Experimental Design

on
8 APRIL 19 -
Hanif Rashid (0333455) 
Experimental Design.
WEEK 0
  • Introduction and preparation for the RMITxTDS collaboration.
  • Our Lecturer prepared us with what to come and asking us to show our potential and push our boundaries.
WEEK 1

 DAY 1

  • Ice breaking session,Get to know each other from Australia & Malaysia.
  • Assign into team after we put our name on the board.
  • Start discussing what to do with our initial idea.
  • Majority of us comfortable with doing VR but decline due to hardware not available yet.
  • We decided to do projection mapping with Kinect.
  • Presenting the rough idea - going with Kinect, LEAP & projection mapping interactive.
  • Experimental Design.

DAY 2


  • Our team divided into 2 task force, Production & Concept me-kinect, maggie-LEAP & azry unity.
  • The other half discuss about the story, narrative and art style.
  • Whole day we do the troubleshooting for the kinect.
  • The problem that we faced is the hardware is the 1st generation of kinect.
  • It’s finally working, but apparently we do require a lot  of old version of software to make the kinect work. We believed we need more than 2 weeks.
  • Towards the end we decided to abandon kinect due to hardware limitation and short time period to execute. So we move with VR. choose HTC Vive. 
  • Maintaining the same concept, direction but only change the kinect to VR.
  • And instead of using the HTC Vive controller, we decided to push with LEAP motion. 
  • This is where we manage to preserve the concept of immersive with the LEAP motion instead using controller. 

DAY 3  
Decided to bring my team to Cafe for brunch and for stable WiFi.
We finalized our presentation that morning. 
Presentation went well. The panelist like our idea and it’s doable for this 2 week of time.
Mention to Mr Mike what needed for our project prototype.


FULL PRESENTATION SLIDE HERE

DAY 4  

  • Day Trip to IPOH.
  • We started our journey at 8AM Reach Kinta Tin Mining.
  • Perak Famous Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge Ship (Kapal Korek)
  • Walkabout Sekeping.
  • Perak Temple Cave. Head Back.
  • Only Kapal Korek & Perak Temple Cave is interesting as those two we can apply towards our project such as the element for our colaboration project.

DAY 5 - 7

  • Today we given privilege to go easy on the team work. 
  • So we decided to continue on the other progress since the hardware is not available yet for us to used. 
  • Saturday 13 APRIL = RMIT have their own activity.
  • Sunday 14 APRIL = Maggie and Margot start trouble shoot on the hardware which is LEAP.


WEEK 2

DAY 8
  • Monday, Still no hardware for VR, some of us try to find a alternative solution but we still firm with getting the HTC Vive.
  • I decided to start my Modeling and start slowly apply the animation.
  • I need continue on the modeling since we can’t wait 100% on the hardware itself.
    Start to model the 1st two scene and try to find the color and mood.
  • To used a very fast modeling style which is low-poly, with this I can help to optimized the game and experiences. 
  • HTC Vive & the PC arrive on Afternoon.
  • My team setup the hardware and be ready for next Tuesday pre-presantation. 

DAY 9
  • Start to develop our prototype for presentation on the hardware.
  • There’s error on the HTC Vive and LEAP- manage to solve the error as we discover some on the plug-in install on Unity is not the latest version to work with Unity+HTC Vive and LEAP.
  • Manage to used the current template and modify towards our Project Direction and we even manage to insert our 3D assets FOR per-presentation. 
  • Prototype presentation is going well as. The panelist get the idea and direction that we're headed. Video Presentation bellow.

 
DAY 10

CRUNCH PERIOD.

