updated proposal

Summary
Older architectural styles such as classical and gothic have gone out of style for a variety of reasons such as impracticality of spaces and details to intricate and time consuming for the modern world. These reasons are good and sound, but they have no bearing in a digital world. As such these styles may be repurposed for a digital environment where quality of space means more than quantity.
Not only can these older styles be expressed in their original state, they may be adapted to fit a theme of a specific digital world. One could take the intricate detailing and soaring ceilings of Gothic architecture and blend it with technology and metal to produce a new aesthetic. This can be applied not only to single architectural styles, but multiple ones at the same time.
As the architecture is digital, and its main purpose is entertainment, multiple styles can be mixed to create unique styles. The double columns of baroque mixed with gothic arches, caryatids adorning an otherwise plain renaissance building, the possibilities are endless.
The scope of this project, however, is to focus on several examples of real world architecture and the application of elements of those buildings to a single design, to be built by a professional videogame level designer or design team.

Purpose
The Purpose of this research is to find a way to enrich the digital environs in which we find entertainment and to show that there is a venue for older building design methodologies. It is the hope of the researcher that this report show those architects who are enamoured with classic styles there is a way to express this passion and profit from it.

Goals and Objectives
The goal of this research is to show that there is a desire for these design methodologies in digital entertainment, that capturing the essence of these styles is possible with the abstraction inherent in digital media and how best to incorporate them in the level design process. The objective is to provide a report on the possibilities for integration as well as a proof-of-concept game level if the research appears to be fruitful.

Methodology
Examples of various famous works representative of their architectural styles will be selected and elements capable of easy transition will be determined. Architectural principles will then be melded with video game level design methodologies to produce a blend of the selected elements in a seemingly unrelated thematic design, i.e. techno-gothic. This design will then be applied to a proof-of-concept game level. Examples of similar ideas in the gaming industry will also be provided.

Previous Studies
The Role of Architecture in Videogames by Ernest Adams examines the roles architecture plays in videogames and how different aspects of architecture can be used for effect. It finishes with a note that the author would like to see levels, or parts there of, designed with the help of architects, or at least those who are familiar with famous architectural works.
This report, on the other hand, works it from the other way around, to show architects and building design technologists that there is a way to express “dead” architectural styles in videogames.

Plans for Dissemination
The results of this research are to be accessed via a blog as well as a read-me (a text file contain information about a program i.e. author) distributed with the level designed at the end of the research.

Budget
$500 for professional level designer to design a level based on designs produced as a result of the research. I believe it is important to have a proof of concept level, and level design is a very complex process involving modelling, mapping, and texture creation. The completed level will be distributed along with a truncated version of the report via the internet videogame modification community.