
 
 
Cover
 
 
 
Contents page
 
 
 
Articles (Double and single-page spread)

Sunday 15 November 2015

Self reflection: Work to complete

Work to complete
In todays lesson I will be working on Unit 14, ensuring that I have completed the magazine. I have fully completed 7 of my 8 pages. I had finished but changed my mind about the advert page as I decided it didn't meet the standards of the rest of the magazine.

Since I have made this change, this is what I need to do:
  1. Create a contents page for the magazine.
  2. Screen record editing images in Adobe Photoshop.
  3. Screen record using Adobe InDesign to piece the magazine together.

Friday 13 November 2015

LO4 - Evidence of using InDesign and Photoshop

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWjWDofwzNQhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWjWDofwzNQ



Photoshop: (00:00-00:57)
I used Adobe Photoshop to create the layout of the page and add the images that I had taken on a previous photo-shoot. I also edited images to increase the contrast and add colours and effects to them so they would stand out on the page more.

InDesign: (00:57-02:08)
Then I transferred the .psd (Photoshop document) file into Adobe InDesign so that I could add text and begin to place the articles onto the contents page. Then I changed the colours and fonts to suit the house-style of my magazine and make it fit in with all the other pages I have also produced.

LO4 - Evidence of proof reading

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA-L3cegd9I

Proof Reading:
Above is a time-lapse of s screen recording of me checking my articles and proof reading to ensure that there were no mistakes before I placed the text on the final magazine.

LO1 - Page 2: Draft Articles

Contents page:
Star Wars is back! The future of Battlefront is very exciting. As the beta was released, millions of people gathered to play the game early. Here you will find our opinion and expectations.

The Ultimate
Gamers Guide

Contents
95. The future of gaming
96. Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition
98. Call of Duty: Black Ops 3
100. Rise of the Tomb Raider
102: Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six

LO2 - Page 5: Draft articles

Rise of the Tomb Raider:
Lara has a whole new set of tools which now include a wire spool allowing the player to latch onto hooks while airborne, as well as arrows which Lara can use to climb vertical surfaces. The most exciting parts of Rise of The Tomb Raider appear when you must escape the environment around you while being chased by enemies. The frantic, acrobatic chases you find yourself in make for fast-paced action bound to give you an adrenaline rush. As ever, Lara comes with an entire arsenal of weaponry making the player have lot’s of choice as to how they approach enemies and the tactics they use. Weapons include hand combat equipment such as ropes and knives, as well as powerful guns including the fan favourite AK-47, returning from previous games in the Tomb Raider series.

Rise of the Tomb Raider brings such astonishing improvements, as the most fascinating action hero in video games today returns in a fully retuned world.

Lara’s versatility on the battlefield makes combat even more enjoyable and realistically unpredictable. With Lara’s combat skills you have the choice to takedown enemies quietly or go out with a bang. As you play through the game you will gain XP to level up and upgrade Lara’s weapons/abilities. The well developed story influences players to see new sides to the character who is considered one of the most fascinating action hero in video games today.

The game has an incredible story, full of difficult enemies, intense firefights, confusing puzzles and beautiful environments. There is plenty to do, as players can take a step back from the main storyline in order to complete challenges and find secrets hidden within the tombs.

Quotes to use on the page:
“RISE OF THE TOMB RAIDER IS AN ADRENALINE RUSH"
“THE MOST FASCINATING ACTION HERO IN VIDEO GAMES TODAY.”

“THE MOST HIGHLY ANTICIPATED GAME OF THE YEAR"

Image note:
A whole new level of danger has been re-invented with tough animals, fierce enemies and dangerous landscapes.

LO2 - Page 7: Draft Articles

Zombies:
Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 brings back the infinite hordes of zombies, much loved by the fans of the franchise ever since Call of Duty: World at War. This reinvented zombie survival mode has returned in an incredibly ambitious comeback. Zombies has evolved into one of the three main Call of Duty modes. Now with its own customisation, ranks and barracks players can progress and it makes the game much more competitive between players.

With access to a variety of exclusive weaponry and equipment, you find yourself in the most dangerous time mankind has ever known. In this apocalyptic experience you must face infinite undead hordes of zombies. The further you go the more difficult it will get. Completing with your friends is just the beginning, as you can now rank up sperepratley in zombies, as it has become an entire mode along with the traditional campaign and multiplayer game modes which famously appear in the Call of Duty franchise.