  • Starting this day and onward, we continue our prototype to finish whatever we push our limitation to present on Friday.
  • Bring my PC to Lab to work together with the team, picture bellow.
Bellow are the list of our individual assignment for the overall project :
  • Me - Continue on 3D model and animation. 
  • Azry -Unity Coding.
  • Maggie - Helping with Unity Coding & finding asset.
  • Margo - Sound and helping with the overall artwork in unity and aesthetic.
  • Arylim - Researching & Producing the texture.
  • Jeremy - Producing the artwork for the overall game.
  • Picture above is the Model and the animation of surrounding environment.
  • Some of the animation is not working properly as the model is not fully optimized or imported correctly as FBX format.
  • The solution that i need to do is to check the model closely and repair the broken area.

DAY 11
 
CRUNCH PERIOD
  • Continue with our progress.
  • Build another 2 model with animation, which is the Uluru and Ipoh area.
  • The team required me to model the surrounding which is easy for the whole process when importing in Unity.
  • Refine the surrounding effect and color.
  • Add another model and effect.
  • Hard code the effect on Unity.
  • Didn’t manage to apply the texture yet on 3D model and overal game as we are running out of time.
  • Realized that our project on Unity become lagging once we add too many model plus with animation.
  • 1 model together with all the animation is already heavy to make unity Lagging.
  • Will optimized this for upcoming week. For prototype presentation we all satisfy and ready to present.

DAY 12
 
  • Presentation day towards the industry panelist.
  • Manage to add another few more effect and texture before the presentation. 
  • Only apply the texture on the Ball.
  • We are the 1st group to go and present. Start off with Margo presentation and opening.
  • She later pass to Me and Azry as we both the developers. 
  • Video Presentation and afterwards is the comment and critics and feedback session. 



 
  • The panelist are impress. 
  • Commented on more interactive and Optimized the model even more. 
  • Cut down the model details & animation, scrap the fancy animation as this will reduce significantly on the experiences.
  • Focus on the interaction and the sandbox experiences instead. 

WEEK 3

 Experimental Design.
  • NO CLASS for this week as Mr Mike announce a week break due to RMIT also not having class.

WEEK 4
 Experimental Design.
  • Started to communicate with RMIT again.
  • Lecturer ask us to used Rumii soft - a VR software communication with the RMIT.
  • Continue with our progression.
  • Didn’t manage to have a proper meeting with out team yet.
  • Friday - our lecturer encourage us to communicate with our team properly due to clear up some misunderstood.
  • Bellow is the video some of our team using Rumi :


WEEK 5Experimental Design.
  • Finally all of us manage to a proper meeting. Through Facebook Video Called.
  • Assign our task properly, above picture.
  • As my task right now to optimized the model and making sure the animation is optimized while retain the interaction and experiences.
WEEK 6 - 9

 From this week and onward, we TDS (Taylor's Design School. can't really support them 100% so we have to compromise some of our target for the final game. Bellow are our timeline and interactivity.

As after the prototype week finish, other subject start to come in as the exception only last for that whole 2 weeks period. So we have to balance on other subject, same goes towards our RMIT team in Melbourne, hence the compromise. Bellow are my part progression towards the team :

Since majority of the model and animation is not fully optimized, I try to find a tutorials on how to optimized from Cinema 4D and also working properly in Unity



Once I'm clear with the tutorials and direction, started to apply all the techniques towards my model.Below are the video after optimized all the model animation.

 
After finish optimized all the models, i do a short video tutorials on how to import the model-FBX files and setup the file in Unity since the can't find tutorials on the Internet. Bellow are the video

Once I'm clear with the tutorials and direction, started to apply all the techniques towards my mode

WEEK 10 & Onward (PROJECT EXPANSION).
 
We (TDS) decided to expand our project with final output as group work but individual contribution to make a Augmented Reality App expansion for Dyacity. 

Since we really don't have the Virtual Reality (*the hardware do arrived almost 2weeks before the submission date) so we decided to make Augmented Reality App. The reason why we go with AR app also is because Azry and Arylim didn't have the experiences do make an AR app while me did manage to do one for my last semester PP1. LINK FOR MY PROJECT | PP1 PROJECT DETAILS 

Bellow are the SLIDE for our project proposal :
For my contribution, I will focus on the modeling on Cinema4D and Trying to get the Car mechanic working. 

