MFP Update - Weekly Diary (26/07/13)

Weekly Diary

Week Beginning	Activity	Key Findings
26/07/13	Preparation for participant testing	This week has been very hands on with the practical side of the project as it was important to start getting some results, which will lead towards a project answer. One of the issues was having three different systems for producing audio in different ways. Two were using midi (in different ways) and the other used audio. However, after creating the first two, I decided to use only audio to improve the gaming experience. This involved creating three very similar systems (all using the same grid system), but using audio in relation to the x/y axis in a different way. So I have now produced three versions of the prototype. These are as follows... Version 1 - X = Pitch Y = Duration Version 2 - X = Rhythm y = Instrumentation Layers Version 3 - X = Panning Y = Pitch To provide the user with a familiarity with the prototype, each version uses the same system for playing as well as looking very similar.
	Current Testing	The game is currently out with a participant to test the game mechanics and participate in the test. This is an important process as I have spent a long time working on it so I may have become oblivious to problems or bugs. Hopefully will have the results by tonight/tomorrow.
	What the participants get...	I have produced a .zip file containing three versions of the prototype, a welcome note and a time, score and questionnaire. See image below.
	What now?	Wait for the feedback from the first tester, if no problems or bugs are picked up I will immediately send out the game to my list of participants. I will then aim to have received some data back from these for analysis for the upcoming meeting. If there are problems, these will be addressed immediately. I am continuing my reading regarding spatial audio feedback, as well as investigating how other audio-only games do this. I am also trying to think of more ways in which to use the x&y axis for audio purposes. Ideally I would like to receive feedback regarding these prototypes and analyse the average speed it took to find the sound in each game. Then further develop the two that were the quickest.