Chapter 1 THE PROBLEM AND REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES Introduction Protect the Past.

Shape the Future. It describes the importance of some historical places that we can find all over the world and protect them or preserve it for the next generation. Being an archaeologist, involves recording and interpreting artifact, planning and researching excavations, conservation and publicity and educating a wide variety of people from developers to children school. It also makes one appreciate the struggles that have brought them to be what and where they are today. Because of the adventures you can experience and the knowledge one can get, it would be fun to become an archaeologist. It can enrich minds and give importance for us the things God had given and made realize how important nature is. There are different genres of games just like any games you play on your pc. There are role playing games, action games, strategy games, puzzles, simulations and a few more. One type of mobile game that is becoming popular today is Role-Playing game (RPG). It can be translated into mobile phones giving importance on storytelling. Much like the text-based role playing games of before, the current crop of mobile phone role playing games have put more emphasis on how the story unfolds and develops as you progress deeper and deeper into the game. In most role-playing games, you play the part of the character that you choose and continue on the journey until you complete the story. It can also be seen as a sort of interactive novel that enables you to see how the story

develops while also experiencing being a part of it. There are also puzzle games wherein you have to solve a certain problem in order to reach your goal. Flash games are now becoming popular on the internet and many game developers are now using flash program for their games, because of this the proponents decided to use Flash CS3 for their study. Adobe Flash CS3 Professional is the first version of Flash released under the Adobe name. CS3 features full support for ActionScript 3.0, allows entire applications to be converted into ActionScript, adds better integration with other Adobe products such as Adobe Photoshop, and also provides better Vector drawing behavior, becoming more like Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Fireworks. The Flash authoring environment enables game, animation, advert and web page feature creation. Using Adobe Flash CS3 we can easily play games while existing on most computers and many mobile phones, the Flash player is also available as a stand-alone player that can be downloaded, or ships from Adobe as part of Flash CS3. The Flash player has become widespread throughout the mobile phone market through its lightweight version called Adobe Flash Lite. Since most of the mobile phones have a built in Adobe Flash Lite, the proponents decided to make a mobile game that will run on this type of mobile phones. Flash Lite is a development technology implemented at the client-side, or user interface layer. Recent changes to ActionScript allow Flash Lite to better integrate with and even compete with device-layer technologies like Java ME and BREW. Flash Lite should not be considered a mobile operating system like Symbian OS, Windows Mobile, or iPhone OS: it is a technology for developing

applications that run on a mobile operating system. Flash Lite 1.1 supports Flash 4 ActionScript. Flash Lite 2.0, based on Flash Player 7, supports Flash 7's newer ActionScript 2.0. Flash Lite can add audio and interactive elements without the use of other technologies such as JavaScript. As with Flash, Flash Lite is able to read and redraw external XML content. With this in mind, the proponents have created a game that would help educate the gamers about the historical places in the world. There are many educational games everywhere and is proving to be an effective teaching instrument. With the mobile phone being a popular gadget around the world and one that almost every person can access easily, it is now an ideal medium to reach people of every age as long as they have a phone and likes to play.

Review of Related Literature and Studies The proponents have collected the following articles from internet, books and other sources that will help give a definite background of the problem. This section discusses the related literature of the study including the foreign and local studies, synthesis of the study, conceptual framework and definition of the terms.

Foreign Literature The first game released for mobile phone was known as the Snake; first released in 1997 as an embedded application for Nokia phones. As time goes by, the snake became a multiplayer mode that used an infrared interface says Graft (2001). This became the start of many mobile game developers to target developing a more high-tech game; this gave the people more choice of games that they can download to play. One of the primary reasons why mobile games are in high demand is the casual, comfortable and interactive gaming engagement they provide. says Sarah Shaukat (2008) in her writing entitled The Rising Mobile phone fever. The mobile phone is indeed very handy. You can always have it with you wherever you are and just keep it safe in your pocket. Nowadays the mobile gaming industry is growing fast and is now widening the genres that they take up (Collins, 2008). Role playing is one of the genres that are becoming popular in mobile games. In the article written by William Doggett (2007) entitled Experiencing the Role Playing Game states that Role playing games appeal to a creative person with an active imagination. You are

granted the ability to take the protagonist of the story wherever you would like him or her to go. An RPG (Role Playing Game) is much like a script. You are acting out a part, however, you are also writing the stories as you go he also stated You are not playing yourself. You are playing a fantasy character within a fantasy world. As Dogett above-mentioned, in a Role Playing Game the player will act as the character. The player shall be the one to determine the action of the character based on the characterization. He is going to experience being in the shoes of the character he chooses to be and this shall be a big factor in determining the outcome of the game. Together with the fact that with the help of modern technology, the features of your mobile phone are gradually improving (Shaukat,2008), put this together with an effective storyline for a game and this will be an appealing mobile game.

