4th Six Weeks Reflection

     I do believe last six weeks was successful for me. I got through two projects, and I'm pretty sure both turned out quite well. Also, as I worked on the second one particularly, I noticed that many classmates around me were falling behind, whereas I, who had missed a full class period on a field trip, managed to finish it in a timely manner. I think part of this is thanks to my work ethic. I had to fight the urge to put my head down and sleep, or lose myself in a daydream, or go off task in order to get work done. The second project was quite large, and this ability to focus was necessary to get it done on time.

     I preferred the game design project over the typography one. Although both had a lot of freedom, I feel like the game design project allowed to me use my imagination more and create exactly what I wanted to. Successful typography is also quite amazing, but I do not think I am at all at that level. Instead, my work ends up looking like a pitiful attempt to be something I am not. It was also painfully repetitive, at least in my opinion. Even though it was longer and more difficult, the game design project was more rewarding in the end.

     For both of these projects, I almost exclusively used Photoshop. I used this program because I am most familiar with it, as we have been using it for a long time and it was covered most recently. It also has a nice balance of potential for creative diversity as well as ease of use. I also thought, at least for typography, that its text tool would come in handy. After finishing up with the projects, I do regret not using Illustrator for the game design project. For the gameplay mockup illustration, the easy-to-use shape tool in Illustrator would have been better than that of Photoshop.

     One thing I learned this six weeks was from the game design project. When developing the plan for the game itself, I kept deciding that I had included enough. The teacher, however, would keep challenging me to add more. First, it would be lacking in the fun element. Next, the education element would need more development. In hindsight, I realize that this drive for settling with nothing less than perfection can become very useful in the real world. Those who give more effort will almost always be the successful ones in life.