Raid One – Emergent Technology Survey 

Infographics (a clipped compound of "information" and "graphics") are graphic visual representations of information, data or knowledge intended to present information quickly and clearly. They can improve cognition by utilizing graphics to enhance the human visual system's ability to see patterns and trends. (Wikipedia)

Raid Overview

Companies have been using data visualization models for decades. Infographics—as we are familiar with them—are often used as persuasive modes using a combination of text, images, numbers, and colors. Not only do we see these on campus bulletin boards, but we see them circulate on Facebook, Twitter, and popular websites.

Infographics are a great way to get the attention of the reader or convey a lot of technical information in a quick and effective way. For this raid, you will create an infographic about the software, movie, or game you analyzed and provide further explanation underneath like you would see on product pages of websites. The images represented should be product and company logos and screenshots, but all other graphics should be creative commons or original. See the below instruction for further details.

Raid Instructions

Your Emergent Technology Profile should include a prominent infographic, the company and software logo, interview quotes, and contextualizing text.

1. Choose a software, movie, or game you want to make a profile for.
2. Choose a software to make your infographic (Infogram, Canva, or Illustrator)
3. Decide what Content you will include.
4. Choose Delivery method.
5. Submit!

-Programs-

For this individual raid, you have agency over how you accomplish this task. If you choose a web-based software, your time will be easier with the drag and drop features and you will accomplish more in a shorter amount of time. If you choose one of the Adobe programs, you will have to work a bit harder and longer, but you will have full customization over what you do. See the program profiles below for more details.

-0- Note: If you choose to use Adobe Illustrator, your score will be weighted by increasing the score by 10%. (i.e., If you earn an 82, 8.2 points will be added to your score.)

-Content-

You are required to include the following content in your infographic. How you organize it, what extra content you want to include, and how much text you use is up to you. The listed content below is more of a guide than a template.

1. At least two quotes from two different people
   • Simple, short quotes that favor the program and/or function
   • Can be from YouTube videos, Articles, or Personal Interviews. Make sure you cite.
2. Software Uses
   • Overall use/function of the software. What does it do?
3. Key Software Functions
   • What are some key or unique selling points?
4. Brief Production History
   • When was it made? Was it updated? How has it evolved?
5. Affordances
   • What are advantages and what can it do well?
6. Limitations
   • What are the limits? What are some drawbacks?
7. Technical Documentation
   • Manuals and other technical documentation.
8. Reviews and Tutorials (typed and multimodal)
   • Other reviews and tutorials that you can find online. (Positive and negative?)
9. Examples of compositions from software (final products or in-game screenshots).
   • Artwork, videos, flyers, games, etc.

For movies and games, think about genre, platform, audience, etc. when answering each question.

-Composition-

There are several different approaches to this particular infographic. You can make it more text heavy or more graphic heavy. You need to have at least 5 graphics (icons, frames, arrows, etc.).

Text Heavy

The text heavy infographics will be a more heavily weighted assessment on the technical writing. More text means more thought on organization, arrangement, and proximity of text and graphics.

EXAMPLES: ONE | TWO | THREE | FOUR

Graphic Heavy

The graphic heavy infographics will be a more heavily weighted assessment on the graphic design. More graphics means more thought on organization, arrangement, color, contrast, proximity, and perspective. You want to make sure there is enough text to convey the information to the audience, but not too much to get lost in.

EXAMPLES: ONE |TWO | THREE

-Personal Frame and Reflection-

In addition to the infographic, you are required to preface the graphic with a personal frame of about 200 words. If you have a graphic intensive infographic, you can break up the frame around the graphic. This should be your experience with the program and your take on it.

-Delivery Method-

Panel profiles such as these are rarely Word or GoogleDoc documents. These hypertextual, multimodal compositions are typically on websites. Your delivery method should be chosen with your audience and product in mind. What is the best way to represent your panel profile?

Suggested Delivery Methods:

• Adobe Spark: An easy to use scrolling platform that should be familiar to all students. Limited in organization, but very sleek.
• Wix or Weebly: Drag and drop website builders. Can make several tabs to help organize your information. Named URLs. Easy to use.
• Wordpress: A more advanced website platform that gives the user nearly full customization options over their delivery.
• Infogram: If you make your infographic in Infogram, you can type out your full panel profile with some customization options in the program itself.

