What to Include in Your Video

Project Videos should address questions that viewers are likely to have. For example, if your project is an adventure game, what kind of role does the player have? Do they choose the role? What do the different roles mean in terms of the game play? How do they advance their character? How do they win? How could they lose?

The following list contains many common kinds of questions. You do not necessarily need to address these if the answer is obvious.

• What are your assumptions?
• Did you include art, ideas, or software from some external source? If so, what are they? Who created them?
• Who did (or is doing) what for the project?
• What connection does your project have to our class?
• What input and output do you have?
• If you have background music in your video, where did it come from? Who made it?
• If you include video that someone else made, where did it come from? Who made it?
• Do you use any specialized hardware/software? if so, what?

Make sure to include plenty of details. When we watch your video, we should learn how the project works.

• Use the video format wisely. It should not be a talk-over PowerPoint presentation.
• For the project update video, do not expect us to know or remember any previous project-related assignments. (For the final project video, do not expect us to remember your update video.) Your video should contain all the information that we need.
• The video should stand on its own; if someone who doesn't know your project sees it, they should understand your project.
• Be specific.
• Make sure your part is highlighted.
• We won't know what you did until you tell us. If you created something for the project, make sure to let us know. If you do not, we may assume it was created by someone else.
• Provide credit where it is due. Name and thank the people who helped make your project a success.
• Limit the words on the screen, especially if you read them out loud.
• Show us images, not just text.
• Edit the video to make sure it does not have flaws (such as inconsistent sound).
• For the project update video, include a mock-up of the project. For the final project video, include a demo of the project.