By using Cinema4D, i can easily animated the model with animation and import as FBX format to carry the animation together. Bellow are the progress from Cinema4D with animation process :

As our direction, we are heavily inspired by Vuforia McDonal's promotional AR app. The idea is by using a real physical object as the target image, from here will generate a digital object inside the AR app.



Our idea as using a normal item such as normal day item, Mineral water bottle. An by using a AR app, people can easily scan and the augmented item will appear in the AR app. Hence the build up building with animation. For more details can refer HERE.
Above are the option that can be choose on the Vuforia 3.0 for scanning a physical object on creating AR app.

For Unity, I need to get the base where the car can manage to move around. Technically I need to make a sand box but focusing on the building City with a vehicle. Bellow are the progress : 
For the app itself, since it's gonna be AR App, the camera will rely on mobile camera. However for references purpose, for Unity, camera is set to Isomeric view. For the racing car, I manage to find a asset that provided by Move Mountains.

This asset is paid assets provided from Unity Assets store. The assets provided a sample on how to used all the element that included in the assets and is all modular so each element can be interact with each other. 

This asset also comes with AI car together with AI pathway so we can generate a real simulation racing game. Continue bellow are the progress for creating the car movement. :  
Now that the animation of the building and surrounding light is setup, moving to the car movement. Since the asset template provided a few element such as physic to used and can easily be modify, we can just change how much fraction and slippery to setup for the car movement. As for the scene, i decided to decorate and add extra prop such as the ram and extra building, this was inspired by the skate park :
Below are the sample movement captured from computer :
Now that the game is workable, I need to change the setting to Android for the output as the final outcome will be on AR app :
Some of the element is need to disable as it will contribute towards the app processing, such as post-processing, MSAA and other element that taxing the graphic processing. Bellow are the video from the app :   


From here onward, the Augmented process will be handle by Azry.


REFLECTION  

For this two weeks of collaboration with RMIT University was quite a journey. We shared a lot of experiences and exchanged our learning process with the RMIT Student. I was excited to exchange our culture with them as for some it was their first time coming to Malaysia and for us it was our first time working with international students outside Taylor's University. Some of them gave interesting ideas and perspectives in terms of producing the 2 weeks prototype. I was lucky enough to be selected in a group with enthusiastic members that have the energy and commitment to finish the project. Another interesting thing from the collaboration was the field trip that we had to Ipoh where all of us were able to bond as classmates and teammates. However, there were some constraints and limitations that we faced regarding the hardware where it did not arrive as scheduled and as promised by Mr. Mike. The hardware ended up arriving 4 days before the presentation. We did manage to finish our prototype by pushing past our boundaries and staying up till late at night. Most of the people developing the prototype are Taylor’s students which made me feel proud. IT was an enjoyable experience even though there were difficulties.

Collaboration after the 2 weeks was when things started to go haywire both from RMIT and also from our lecturers for these two combined modules. Initially, we were supposed to support them for their exhibition but it ended up being them requesting the production of the prototype from us. We did manage to turn down their request but still providing support. This process kind of ruined the relationship and bond in the team that we developed during the past 2 weeks. Mr. Mike gave us an option to expand our prototype. However, for Mr. Razif, it was kind of compulsory as he needed works for marking. When it comes to expansion, most of the class was indecisive and wasn’t sure whether they wanted to expand but they were not willing to voice out their opinions. Due to that, it was unclear and this is where things kind of clashed. I planned to not extend as I was holding to what Mr. Mike promised where these two modules will be considered completed after week 9 and also because I did my Personal Project I in the previous semester. Also due to this, there was a misunderstanding between me and my teammates. In the end, I was forced to compromise and help out with their plans for expansion.

I believed that if the modules were to be carried out like normal semesters. I could have been able to learn and venture more into Experiential Design.

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