Local Literature Mobile games are becoming famous. Many of the companies in the Philippines have decided to enter the mobile gaming industry just like the company called e-Games. As Fernando mentioned in an article, he said that having their games to be compatible for mobile phones they will reach more people even if they are not online since most Filipinos have mobile phones. (The Philippine Star, 2008) According to Connelly (2007) who made the article Your kids Are Smart Thanks to video Games state that there are many other benefits that come with

the use of video games. Recent studies have proved that a playing computer game helps to develop problem-solving skills, critical thinking and sequential reasoning abilities. They are also good for the development of spatial reasoning and memory skills, as most games involve the placement of objects in 3dimensional spaces as well as the use of floor plans, maps, mazes and puzzles. Video games are also good for the development of artistic abilities in children. Many games have incredibly creative graphics and storylines that are sure to inspire any creatively inclined youths. They are especially good for any children who dream to become writers some day. It is important to be able to build imaginary worlds as a writer, and many of the fantasy based games show them what is possible when you think creatively. Playing computer games can also be good for language skills. Many of the games involve foreign languages and translations from Japanese to English, and vice versa. There is also the cultural aspect of playing a game that was made in a foreign country. Many games depict scenarios that are found in the country where it was made. Children can learn about the differences and similarities between them and the people in other countries around the world. They can gain access to anthropological information every time they play a video game on their Xbox 360, Playstation 3 or Nintendo Wii consoles.

(http://www.articlear.com/Art/36150/630/Your-Kids-Are-Smart-Thanks-To-VideoGames.html) According to Espada (2008) who made the article entitled e-Games Launch Mobile Games for RAN Online, stated that The popularity of e-Games

titles is immense and these mobile games are just perfect for the players who cant get enough of RAN Online The article states that the e-Games will be one of the first online gaming publishers to bring gaming titles to the mobile phones It can continue engaging the gamers with their favorite titles even when their offline. As of now many Filipino have mobile phone it is very popular in terms of gaming. The legendary game MMORPGs (Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games) it is fine example of a successful innovation in game today. These games not only provide a new perspective on gamers but its ability to make the users socialize with different players in the game. Rapatan pointed out that whats important for a game is to be engaging because when you are adopt in the game, it increases the state or condition of the player to achieve the goals set early in the game, unmindful of the lessons to be learned every step of the way. It is important for the character to have, not just action goals but histories. In an RPG (Role Playing Game), the character and setting must be very interesting because you have to transport the gamer to an action-oriented world. (Estopace, 2008)

Foreign Studies According to Mulcahy (2005) who made a study entitled Role Playing Character and the Self states that People all over the world participate in roleplaying games. The people who are interested in role-playing vary as much as

their reasons for doing it do. Thus, their actions within the game prove the outcome of the game resulting from their actions. In the study Learning to Play or Playing to Learn - A Critical Account of the Models of Communication Informing Educational Research on Computer Gameplay by Hans Christian Arnseth, he mentioned that many believe that computer games help in the development of the skills of those who play the game (Kirriemuir & McFarlane, 2004). By playing a game they will be able to develop their skills in strategy making and also decision making skills, especially when playing as a group they will learn to cooperate and respect others. He also mentioned that children learn by playing and seeing things for what it is rather than that of just paper and pencil. There are now many simulation games in the internet, through these types of games players are going to experience events that are close to how reality works and learn, it can be engineering, mathematics and many others. There are now many who would like to use games as means to reach people around the world. The study Room of Wonders Educational Game for Muse des Beaux-Arts de Rennes (MBAR) by Kahn + Associates, their study aims to educate the people about the art education in France and the United States. The game is made to be played in the internet. In the game Marquis de Robien, the man who owns the room is the one to welcome you and give you instructions. The goal of the game is to find all the missing pieces of his collections and earn it by solving some puzzles. The items to be found are going to be placed in the Room of Wonders. You will be able to view their information

by selecting the objects from the gallery. These elements were combined using FLASH to provide a smooth interaction for young players. The parts of the game were divided into modules to make it easier for downloading over the web.

