Adventures of Tammy: Play Your Stories!
- LA Nuñez
- Feb 24, 2022
- 5 min read
LA D. Nuñez1*, Gia Fiel O. Camaña1, Kyle Joseph Edward P. Garcia1, Christian Arvee R. Libuanao1 , Jash Mhaynard M. Vasquez1, Melvin F. Moso1, Ray Carlo A. Abacan1, and Joferson L. Bombasi1
1 College of Computer Studies and Multimedia Arts, FEU, Institute of Technology-Alabang,
Muntinlupa City, PHILIPPINES
*Corresponding Author: lanunez.ofx@gmail.com
Abstract
In the animation industry, the 2D and 3D hybrid technique had primarily been employed on films. However, the 2D and 3D hybrid technique is not just for animated films; it may be used to create assets and environments for video games. Game animation, like film animation, has progressed from 2D to 3D techniques. Furthermore, while a few research and current systems have used interactive storytelling in mobile applications, none has included Augmented Reality (AR) as a feature. The goal of this research was to generally create Adventures of Tammy: Play your stories, an interactive storytelling mobile game with augmented reality story playback. Specifically, to develop assets and environment and implement it through the utilization of 2D and 3D hybrid animation techniques, and finally embed it through an AR story playback. Through the utilization of Unity, ARCore and ARFoundation in development, the app was successfully developed. Based on the results from the survey, the objectives of the study were successfully achieved. The proponents were able to: develop assets and environments through the use of 2D and 3D hybrid techniques, implement the developed 2D and 3D hybrid assets and environment, and produce a visually appealing app for children and embed an AR technology used for the AR story playback.
Statement of the Problem
As mobile games continue to gain popularity in the past few years, scholars often focus on investigating the negative effects and addictive tendencies of gaming, but not much on certain topics such as how gameplay can be a supplement to real-life learning to children (Chen et al., 2009). It is important to note, however, that children belonging to Generation Alpha or those born between 2010 to 2024 are described by the social researcher McCrindle (2005), as the most digitally literate among generations because of the omnipresence of technology in their formative years. Generation Alpha did not need to adapt to technology because they were born into it. McCrindle further elaborated that Gen A as consumers will lead to an increase in the gamification of learning. Furthermore, a study by Dore et. al. in 2019 showed evidence that children learn from developmentally appropriate, interactive mobile games.
For these reasons, the proponents developed Adventures of Tammy (AoT): Play your stories—an interactive storytelling mobile game with Augmented Reality story playback for children using 2D and 3D hybrid techniques for assets and environments. AoT highlights the hybrid 2D and 3D technique in delivering rich visuals and assets that could engage the kids—students from grade levels 1 to 3.
The project involved the utilization of hybrid 2D and 3D techniques in developing assets and animation for the interactive storytelling mobile game Adventures of Tammy (AoT). In the system, 2D and 3D assets were used to ensure that the game’s visuals were appealing to children in grade levels 1 to 3, which were the target beneficiaries of the project. The children in the highlight were ages 6 to 9 years old. They were knowledgeable about mobile devices and use them on a daily basis.
The users will be able to read through the stories through a dialogue-based game. Based on their dialogue choices they will be able to unlock different endings, which will lead them to a collection of AR scenes and storybooks that can be found in the Library. These collections of AR scenes can only be unlocked through reading through opening various endings in the Learn mode.
The different AR scenes highlight different important scenes in the story it represents. The scenes were composed of an environment crucial to that specific ending represented by the 2D assets that the proponents created, and the 3D characters which the ending focuses on.
On the other hand, the user activity does not end in the dialogue-based game and AR story playback as the game also highlights a mini-game. The mini-game is a guess-that-phrase type of game where users can earn stars, which they would need to open other stages, and xp to rank up.
Gamification is not a new thing, it started way back in 2010. Gamification is using game elements and mechanics to engage users from something boring to an engaging activity. Based on The Knowledge Arcade (2021), gamification is the process of adding game elements to something to maximize the learners' engagement and happiness. With that said, gamification can be a way to engage the users more by giving them items to recognize their efforts. This gives a sense of accomplishment to the users that motivates them to learn more.
Applying the mechanics of gamification in reading increases the chance of kids learning more as they play. Richter et. al. (2014) defined gamification as the use of game design elements in non-game contexts to encourage a desired type of behavior. Raising motivation and engagement in gamification happens when intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation are combined (Montean, 2011). Extrinsic motivation looks after the reward one could get from a game. On the other hand, intrinsic motivation comes not from external pressures but one’s willingness to improve. Gamification is applied to Adventures of Tammy to increase kids' engagement and motivation to read and comprehend stories.
Objectives
This section includes the general and specific objectives of the present study. Generally, the study aims to develop Adventures of Tammy: Play Your Stories, an interactive storytelling mobile game with Augmented Reality playback.
Specifically, it aims to:
Develop assets and environment through the utilization of 2D and 3D hybrid techniques for Adventures of Tammy.
Implement the developed 2D and 3D hybrid assets and environment in producing a visually appealing app for children.
Embed Augmented Reality (AR) technology to the stories’ playback.
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For more information about the app, you can visit https://adventures-of-tammy.web.app
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