Requirements Overview

• Create infographic.
• Include all aspects of content listed above.
• Choose a delivery method to contain the infographic and content.
• Include personal frame and reflection
• Include citations at the bottom for any cited information and images.

Performance Record

• Infographic Neatness: Does it look like an infographic as explained in workshop, Digital Writer, and Writer/Designer? Does it have necessary components? (15%)
• Content Inclusions: Does the panel profile include all nine (9) content pieces? Does it have the personal frame and reflection? (60%)
• Correctness: Is the panel profile clean, meet requirements, and is free from errors? (15%)
• Specialization: Was the specialization fulfilled? (10%)

Total Raid Points: 100XP 

Specializations

• Warrior: Entire piece should be at least 1250 words. Must also include a total of four (4) quotes from outside sources.
• Ranger: Must have a total of ten (10) links to other sources about the software with context.
• Mage: Must use Illustrator and Weebly, Wix, or Wordpress for infographic.
• Bard: Must make graphic intense infographic with at least ten (10) unique graphics.

Submission Instructions

To submit this raid, please link your site (delivery method) directly to the Quest Board in the class folder.

Some Examples:

(Although these aren't all infographics, they show good examples of how companies organize their "about" sections for technology)

Pro | Wordpress Theme

Adobe - Creative Cloud

Weebly.com 

What is Minecraft

Some Resources that May Help!

thenounproject.com (icons)

Kelsey Sheaffer's Presentation

Image Trace Tutorial

Link about Logos and Colors (displayed below) 

Raid Two – Game Design, Production, and Presentation

Raid Overview

For this raid, you will embody a new startup gaming company in small teams to create a game, marketing campaign, and prepare for a presentation to four "sharks."  The game is only a small part of the raid. The process in which you work together, design, and produce the game is much more important than the final project. We will engage in continual revision, invention, and collaboration. The presentation portion of the raid is inspired by the popular ABC show Shark Tank—a two-minute pitch followed by roughly an eight-minute Q&A between the Sharks and guild. The guild will be assessed on teamwork, creativity, rhetorical justification, completeness, and presentation.

There are four "roles" that each team needs to assign: 1) a Project Lead (or guild leader) who will be responsible for keeping the guild on task, ensure they meet deadlines, and the overall presentation of the project; 2) a Game Specialist that is the game visionary, primary coder, and designer/builder; 3) a Media Specialist who is the primary builder and responsible for logo design and the development diary; and 4) a Technical Writer that will focus on the marketing materials and website. Based on the overall goal and composition of the guild, these roles will shift, but the responsibilities of the guild are still the same. Ready?

Step One: Choosing your Guild

Multiplayer games--Massively Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Games (MMORPGs) in particular--rely heavily on working within defined roles as part of a collective whole in order to conduct a raid, or take on a large task that requires a large number of people. On a smaller scale, we typically refer to this group as an adventuring party or a team. In Dungeons & Dragons, you can adventure on your own, but it doesn't make for such a great experience because it is a lot of work and a much higher chance of failure. In battle royal or free-for-all games, there is a high probability of loss or failure and a slim chance of victory. Guilds and teams are important to the design experience which is why we are going to start here.

After the project is announced, the class will decide on potential roles based on interest and skills. Typically, this is done in a discussion/spreadsheet hybrid in class so the entire class can see who has declared what skills/roles. Here is the suggested method of choosing a topic:

1. Choose/Define Roles.
2. Form Team Around Skills.
3. Game Specialist Pitches Idea.
4. Team Discussion.
5. Start Drawing Up Contract.

Other teams have decided to start with an idea and then forming a team based on the idea. Either way works well and you will have plenty of time in class to decide on the guild.

Remember, the roles are flexible, but here are the four key roles:

• Project Lead (or guild leader) who will be responsible for keeping the guild on task, ensure they meet deadlines, and the overall presentation of the project (±20xp);
• Game Specialist that is the game visionary, primary coder, and designer/builder;
• Media Specialist who is the primary builder and responsible for logo design and the development diary;
• Technical Writer that will focus on the marketing materials and website.