Beast mode:
Entering beast mode will make you temporarily invincible and allowing you to find the hidden items which are needed to complete the rituals which grant you access to the famous pack-a-punch machine. The beast mode gives you access to new locations where weapons and perks can be found.

Easter eggs:
In zombies, there are many items to collect in order to get access to the pack-a-punch machine used to upgrade your weapons. Also at the beginning of the game if you look up, the Shadowman appears. As you shoot him the rounds skip from 5, 10, 15. Each time the rounds skip you gain points.

LO2 - Page 6: Draft Articles

This week I got my hands on Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 and here's what I found:
Multiplayer is fast-paced and full of action, even more than previous titles. The thrilling act of racking up your kills or completing the objective has definitely come back in this title.

Movement:
Unlike previous Treyarch titles, Black Ops 3 gives the player the ability to boost slide/jump and run on walls. There is a limit to this ability to prevent players from overusing it, which means players can still use the same tactics they have on previous titles.

Weapons:
There is an extensive amount of weapons and perks in Black Ops 3. The options have been completely reinvented with the ability to completely customise everything down to the camo on your gun, so that you can be completely individual on the battlefield. There are new and old attachments and perks which accelerate gameplay and create intense gunfights and ways of maintaining the objective.

Maps:
The maps on Black Ops 3 are astounding. In comparison to previous titles the size range of the maps and the amount of detail has improved immensely. Also the maps have been completely designed around the ability to run on walls, which gives the player the ability to strafe and gain access to new locations previously not accessible without the boost ability. However, remember to be careful when jumping around the map because it can be just as dangerous as the enemy.

Features:
Black Ops 3 has an incredible menu which allows the player to watch their previous games back in theatre and transfer their party instantly to multiplayer, zombies, campaign. The scoreboard and features which appeared in previous titles are back in this upcoming title. The player now has access to even more information about how they have performed in-game as well as a huge customisation platform.

Monday 9 November 2015

LO2 - Fonts

Astro867 - Regular
I used this font for the magazine cover font because it is unique and stands out. The style of text has letters which are difficult to read which is why for the rest of the magazine I used a more legible font. 

Molot
 I used this font for the word "SEPT" on the magazine. This is the date that the magazine is being released and will be changed per month that the magazine is produced. It allows the reader to make sure that they are only purchasing the newest information and stops them from buying the same magazine more than once.
Arial - Regular
Arial - Bold
Myriad Pro - Bold
I used this font to make the pages more interesting, by making sure there wasn't the same font being continuity used all the time. This font was used to make sections of text stand out, such as personal reviews and information that the editor decided to share with the reader.


Neos - Regular
Neos - Oblique
Neos - Bold
 This is the main font that I used for the magazine because of how easy it is to read and the extensive number of variations of it that there are. This allows me to use the bolder versions of the font for more important parts of text or titles of the page, such as the name of the game the review is about on page 4-7.

LO2 - Colour samples

Grey:

Light blue:
Dark blue:

Black:

House-Style
I have created a blue and white house style using the colours above. I have used black and grey for text and outlines to make information clear. I have used white to contrast with the dark blue for certain areas of text as it is easier to read and stands out as important to the reader. The grey has been used to border text and create the layout of the page. I used all of these colours on the front cover of the magazine. The only difference for the rest of the magazine was that I didn't use the dark blue, because I only needed to use lots of shades of blue for the cover to make it appealing and stand out, as readers will be deciding whether or not to purchase the magazine based on their first impressions for the magazine on the shelf. I would always use these colours and fonts in future issues of the magazine so that it gives readers a sense of familiarity and makes the magazine more recognisable as it gains status within the gaming community.

LO2 - Graphic samples





Friday 6 November 2015

LO2 - Page 3: Draft articles

A countdown of the top 5 anticipated games of 2015-2016:
Prepare yourself for a breathtaking year of gaming. There is an amazing line-up of games, which were recently showcased at E3. These include existing popular titles such as Uncharted, Tomb Raider, Call of Duty and yes Star Wars! If you’re looking forward to getting your hands on some of the epic titles being released later this year then you’re in the right place! At Delta we have been gathering all the details on the main upcoming titles of 2015-16.

Star Wars Battlefront 3:
Star Wars Battlefront 3 is the most anticipated game of the year. Visit all the classic planets from the original films and Star Wars Battlefront games! Experience incredibly detailed battles with all the characters, weapons and vehicles designed to be exact replicas of the ones from the films. Team up with friends on co-op or fight online for the Rebellion or the Empire in a wide variety of online matched including 40 vs 40 Walker Assault with AT-AT’s and Tie-Fighters.