Local Studies The study of Verne (2006) entitled Tales Series showed a character that can move button along with a direction button in different directions. The character can various kinds of attacks like slashes and thrusts or ground-to-air and air to ground type attacks. The character weapon usually has different attack values for a slash or a thrust. There are three modes of control for each character: jump, run, and fly. At any time, the player can bring up a menu which pauses the action and allows him or her select an item or an ability to use, to choose a spell to cast, to change a character artificial intelligence tactics, and to escape from the battle among other things. In addition, the study of Rivera (2007) entitled Threads of Fate created a computer game which provides fun and enjoyment to the users with the use of computer game concepts. It is a form of interactive and collaborative game play. The game masters role twofold: to provide a world and cast of character for the players to interact with and to adjudicate how these interactions proceed but may also be responsible for advancing some kind of storyline or plot. Threads of fate conclude with the use of storyline and game play for the development software that has been proved to be significant by the evaluation of the respondents.

Synthesis The study of Kahn and Associates aims to educate the people about the art education in France and the United States. It is similar to the proposed study in terms of the goal of the game, to find all the missing pieces of his collections and earn it by solving some puzzles. The items found are going to be placed in a certain place. You will be able to view their information by selecting the objects from the gallery. The proposed study is similar in the sense that both of them are educational games and also that they are both made using flash. In the study entitled Learning to Play or Playing to Learn - A Critical Account of the Models of Communication Informing Educational Research on Computer Gameplay is also similar to the proposed study in terms of developing the skills of those who play the game. The user will be able to develop their skills in strategy making and also decision making skills. The study Tales Series is similar to the proposed study in terms of the character that can move along using directional buttons in different directions. The character weapon usually has different attack values for a slash or a thrust, but the proposed study only has a gun and limited amount of bullets which is going to serve as a challenge to the player. The character created by the proponents also cannot fly and neither does he have any supernatural powers. Threads of Fate, this study is related in the proponents study because of the storyline that he mentioned. A game has to have a story in order to be interesting for the users. With this as one of the basis in creating the study, the proponents have created a simple storyline to understand the gameplay.

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Conceptual Framework The proposed mobile game will need one mobile phone that has a flash player version 2.0 and above.

Input

Process Output

Figure 1.1 the IPO Diagram Figure 1.1 illustrate the (IPO) input process output chart which the proponents used to represent the conceptual framework of the proposed mobile based software.

Start of the Game

Read the instruction of the game Choose new game

Gameplay
To experience the whole process of the game

End of the Game

Complete the artifact and build your own museum.

Figure 1.2 the IPO Diagram of the Proposed Mobile Game The Figure 1.2 shows an overview of the applications processes. The first process to occur is the user will select the new game on main menu. Then the player shall go through the Gameplay which will have three to five items to collect within the obstacles in every mission. The output of the game is the player shall collect the required items in order to finish the game.

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Statement of the Problem The focus of the study is to develop a game that will provide fun and enjoyment to the user through the use of Mobile Role Playing game. The main problem ought to answer the following questions: 1.) What is the level of assessment of the respondents on the proposed study in terms of: a. Scenery/ Settings b. Audio Effects c. 2.) Character

What is the level of the perceptions of the respondents on the proposed mobile role-playing game in terms of: a. Screen Layout b. Ease of use Text Color Graphics Menu

3.)

