Photographs by Saskia Coulson Recently, we decided to mix things up and hold an open studio session in the V&A Museum of Childhood at Bethnal Green.
I was based upstairs in the dollhouse section of the museum, with my sketchbook, notes, books I've been studying from and six iPads running my Strawberry Thief prototype. We also had a physical scoreboard, which really engaged the children.
Even though the game was a prototype with placeholder art, a few bugs and very last minute touch-screen controls, the response was overwhelmingly positive! Most of the children were very engaged with the game - some playing it for half an hour! A lot of parents likes the game too, and found making a game based on existing art fascinating.
I was based upstairs in the dollhouse section of the museum, with my sketchbook, notes, books I've been studying from and six iPads running my Strawberry Thief prototype. We also had a physical scoreboard, which really engaged the children.
Even though the game was a prototype with placeholder art, a few bugs and very last minute touch-screen controls, the response was overwhelmingly positive! Most of the children were very engaged with the game - some playing it for half an hour! A lot of parents likes the game too, and found making a game based on existing art fascinating.
The event was successful, with over 60 children playing my prototype. At this time, I was having a dilemma over whether to continue developing my Strawberry Thief game, or to work on my William Morris / Alice in Wonderland inspired adventure game.
I decided in the end to carry on with Strawberry Thief. The children at the Museum of Childhood gave me some great ideas how to expand the game. Not to mention my idea was briefly mentioned in my interview with the Evening Standard, which was great exposure. Also, I was worried that my other game idea would be too big of a project to make now, but I want to keep working on it after my residency and complete the game in future. Here are a few early sketches of the project. The idea was to play as a young victorian-era girl who helps out various animals which are found in William Morris prints. It would be similar to games like Banjo Kazooie, and perhaps Animal Crossing. I collaborated with Kristian Francis on the level designs, who created the levels for Tick Tock Toys.
I decided in the end to carry on with Strawberry Thief. The children at the Museum of Childhood gave me some great ideas how to expand the game. Not to mention my idea was briefly mentioned in my interview with the Evening Standard, which was great exposure. Also, I was worried that my other game idea would be too big of a project to make now, but I want to keep working on it after my residency and complete the game in future. Here are a few early sketches of the project. The idea was to play as a young victorian-era girl who helps out various animals which are found in William Morris prints. It would be similar to games like Banjo Kazooie, and perhaps Animal Crossing. I collaborated with Kristian Francis on the level designs, who created the levels for Tick Tock Toys.