If you only have three members, the Media Specialist and Technical Writer can be combined. If you have more, You can have secondary Game Specialists, Media Specialists, or Technical Writers.

After all the roles are set and the theme is chosen, fill out you guild contract under your designated guild folder on Drive. This contract needs to be maintained by the Project Lead/Guild Leader.

Step Two: Defining the Game

Sometimes the hardest thing to do on game night is choosing the game. I'm asking you to design a game, which some people find to be an easier or harder decision. There are many different ways to decide on a type of game, but let's talk a bit about different options you have for this class:

• The Tabletop Roleplaying Game (TTRPG): This is a pen and paper game that is tied to dice. One player is typically the dungeon or game master (DM/GM) and the other players are the player characters (PCs) that are going on the adventure. There are many variations to this genre, but Dungeons and Dragons is by far the most popular. What is required? This is a print heavy game that will require a lot of work in InDesign. The player's manual will include the rules, how to build a story, character sheets, and the beginnings of a game.
• The Party Game: The party game is typically for 3+ people and has the intention of socializing, laughing, and goofiness, but trivia games also fall into this category. There are many different types of party games but some of the more popular ones are Cards Against Humanity, Apples to Apples, Quelf, You Don't Know Jack, Pictionary, Headbandz, and more. What is required? This can be digital or print. If you make something digital, you would use Adobe XD, Unity, Tabletop Simulator, or other digital app/game softwares. You could also do everything in print which will require a manual, examples of play, printed components, and box art.
• The Board Game: These are the popular single to small group games we all grew up with. Sorry, The Game of Life, Monopoly, Scrabble, Battleship, and others. Board games have been around for thousands of years and it is a popular and recognizable genre. What is Required? You will need to heavily prototype this game with printed components and boards. You will also need to make a comprehensive manual to help players play and understand the game.
• The Digital Roleplaying Game: This is typically one character that is controlled by a player to go on an adventure that is created by the game designers. Popular versions of this include Skyrim, Mass Effect, Witcher, World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy, and many others. What is required? I suggest using Minecraft: Education Edition for this one because you only need to build the world and modify the gameplay with coding, all things we will go over in class. You will have to make printed documents such as the game manual and marketing materials, but most of this will be digital.

Step Three: Game Expectations

When making your game, there are many things to consider. Here are some general guidelines:

All Games:

• All games should have some type of commentary or reason for development. (i.e., reflects parking on campus; censorship; brings awareness to an industry; etc.)
• You should have a specific audience in mind.
• The manual, tutorial, and game development document should cover the mechanics, components, and rules of the game.
• All games should be at least a 15 minute play experience.
• All images/artwork need to be documented and explained.

Digital Games:

• The coding components must be documented through images (game design document) and video (in development diary).
• In Minecraft: Education Edition, you should have a combination of MakeCode and Command Blocks.
• You should have multiple NPCs or Puzzles to keep the player captivated (not just open world).
• The game should have at least one complete "level" without a gamebreaking bug.

Card Games

• You should have printable prototypes of all your cards.
• The manual, box art, and card/board components should be in a completed (not draft) printed state.
• Cards should be fully explained with examples on site

Board Games

• The board and other components should be prototyped and printed (explore options).
• The manual/site should have all components fully explained.
• The box art and directions should be explained.
• The playable tutorial should show all rules and playability.

Step Four: Technical Documentation

Every game has technical documentation both behind the scenes for internal documentation as well as public documentation that is either on their website or packaged with the game. Every game, regardless of genre, will need to have certain documents, but others are more flexible depending on the game your guild creates.

