Assignment 4: Final Project Wayne Ott
Storyboard Presentation of the game intro for:
Savage Survival
-An entertaining and educational game simulating the real life survival requirements of the predators of the African plains.
Presented to:
The DiscoverZ Channel
Intro
As you know, the DiscoverZ Channel is the world's leading producer and exhibitor of non-fiction entertainment; with innovative programs, fresh approaches to history and exploration and an understanding of the planet we live on. The mission of the DiscoverZ Channel is to develop the highest-quality media content that enables consumers worldwide to discover and explore their world, satisfy their curiosity and fulfill their lifelong search for knowledge and understanding.
In creating the game, Savage Survival, our goal is to tap into this target audience through the field of video gaming. We want to create a realistic and factually based game that encourages interest in your programming, of which nature shows are a big part. A long lasting plan would include the creation of educational and exciting games covering many subjects of the animal kingdom. The target audience for these games would include the range of age 8 and above and would aim to add to the popularity of such programming through branching out into other media, which at this point, remains mostly untapped. We, at Advanced Animation believe the best place to start is with the animals of the African plains. Why African predators? Because , research has shown that this subject is the most popular among your nature programming. Thus, Savage Survival is a game about the survival and way of life of the predators found there. Here, then, is the proposed introductory video for Savage Survival.
Delivery
To capture the player’s interest in the entertainment value of the game we need to make an emotional connection. We do this by making them feel what it is to be wild, to have to survive, and to do whatever is needed to do so. The most dramatic of these wild instincts is the instinct to kill. Here, in panel one, we focus on the target of that instinct. Imagine that all you can hear is the loud panting coming from this gazelle. A look of fear and panic is read on its face. We then turn to the close-up of the cheetah with an equally strained look, tinged with determination. Shots 3 and 4 help establish that this is a life or death chase. A camera that tracks with the cheetah in shot 5 gives us that sense of speed that only belongs to the world’s fastest land animal. The pure violence and brutality of the kill is expressed in the finality of frames 6 and 7. Shots 8 through 11 counters that violent concept by reminding us that the cheetah must do this to not only survive, but to feed its young. Here it calls to them, and we the frailty of the young ones who must hide until its safe to venture forth. However, as is the phrase “only the strong survive” reminds us, the world’s fastest animal must give way to the “king of the jungle”…which in reality is the queen of the plains. The cheetah must retreat from this small pride of lionesses (show panels 13 and 14). However, as game strategy will reveal, there can be strength in numbers. The archrival of the lion over the eons has always been the hyena, an animal known for its unsavory look and almost sinister laughter. Although this is a stereotype (which will be demonstrate through gameplay), it provides the movie with the appropriate antagonist. In shot 15 we play to this, and the immediate aggressive action of the lioness in frame 16 lets us know that this is a serious threat even to the mighty lion. We dramatize this in panel 17 and 18 as we see the 2 lions becoming surrounded by an entire pack of determined hyenas. Shot 19 and 20 set up the final showdown, which will give us a dramatic finish to the scene. The close-ups of the two combatants make us privy to these beasts’ wild fury and instinctual angst toward each other. Our antagonist for the scene will charge the lioness who has no means of escape from its eternal enemy (shot 21). Again we are taken along for the ride by means of another tracking crane shot, this time over the hyena (shot 22). Finally, the scene ends as we become personally involved when the lion slashes the screen and we fade out (23, 24).
Closure
This scene will be an animated short lasting about 30 seconds to a minute, as is common with game intros. The animation will be used in the game intro as well as promotional and preview videos for the game. The key is selling the idea that the game is entertaining first, and foremost. Other videos and descriptions will follow and will let the prospective player know that the game will also simulate real life as the best formula for success will be learning and applying the survival techniques of Africa’s top predators.
This video will introduce Savage Survival as great entertainment that will increase the viewership and interest in the fantastic animals of Africa. With its success, it could launch a whole genre of games which are both fun and beneficial, and are licensed solely to the DiscoverZ Channel.
(Pause here for a few moments to let client consider the idea and come up with questions)
Possible questions:
Why African predators?
They are some of the most recognizable and well known animals. Research has shown that this is the most popular type of animal programming .
Why doesn’t the video focus on gameplay more?
The goal of the video is to provide emotional excitement in the game in the promotional media that comes out before the games release as well as the intro for the in store demos and in game storyline. Generally, it will be shown first followed by game concept descriptions and actual video of gameplay.
You mention a younger age demographic as well older gamers. Will the game be too violent for them?
The game will often center around the violence that occurs in the territorial disputes and competition for food between predators. Other elements, which will be shown in future videos concerning gameplay, will include raising, protecting, and feeding the younger members of the pack, as well as facing challenges related to non predator animals an humans. Successful play will include growing your population and expanding your territory, as well as finding water sources and surviving environmental conditions.
-Wayne