Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
The relationship between a virtual environment and the visible data it can represent creates opportunities for
the designer to express information in many new ways. Like great architecture, these spaces must be invit-
ing and understandable all at once. This “hands-on” project will give you the opportunity to practice your
building skills and to create a 3D “infographic” in a virtual space, which is based on your personal proile,
timeline, or CV (curriculum vitae; résumé).
To start this project, you will need your résumé or chronology. If you have one listed on LinkedIn, then you
can access the Visualize Me site (http://vizualize.me/) to create an instant graphic display of your work history.
The irst decisions you need to make are about the environment for your display. Here are some questions
to ask:
1. How will this be viewed by the visitor? For instance, will they walk among the display elements,
like an exhibit, or look down on it like a map?
2. What aspects of the exhibit structure and color palette will focus the eye towards your personal
timeline data.
3. How can you make your personal data come “alive” and display new, meaningful connections to
the visitor?
Once you have answered these questions and broken down your personal history to some infographics,
download the content for this chapter from http://www.anncudworthprojects.com/Virtual World Design Book
Downloads and upload it into your avatar's inventory. Let's start building a timeline display of your chronology.
6.9.1 m
aKe
The
T
imeline
B
ase
As shown in Figure 6.19, the decades of your lifespan are represented with a series of 10 m long boxes. Now
build a 100 m long box as the back wall, and stand it up behind the base sections. This represents a 100 year
FIGURE 6.19
Screen grab from OpenSim showing the setup for the basic structure of the timeline. The base elements
are covered with a tiled texture to divide them into 10 increments—each block representing a decade. The back wall is
100 m long, divided into 100 increments representing 100 years.