Will the developed role playing game be useful in providing a storyline that would interesting to the user in terms of: a. The setting of the story b. The character of the story

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c. The events in the story Hypotheses This part of the study is focused on predicting what will be the result of the study. The study aims to reject the following hypotheses:

1.) That the proposed mobile game will not be able to give certain information about each artifact found in the game. 2.) That the proposed mobile game will not be effective in providing a gameplay that would give fun and enjoyment to the user. 3.) That the proposed mobile games screen layout such as text, color, graphics and menu will not be attractive to the user. Significance of the Study The proposed study Archie: The Archaeologist aims to develop a game that will show the different places in the world which will provide knowledge and entertainment to the user through the Role Playing Game. The following would benefit from the study: The Proponents. The proponent would gain from this study the knowledge in making the software and the experience of being able to make their own game. Mobile Users. The mobile users/consumers would benefit from the proposed study for they will gain fun and entertainment, to test their strategy to finish the game

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Students. The proposed study will help the students with their future studies and serve as their reference. Scope and Limitations The goal of the study is to develop a game that would allow the user to experience on how to be an archaeologist through the use of role playing game. It would also stimulate a fun-learning experience for the user. It will show some archaeological sites of the world in Egypt, Siberia and Pennsylvania. In this study, the concept of an RPG (Role Playing Game) will be applied. It is in a form of interactive and collaborative story telling. Whereas cinema, novels and television shows are passive, role playing games engage the participants actively and allowing them to simultaneously be an audience and actor. The user plays the part of character in an imaginary world that is organized and adjudicated. Mobile Role Playing Game also assigns various attributes to the character such as gun with limited amount of bullets and also health points. The proposed study will also apply the two major factors of the Role Playing Game concept in developing the software, the Gameplay and the Storyline. The Gameplay often involves unique features in the game such as character development whereas character advance through archaeologist tools and items which make it interesting for the player to play the game. The Storyline often involves intricate plots and acts as the main backbone of the game in which the flow of the game, player and the game interaction, and where the events in the game revolve around it.

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The user shall go through different sequence of events before to proceed to the next level. There will be three missions: mission 1 as easy, mission 2 as average and mission 3 as difficult. She/he must solve the task given, slay monsters and solve the puzzles. Each mission has different kind of fiend depending on the place. The main goal of the proposed game is to be able to go through all the obstacles successfully until the player collects all the treasure of each place and be able to build the museum of his dream. The proposed study is limited to a 2D environment. The proposed study also does not support network play such as Bluetooth or two player option, world map and saving option. The proponents will not include high score because most RPG based game does not have high score; it has no time limit so that the players will enjoy the game. The software to be use is Adobe Flash CS3 and Adobe Photoshop CS2. The game can run on mobile phones that has flash lite 2.0 and above like Nokia 6600. This game can only be played on mobile phones and can be pass through Bluetooth as .swf file to other mobile phones that also has Flash Lite. The screen size must be 240x320 for best view of the game.

Definition of Terms .swf (Shockwave Format). It is the file extension of Adobe Flash. 2D Game. It is image is not just a representation of a real-world object, but an independent artifact with added semantic value; two-dimensional models are therefore preferred, because they give more direct control of the image.

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ActionScript.

Initially designed

for

controlling

simple

2D

vector

animations made in Adobe Flash (formerly Macromedia Flash). Adobe Flash. Is a multimedia platform originally acquired by Macromedia and currently developed and distributed by Adobe Systems. Flash is commonly used to create animation, advertisements, and various web page Flash components, to integrate video into web pages, and more recently, to develop rich Internet applications. Adobe Flash Lite. Is a lightweight version of Adobe Flash Player, a software application published by Adobe Systems. Game Mechanics. Is a rule based systems / simulations that facilitate and encourage a user to explore and learn the properties of their possibility space through the use of feedback mechanisms. Gameplay. Includes all player experiences during the interaction with game systems, especially formal games. Generally, the term gameplay in video game terminology is used to describe the overall experience of playing the game excluding factors like challenges and movement. MMORPG (Massively multiplayer on-line Role playing Game). Is a genre of computer role-playing games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world. As in all RPGs, players assume the role of a fictional character (often in a fantasy world), and take control over many of that character's actions. RPG (Role playing Game). Is a game in which the participants assume the roles of fictional character. Participants determine the actions

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of their character based on their characterization, and the actions succeed or fail according to a formal system of rules and guidelines. Within the rules, players have the freedom to improvise; their choices shape the direction and outcome of the game. Chapter II METHODOLOGY AND SOFTWARE DESIGN This chapter discussed the topics about research design, research setting the respondents of the study, the gathering procedures, the data gathering instruments and the statistical treatment. These tools will be used to develop the mobile game application and evaluate the result.