Rise of the Tomb Raider:
Lara Croft is back! So far we haven’t seen much of the new Tomb Raider, but from the E3 conference we have found out that the game features Lara undergoing therapy for the mental trauma endured from the first game,. She tackles snowy mountains to save her friends with the amazing action packed gameplay we loved so much. The gunfights are much more realistic and with the environments on next gen falling down around you, the gameplay is destined to be intense.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 3:
If you’re a Call of Duty fan then this game is looking very exciting with Treyarch bringing back the Zombie game mode that fans love so much. The campaign takes you even further into future than we’ve previously seen, as the player becomes the weapon and technology becomes the downfall of the human race.

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege:
Rainbow Six: Siege is a brand new tactical shooter by Tomb Clancy. First revealed at the E3 conference, Siege brings back the Rainbow Six series' intense, action-packed tactical multiplayer, along with a new campaign that can be played in single player or co-op.

Halo 5:
At the E3 conference we got to see the first footage of the Halo 5 campaign. We were shown the team of Spartan IV in action, led by Locke. The rest of the team gives us a glimpse of how the 4 player campaign is going to play. From seeing the short amount of gameplay shown at E3, we were able to see the revamped Halo which has been developed as a AA title for Xbox One. The game is incredibly detailed and makes for an exciting, fast paced set of game modes.

LO1 - Moodboard

This is a moodboard which I created so that I could ensure I am targeting the right audience. I also wanted to make sure that I had complete understanding of who would be reading the magazine. It was important to undertand the type of people who I would be aiming the magazine at so that I know what content to put in the magazine and what would make them want to pick it up off the shelf.

LO2 - Draft layouts









LO1 - Gantt Chart


Friday 23 October 2015

LO2 - OLD Page 8: Draft Articles

I changed my mind about having an advert page in the magazine as I wanted a contents page instead. However if I was to have kept the advert page this is the information that I would have been on it.

WHAT IS INSOMNIA? When you attend Insomnia, you’re participating in an event that’s been running for over 14 years. Insomnia is a unique gaming event combining LAN Gaming Halls, a huge Exhibition Hall, Special Guests doing cool interactive content, large-scale Esports Tournaments, and a whole host of fun activities tailored to gamers of all ages.

11.12.15
SEE.YOU.THERE

BUY A TICKET. JOIN THE ACTION.

LO1 - Page 4: Draft Articles

Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition - Review
I loved playing the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition. Right from the beginning of the game we are introduced to the fast-paced action-adventure we loved from previous consoles.
This game is full of action, as you play it you begin to realise that Lara is unrealistically unlucky, which is the route of the exciting issues she faces. As you in the campaign and your AI friends become stuck on an island after your plane crashes, you find lot’s of things that suggest the island “wanted you to crash.”
As you progress through the game there are lot’s of new weapons you can unlock and skills that you acquire based on items you have picked up along the way. You will have the ability to spend points that you have gained from completing missions and killing enemies.

The large arsenal of weaponry that you are able to collect means that fighting enemies never becomes boring even when combat is very similar throughout. My favourite thing about this game is that it captivates you in a very similar way to a film. The cut scenes have been very carefully designed to make the player engaged and it splits up the gameplay very nicely.
The game has been developed and redesigned from the previous Tomb Raider game which was released on previous generation consoles. The game has truly been suited well to next gen consoles with it’s AAA capabilities allow you to play online as well as the traditional Tomb Raider campaign we are used to.  I am looking forward to seeing what Crystal Dynamics bring next.

Overall, playing the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition was extremely exciting and engaging. There is such a large arsenal of weaponry and with the realistic environments falling down around you what's not to love.
Often the game almost seems too unrealistic because Lara is so unlucky, but if that wasn’t the case it wouldn’t be as action-packed and fun.

Note to place on the page:
Lara Croft is back and better than ever in this graphically stunning action-adventure.

LO1 - OLD Page 3: Editorial article draft


Note: I never used this information for my final magazine as I changed my mind about one of the pages and decided to add a contents page to the magazine instead of an editorial. However, if I was to have an editorial in the magazine, this is the information I would use:

Introduction
Prepare yourself for a breathtaking year of gaming. There is an amazing line-up of games, which were recently showcased at E3. These include existing popular titles such as Uncharted, Tomb Raider, Call of Duty and yes Star Wars! If you’re looking forward to getting your hands on some of the epic titles being released later this year then you’re in the right place! At Delta we have been gathering all the details on the main upcoming titles of 2015-16.

