The random yet easy to use nature of this program is what made it feel like I was playing rather than using a piece of software. Using a new piece of software is often accompanied by feelings of confusion and frustration. This program, however, provides a lot of stimulation to the user through its usage of vibrant colors on a black canvas. The user interface is very easy to use, and while the program is very random during the first few times of testing the brushes out, players can easily get a handle of the wide range of brush types. When I first tested the program my attention was most occupied by the ellipse tool and the +click tool because of how unique both of them were. I initially expected a simple ellipse tool, but it ended up being a complex brush that kept pumping out ellipses after ellipses as my cursor moved across the canvas. The +click brush surprised me because the printed patterns changed between white and red depending on whether the user was clicking down or not. Because each of the tools were so different and provided different things within strict limits, I decided to test out how each of the tools would layer upon each other to create different effects, especially with the ellipse and+click tools as they intrigued me the most. The ellipse tool was the only tool that could really create a more 3 dimensional looking piece, this made me determined to use the other tools and see how I could also add dimension with them.
If I were to describe this game as if it were an object, I would say it is similar to that of a Chinese finger trap. You get sucked into trying to master each of the 4 provided tools and trying to work out if there is any rhyme or reason to them, that you don’t realize you’ve been playing for quite a while nor how to get out in a way. There is give to the game in that you have freedom to create what you wish on the canvas as well as opportunity to clear the canvas at any time. But you are still very much placed into a sandbox in which you can only do so much with what the tools allow you to do. Like for instance, the “yellow line?” where you are able to draw with the yellow line but have no control over its size nor color variation. Similarly with the ellipse tool and click ones, where you are given a set color palette and conditions that they let you do. If I were to recreate this experience, I think an important part to it would be the player be afforded a yellow pen, confetti for the dot tool, and then for the ellipse where you can only make circles using a pen and compass. What might get lost in translation is the ability with the click tool in which where ever the cursor goes is the grey cross, and then it turns pink once pressed. I cannot think of how this might be replicated in a real-world setting. Making the game more physical I think would make the player be more thoughtful with what they are making, compared to the digital one in which they can reset the canvas within seconds.
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The random yet easy to use nature of this program is what made it feel like I was playing rather than using a piece of software. Using a new piece of software is often accompanied by feelings of confusion and frustration. This program, however, provides a lot of stimulation to the user through its usage of vibrant colors on a black canvas. The user interface is very easy to use, and while the program is very random during the first few times of testing the brushes out, players can easily get a handle of the wide range of brush types. When I first tested the program my attention was most occupied by the ellipse tool and the +click tool because of how unique both of them were. I initially expected a simple ellipse tool, but it ended up being a complex brush that kept pumping out ellipses after ellipses as my cursor moved across the canvas. The +click brush surprised me because the printed patterns changed between white and red depending on whether the user was clicking down or not. Because each of the tools were so different and provided different things within strict limits, I decided to test out how each of the tools would layer upon each other to create different effects, especially with the ellipse and+click tools as they intrigued me the most. The ellipse tool was the only tool that could really create a more 3 dimensional looking piece, this made me determined to use the other tools and see how I could also add dimension with them.
If I were to describe this game as if it were an object, I would say it is similar to that of a Chinese finger trap. You get sucked into trying to master each of the 4 provided tools and trying to work out if there is any rhyme or reason to them, that you don’t realize you’ve been playing for quite a while nor how to get out in a way. There is give to the game in that you have freedom to create what you wish on the canvas as well as opportunity to clear the canvas at any time. But you are still very much placed into a sandbox in which you can only do so much with what the tools allow you to do. Like for instance, the “yellow line?” where you are able to draw with the yellow line but have no control over its size nor color variation. Similarly with the ellipse tool and click ones, where you are given a set color palette and conditions that they let you do. If I were to recreate this experience, I think an important part to it would be the player be afforded a yellow pen, confetti for the dot tool, and then for the ellipse where you can only make circles using a pen and compass. What might get lost in translation is the ability with the click tool in which where ever the cursor goes is the grey cross, and then it turns pink once pressed. I cannot think of how this might be replicated in a real-world setting. Making the game more physical I think would make the player be more thoughtful with what they are making, compared to the digital one in which they can reset the canvas within seconds.