Research Design According to the process of methodology, the researchers had use descriptive research of its concerned with the design to describe and provide facts that are needed in developing the mobile game. The researchers had provided the respondents questionnaires, which are later tallied. This had determined the success of the study. This depends upon the result of the survey. This determined the essential factors that will be met by the proposed study.

Research Setting The proponents carried out evaluation in AMA Computer College Lucena Campus, which was located in M.L Tagarao St.Iyam Lucena City.

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The proponents choose AMA Computer College at M.L Tagarao St.Iyam, Lucena City in conducting in the study about Archie: The Archeology because most students of the said school were using mobile phone with built in Adobe Flash Lite. Respondents of the Study The respondents will be composed of twenty (20) game enthusiasts: fifteen (15) BSCS/BSIT Students (3rd Year) of AMA Computer College, and five (5) IT Professionals. The respondents are responsible for the evaluation of the proposed study. This will be based on the criteria that are provided by the proponents in order to meet the objective of the study.

Sampling Techniques The respondents of the study are composed of twenty persons. The proponent respondents are composed of fifteen CS/IT student and five IT Professionals. Table 2.1 Distribution of respondents of the evaluation of the Study Type of Respondents BSCS/BSIT Student (3rd Year) IT Professionals Total Number of Respondent 15 5 20

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Data Gathering Procedures In constructing a certain type of software, is important to collect ideas from the people that will be using it. It can be viewed based on what the individual project from the automated program. Descriptive Method of Research was used as the basis of collecting information regarding the application. The study made use of this method because it provides a clear view on what data are needed to fulfill its significance in relation with the study that is being taken. A cautious selection of research method must be applied in order to verify the possibility of making the proposed application and if it can carry out the goal of the study. And in order to accomplish it, the proponents used different methods of research in order to gather relevant information to be used for the proposed software. The proponents used library research and web research. The library research involves reading books, magazines, newspaper articles found in the library. It helped the proponents undergo with the related studies with the help of different thesis. Web research involves surfing relevant information from different websites over the internet. Because with use of internet the proposed study of the proponents become easy to collect and gather some needed information. In this section the proponents showed how the product is evaluated in terms of its performance and quality.

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Data Gathering Instruments The proponents gathered data with the use of instruments that were cited and described by the following: Questionnaires. This is a list of questions which is related to find out the overall performance of the software. The questions in the questionnaire pertain to effectiveness, usefulness and accuracy which are relevant towards the evaluation and how the proposed application proves to be relevant the respondents. Internet Exploration. Browsing the World Wide Web, to get further information which best relates to the study.

Statistical Treatment The proponents used the five-point likert scale method in order to analyze the data and give the respondents five choices. The choices are excellent, very good, good, fair, and poor. The result will be based upon the evaluation of the respondents to the proposed mobile game. Table 2.2 Modified Likert Scale Method Legend E VG Verbal Interpretation Excellent Very Good Weight 5 4 Interval 4.21-5.00 3.41-4.20

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G F P

Good Fair Poor

3 2 1

2.61-3.40 1.81-2.60 1.00-1.80

The proponents as shown above used the five point likert scale method in tabulating the results of the survey. The following are weight and legends of the likert scale table with the equivalent interval of each legend, 4.21-5.00 for Excellent (E), 3.41-4.20 for Very Good (VG), 2.61-3.40 for Good (G), 1.81-2.60 for Fair (F), 1.00-1.80 for Poor (P). this is the formula that will be used to act the weight mean WM=(E*5)+(VG*4)+(G*3)+(F*2)+(P*1)/N The formula below used to tabulate the result of the evaluation:

Formula: WM=(E*5)+(VG*4)+(G*3)+(F*2)+(P*1)/N TWR Where: WM = Weighted mean of the respondent TWR= total number of respondents

For Standard Deviation (x1-x2)2 N-2

Where:

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SD = Standard Deviation Y1 = Mean of the Third/fourth year BSCS/BSIT Student X2 = Mean of Computer Shop owner N = Total number of respondents

For T-Test T = X1-X2

SD1 + SD
N1 N2

Where: T = Computed T-value X1 = Weight mean of the CS/IT Students X2 = Weighted mean Computer shop Owner SD1 = Standard deviation of the CS/IT Students SD2 = Standard deviation of computer shop owner N1 = total number of respondents in CS/IT Students N2 = Total number of respondents in computer Shop owner

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