Star Wars Battlefront 3
Star Wars Battlefront 3 is the most anticipated game of the year. Visit all the classic planets from the original films and Star Wars Battlefront games! Experience incredibly detailed battles with all the characters, weapons and vehicles designed to be exact replicas of the ones from the films. Team up with friends on co-op or fight online for the Rebellion or the Empire in a wide variety of online matched including 40 vs 40 Walker Assault with AT-AT’s and Tie-Fighters.

Rise of the Tomb Raider
Lara Croft is back! So far we haven’t seen much of the new Tomb Raider, but from the E3 conference we have found out that the game features Lara undergoing therapy for the mental trauma endured from the first game,. She tackles snowy mountains to save her friends with the amazing action packed gameplay we loved so much. The gunfights are much more realistic and with the environments on next gen falling down around you, the gameplay is destined to be intense.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 3
If you’re a Call of Duty fan then this game is looking very exciting with Treyarch bringing back the Zombie game mode that fans love so much. The campaign takes you even further into future than we’ve previously seen, as the player becomes the weapon and technology becomes the downfall of the human race.

Rainbow Six: Siege
Rainbow Six: Siege is a brand new tactical shooter by Tomb Clancy. First revealed at the E3 conference, Siege brings back the Rainbow Six series' intense, action-packed tactical multiplayer, along with a new campaign that can be played in single player or co-op.

Halo 5
At the E3 conference we got to see the first footage of the Halo 5 campaign. We were shown the team of Spartan IV in action, led by Locke. The rest of the team gives us a glimpse of how the 4 player campaign is going to play. From seeing the short amount of gameplay shown at E3, we were able to see the revamped Halo which has been developed as a AA title for Xbox One. The game is incredibly detailed and makes for an exciting, fast paced set of game modes.


List of upcoming games:
Star Wars: Battlefront 3
Call of Duty: Black Ops 3
Just Cause 3
Crackdown 3
Mafia 3
Tom Clancy’s: Rainbow Six Siege
Tom Clancy’s :The Division
Rise of the Tomb Raider
Gears of War 4
Uncharted 4
Halo 5: Gaurdians
Mortal Kombat X
Street Fighter V
Dead Island 2
Mirror’s Edge Catalyst
Homefront: The Revolution
Quantum Break
Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate
Forza Motorsport 6
Saints Row: Gat out of Hell

LO1 - Page 8: NEW Draft articles


Star Wars Battlefront

This week we got our hands on Star Wars Battlefront! Here is what we thought of it:
First of all, the intensity of the 40 vs 40 online gameplay is incredible. The more you play, the more you realise you’re in a film. The graphics of the game has been adapted to suit next gen consoles perfectly.
However, after only a few games online I began to notice issues with the difficulty of online gameplay when playing as the rebels. As the imperials have access to more powerful weapons it makes it incredibly difficult for the rebels to get anywhere near as many kills. Also, the Rebels have to contend with the much more difficult task of taking down the two AT-AT’s which seem almost indestructible.

As I played through the game I was very excited to see my team mates collecting the hero pick-up as it encouraged your team to win.  Playing as Luke Skywalker you can sprint and jump much faster than the average player. Darth Vader on Walker Assault is incredibly powerful. He strikes down all of the rebel troopers that get in his way using his strong lightsaber throw and famous choke hold taken straight from the films.
As soon as you join the game you have the ability to use a range of weapons. The ranking system is extremely well configured and fair which favours team players as well as the main bodycounter.  The best part for me was the ability to play in first or third person and switch between them whenever you like. Thee vehicles and sounds are completely accurate and built on the concepts used by LucasArts to create the original films.

LO3 - Risk Assessment


LO2 - Recce Form


 

LO2 - Call Sheet


LO2 - Location research

CeX:
I will be going to CeX store to take some photographs for the Delta Magazine. I have already visited the location in order to make sure that it is safe and to check that I will be able to get the photographs that I want to appear in the magazine.

Photograph of the location:



Photographs taken at location:




















GraingerGames:
I will be using the GraingerGames store to get photographs of a range of games which haven't been released, and allow me to ask some questions to find out the opinions of a gamer about the way the development of games has been progressing over the past 10 years or so.

Photograph of the location:

Photographs taken at location: