1

Note: Dave, this is the client questionnaire form completed with David Ross's information. I have then translated this information into an outline/proposal which is found in Assignment 1C.

1. Client information

Name of company/organisation

Name of individual representing the company/organisation

Address for correspondence 1. Street number & name

2. Suburb/Town

3. State 4. Postcode 5. Country

Telephone Mobile Fax

email Web Address

Previous multimedia experience of client (comments)

No production experience. Has only been a user of multimedia

2. Client type

Commercial Corporate Community Organisation Government Individual

3. Delivery mechanism

Please scroll and click on the most suitable choice

Comments

Although client wants Internet only delivery, MAI will discuss with him the possiblity of CD delivery at a later stage of the project.

Target audience Please scroll and click on the most suitable choice

4. Project aim

Comments
This new internet product is aimed at filling a gap in a youth market for high quality story-telling material with a travel focus, that is strongly interactive and educational as well as entertaining.

5. Project rationale

The client is concerned that the electronic media have resulted in story-telling becoming a lost art. He wishes to produce an interactive game-type product based on his highly acclaimed story-telling skills for the early adolescent market. The educational component would aim to increase the user's reading skills, as well as their communication and decision-making skills.

6. Client's ideas and suggested approach

The client's idea for his first multimedia story is to use the adventure/mystery genre to situate a young 12-13 year old Aboriginal boy or girl who travels to different countries as an exchange student. In each country the child meets with a series of adventures which all work out well in the end, whilst ensuring plenty of suspense and mystery along the way. The child using the program is to become part of the story, and is actively involved in making decisions about key turning points in the story, for which points might be awarded, as in a game. Background information on these countries will also be included in the story material, thus also educating the user about the country.

7. Target audience/s

1. Children in the 11-14 age group. 2. Children who might be about to travel overseas themselves, especially in an exchange program. 3. Relevant family and teachers of above children. 4. Total number of users could be in the thousands if marketed internationally.

8. Desired outcomes of project

1. For the client

1. Provide entry into a market where young people may not be exposed to good story-telling. 2. Provide entry into a new market with possiblity of increasing audience exposure from a purely print-based market. 3. Obtain skills in writing for multimedia to complement existing print-based story telling and illustrating skills.

2. For the users

1. Will gain access to high quality story-telling. 2. Will be able to learn about a new country while playing a game, learning reading and communication skills and decision-making skills.

9. Content and style

What style will the content be produced in? ie, how will the project look/feel?

Young, exciting, colourful. Sound and images similar to mystery games, but with educational objective.

What content types will be used and who will supply?

Type of content Client to supply MAI to supply N/a

Print-based material
Graphical material
Audio material
Video material
Database material

Copyright permissions

Human resources

Content expert/s
Other content contributors
Content writer/s
Ilustrator/s
Editor
Interface designer
Audio technician
Video technician
Programmer/tester
Producer

10. Technical specifications

Platform details (be as detailed as possible)

MAI to provide platform for internet delivery. Possibly go to CDROM if prototype successful. Need to incorporate web-browser design into CD if going to CDROM.

Software (include client's preferences and MAI's recommendations

MAI will use software tools as appropriate. Client has no preference.

Ownership (who will own the source code of the project?)

Client and MAI will jointly own the source code.

Types/levels of access required

Level of access is unknown at this time. Possibly a password available on purchase of the product. Consider site licensing for schools etc.

Maintenance (who is responsible, and for how long, frequency of updates, estimated product life)

MAI will be responsible. Length of time and frequency of updates to be negotiated after prototype produced.

Number of systems/locations

Unknown at this time. To be negotiated.

Archiving arrangements (include responsibilities, long term contractual arrangements etc)

Unknown at this time.To be negotiated.

Media mix (include proportion of each kind of media

Client is unsure at this time. MAI to advise after proposal produced.

Statement of client's existing hardware & advice re updating etc

None. MAI to supply hardware for production of project and advise client on what he will need for development, testing etc.

11. Any additional information or comments

The client is most concerned to control the content of the project. Has very little idea about technical aspects. The aboriginality of the central character of the story is crucial, and much will be made in the product of the interactions between this character's aboriginality and the cultures s/he encounters in his/her adventures. There will also be fantasy, mixed with factual information. It is also vital that the educational component come through, whilst engaging the active attention of the user at all times, through a high level of interactivity.

12. Timelines

Item Date

Proposal
Quotation
Progress meeting
Prototype
Evaluation meeting
Completion
Review 1
Review 2

13. Budget

Client's price limit

Method of payment

14. Assessment/comments by MAI

This project continues MAI's long term business aim of entering the interactive multimedia education market. The client, although inexperienced in the multimedia field, is nonetheless internationally recognised as a children's author in the medium of print. The quality of the product is therefore more or less guaranteed. It is quite likely that he will learn the process of writing for multimedia quite quickly, but initially he will need the support of our own writer and illustrators. Because of his lack of experience in the medium, most of the technical decisions will probably come down to MAI. It is important that the client sees small samples of his deleloping project so that he is happy with it, and this gives him the guidance for his own future writing.

15. Authority to start project

Name of authorised person

Proposal to be submitted to

Position

Move to proposal stage? Yes No

16. Assessment of feasibility by MAI

Because of the strict timeline, only a modest project will be possible in time for Christmas 2002. This will be useful, as it will enable us to test the market at a good time for potential buyers. The project, in its single story form, is feasible in the time frame, and sufficient budget has been allowed by the client. MAI has the prospect of a long-term contract with the client if he is satisfied with the first product, and this contract may open doors for other similar products aimed at the youth market.