What is required:

• Development Diary: This is a video representation of all the hard work you put into designing the game and preparing for the presentation. We have 10 weeks on this project and each week should be represented in the development diary. Components that should be included: interviews, timestamps, behind-the-scenes development, process builds and designs, concept art, narration, images, and time-mapping. This can be all one video or a short series.
• "Kickstarter" Website: You need to create a "kickstarter website" which will feature all your resources and documents, but it will also explain the design process, the game purpose, and the teammates. The website will also be used for presentations. You can use Spark, Weebly, Wix, Sway, or Wordpress. Should be one long page with artwork, text, and headings. Template HERE
• Game Manual: Regardless of the game genre, you need to have a manual explaining the rules, how to play, and what components there are. Make sure to show all instances of code.Depending on the genre, this may be included in a larger document. This should be done in InDesign, but could be done in Word if needed. See "Student Examples" for help.
  • EXAMPLES
• Game Design Document:  The game design document (GDD) is a technical document that outlines the entire planning and production of your game. The examples and template provided will not work for all games, but the structure and organization are strongly suggested and recommended. As long as the relevant information is included (below) you can organize it how you see fit. Remember, most of this should be copy and pasted from other documents. Here is a quick overview: HERE.

Relevant information:

• • Title Page
  • Table of Contents
  • Change log (dates of things completed and changed in testing)
  • Short & Long description of game.Key features. Unique features.
  • Story with characters and setting (if narrative based game)
  • Gameplay section explaining Primary Design Elements (key features); Mechanics; Dynamics (how players see and use mechanics); Level/Board design; All instances of code.
  • Aesthetics (Show components with callouts to explain how to read and use each component [board included]).
  • List of all artwork with links to said artwork. Include author when possible (Author name - Name of Piece - Hyperlink) Can be a chart
  • User Interface or System (what does the player see?) and Controls if applicable
  • Target Audience and social purpose/commentary
  • Marketing information (posters, tutorials, videos, etc)
  • Development Plan post presentation (if you were to work on the game further, what is your 12 month plan? Examples at the end of Diablo Pitch)

Below  are  examples  of  the  game  design  document.

• • DOOM Example
  • Bioshock Example
  • Deus Ex Example
  • Diablo Pitch Example
  • Grand Theft Auto Example
  • Monaco Example (On Facebook)
  • Game Design Document Help
  • How to Write a Game Design Document
• Treatment Sheet: This is a 1-page document which shows the "sharks" what they would be investing in. Think of it as a quick sales sheet which fully explains the game, the purpose, and your audience.

Step Five: Marketing Materials

On the day of the presentation, you need to have a number of marketing materials and artwork to represent your game.

• The Game: The delivered game with artwork (depends on what genre you are making).
• Box Art: Printed box art for a DVD case (if digital) and on sized box for analog.
• Posters: Every game needs to have at least two advertising posters. One poster should be like a movie poster and the other should include information to highlight the key features of the game.
• Game Tutorial/Walkthrough: This tutorial should be an edited 5-15min video explaining to the player how to play the game. [XC, creatively work a tutorial into the game without interfering with the level and "story"; 20XP) // Walkthrough should be a near full playthrough of the game with commentary. Don't have to show all repetitive elements of the game or puzzles. [Do both for XC]
• Company Logo: A company logo should be created and displayed on all materials.
• Business Cards: A business card with the company name, logo, and website (printed x 5)

Step Six: The Presentation

On the day of the presentation, guilds will print the following:

• Treatment sheet (x5)
• Business Cards (x5)
• Both Posters 11x17
• Game (if physical game)
• Guild Contract (x1) 

The presentation will be broken into THREE parts:

1. You will have up to Two Minutes to pitch the game to the sharks.
2. Presentation materials will then be given to the Sharks (about 60 seconds)
3. Up to Eight Minutes of Q&A from Sharks

Each presentation will total 10 minutes. We will start promptly at the start of class, and we will quickly move into the first presentation. Each guild is expected to be on time and ready to present once the guild before them finishes. Submission Guidelines

• The Company Page should be displayed on the business card and treatment sheet as a shortened URL.
• All Marketing Materials should be submitted to the "Final" folder.
• The game trailer/walkthrough should be embedded on the company site AND the mp4 file should be uploaded to the final folder.

Game World

• The game world and a link to the MakeCode code should be on the company website.
• The game world should also be in the guild folder.

Article on using Public Domain Art

Student Examples

Marketing Materials (examples for presentations)

1. Debunkers Inc.
2. Providence & Co.
3. Ludos Game Design Studios
4. Pixel and Mortar
5. Ascension Games
6. Lucky Leaf Studios
7.  Social Harbinger Studios (SHS)

Shark Tank Rubric

Rubric HERE

Questions HERE

Raid 3: Final Portfolio

What? You made it! We are at the end! You did it! Congratulations on being awesome! Now, just one quick final raid and you can be on your way. May I introduce the Final Portfolio!

Raid Overview

Some would argue that the most important technical documents to an individual person are their resume and cover letters. The final portfolio is an opportunity to put together your resume and a digital portfolio to apply for a job (real or imaginary) of your choice. To do this, you need to craft a cover letter.

Markel, in his book, Technical Communication, discusses job documents on pages 385 - 418. He says:

"There is really no mystery about what employers want in an employee. Across all fields, employers want a person who is honest, hard-working, technically competent, skilled at solving problems, able to work effectively alone and in teams, willing to share information with others, and eager to keep learning" (pg. 387). 

This is asking a lot, but there are some tips on how to get your personal brand across to potential employers throughout the chapter. For this raid, you will create a resume, digital portfolio, and cover letter in line with the following guidelines:

Important Note: If you already have a resume, digital portfolio, and cover letter, you can use it if you write a reflection as listed below.

The Resume

Markel discusses resumes on pg 397. He lists several examples, but the most common is the chronological. The goal is readability. Can you glean the important information in a matter of seconds? Do you use headings? Are the dates, locations, and names easily found? These are all questions that you need to answer.

The following sections should be in the resume:

• Identifying information
• Personal statement/Summary/Objective
• Education
• Employment Experience
• Skills
• Honors

Here are some design tips:

• One Page
• One font throughout
• Use bold or lines for dividing sections
• Bullets are better than full sentences (except objective)
• Smart use of white space
• Make sure everything is aligned.

Sample of final paragraph:

"I welcome the opportunity to discuss how I can contribute to Clemson University. I am available via phone (123-123-1234) and email (cstuar2@g.clemson.edu) to discuss the opportunity for an interview. Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to hearing from you."

Digital Portfolio

The digital portfolio is not covered in the textbook, but it is essential to jobs that require proof of experience and work. An English major could use this to get a job in a design, PR, or marketing firm. An Engineer could use this to get a job requiring design, technical writing, and presentations. These portfolios are also good to have on hand when going to job fairs.

For this portion of the raid, you are to create a digital portfolio of work you've done in this class and others to showcase your design and technical skill. It is important to be ethical and only include work that you worked on.

Suggested Sites for a Portfolio:

• Wordpress.com
• Weebly.com
• Wix.com
• Portfolio.Adobe.com
• persona.co

Here are some examples:

• Valentina Arismendi
• Vincent Fu
• Valentina Caballero
• Christopher Stuart

They key is to make sure you are organized, have solid headings with explanatory text, and embedded examples. It is ok if you don't have a lot of examples; show off what you do well!

Cover Letter

Markel has a solid example of the cover letter on pg 412, but shows a solid example on pg The cover letter is important because not only does it explain who you are, but it also states why you want the job. The resume shows your skills, but it doesn't explain why you are qualified or what you can do for the company. The cover letter is your narrative, so you are going to have to talk about yourself. Here are the moves you will make:

• Address it as a letter
• Introductory paragraph which explains the position you are applying for
• Highlight a few key points from your resume
• Have an education paragraph
• Have an employment paragraph
• Concluding paragraph with personal information and statement about interview

How to Submit

The digital portfolio should be listed under your contact information on your resume. The resume and cover letter should be combined PDFs (one document) with the cover letter first. This PDF should be submitted to the Quest Board under Raid 3.

A Reflection

If you already have all of your documents, you can make small revisions to them and then write a small reflection about what changes you made, what you added from class (and why/why not), and why you made the design choices you did. The reflection (along with the documents as one PDF) should be uploaded to the Quest Board under Raid 3.

Revision Guidelines

Meaningful Revision