My New Uni User Guide

Thank you for downloading 'My New Uni' - the virtual Welcome Week experience for Staffordshire University.  This game has been designed to introduce you to the things you will need to do on arrival at Staffs, and to help you feel more confident about your first weeks at university.

This is a step-by-step guide to the game.  It is not essential that you follow this guide.  If you are reasonably confident, you should be able to work it out as you go along.  However, you may prefer to print this guide to avoid any confusion.  Also remember that you can refer to this guide at any time if you get stuck.  If you are using a PC, you will find this file in the My New Uni folder in your Start menu.

We estimate that the game should take around 25 minutes to complete.  If you need to quit the program at any point, you can resume your saved game later - just select 'Continue Game' from the opening screen.

1. The first time you run the game, the opening screen invites you to 'Start Game'.  In future, when you run the game, you will be offered the option to 'Continue Game', which allows you to resume your saved game and pick up where you left off when you last quit the program.
2. Information and instructions are delivered throughout the game in pop-up boxes in the centre of the screen.  Click next, OK or close to move on.  At all times, your current objective is displayed in the black panel at the bottom of the screen.
3. The first level of the game introduces the location of Staffordshire in the context of the UK.  Use your left mouse button to drag and rotate the UK model, and your roller wheel to zoom in and out of the map.  When you're ready, double click on to the Staffordshire region to continue.
4. The next level shows a more detailed map of the region, so that you can see how the Stoke and Stafford campuses relate to each other.  At this level you can see the major road network, and zoom in for a map of each town.  Double clicking onto either town will focus the map on that point.  When you're ready, click on the black button at the bottom centre of the screen to start the game.
5. Choose your campus - Stoke or Stafford.
6. Select your accommodation arrangements - in Halls of Residence, at home, or in private rented accommodation.  The game will be tailored to the option you choose here.  If you select Halls of Residence, you will be asked to select the name of your building from the list.  You should have received this information from the University by now.
7. While the game is loading, review the user instructions for the 'walkthrough' and 'bird's eye view' controls.
8. Your first objective when you arrive on campus is to locate the enrolment Hall.  On the Stoke campus, this is the Stanley Matthews Sports Hall;  At Stafford, this is the Octagon Building.  Approach the characters on screen to start conversations - they will give you advice or remind you of your objectives.  If you click on the bird icon in the bottom bar, you can switch to 'birds eye view', which provides an aerial overview of the campus.  Drag and rotate with your left mouse button, and zoom in and out with your roller wheel.  A yellow arrow indicates your current location in relation to the building you are trying to find.  Switch back to walkthrough mode (by clicking again on the bird icon) to navigate your way to where you need to go.  Follow the red directional arrows to find the enrolment hall, and approach the character standing at the entrance to the building.
9. You will need to have completed the e-enrolment process online prior to arriving on campus.  The Welcome Week rep outside the enrolment hall will ask you if you have done so.  If not, follow the link to do so now.  Or, if you have already enrolled online, select the option that says 'Yes, I have printed my e-enrolment form and brought it with me' to progress.
10. The next instruction tells you which items you will need to collect in the enrolment hall, depending on your accommodation arrangements.  If you are living in Halls of Residence on campus, you will need to collect all four items listed in your inventory:  Your student card, the key to your room, your GP registration and your Students' Union goody bag.  If you are local and living at home, you will only need to collect your student card and your Students' Union goody bag.  If you have arranged your own privately rented accommodation, you will need to collect your student card, your good bag and your GP registration before being allowed to leave the enrolment hall.
11. Once inside the hall, walk around and visit all of the stands to collect the items you need.  As you go through the 'dialogues' with each of the representatives at the stands around the hall, you will be prompted to visit relevant websites for additional information.  As you collect each item, it will be 'ticked off' in your inventory - click on the Staffs Uni Bag icon in the bottom left corner of your screen to view your inventory.
12. In addition to collecting items, you will also have the opportunity to talk to people about various subjects that are relevant to your first week at university.  These are referred to as 'FAQ Avatars' because they provide answers to Frequently Asked Questions.  As you talk to people, important information will be saved as 'notes' in your Notebook - click on the notebook icon in the bottom bar to refer to the notes you have collected at any point.
13. You will not be allowed to leave the hall until you have collected all the items that you need depending on whether you are living in Halls of Residence (4 items), living at home (2 items) or living in private rented accommodation (3 items).  If you do leave the hall before collecting these items, you will be prompted to return and will not be able to move on to the next stage of the game.
14. Once you have collected all your items and chatted with a few of the FAQ Avatars around the hall, approach the main exit doors or the character next to the exit, to leave the building.
15. When you are outside, you'll see a sign saying 'Accommodation Guide'.  Approach the character standing next to the sign, and she will give you the next instruction.  If you are living in Halls of Residence, she will offer to guide you to your building - you will automatically follow her and arrive at the entrance to your Halls of Residence.  If you are living 'off campus' you will have the option to go home.  You are also offered the option to Explore the Campus.  Bear in mind that there will be plenty of opportunity to do this later in the game, but if you do want to explore the campus now, remember that you can click on the door icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to go to your room / go home at any point.
16. The next level of the game takes place in Your Room (whether you are living on or off campus).  On arrival in your room, click on the BOARD button to view your notice board and desk.  This displays a variety of props that relate to useful information and 'tasks' that you must complete to finish the game.  Experiment with clicking on the different items and objects to find out what you need to do next.
17. Among the items on your desk, there are three books that you can click on.  One of these is the FAQ manual.  This collates all the FAQs from avatars around the campus into one easily accessible index, so that you can familiarise yourself with all the key topics.  One of the books contains a few important links to information on the Staffordshire University website, including the Student Handbook and the campus maps for Stoke and Stafford.  The third book - which looks like a magazine - is a brochure of Things to Do.  This is an index of all the flyers for events and activities taking place during Welcome Week.  Collecting Flyers and adding them to your wall planner is the key component of Level 2 of the game - further information is provided below.
18. Your objectives in Level 2 are to collect the items listed in your new inventory: a cup of coffee (so that you can find places to eat on campus), a bus map (so that you can learn about travelling between the two campuses by bus) and flyers for Welcome Week activities.  The fourth task is to add flyers to your Welcome Week calendar, helping you to meet new friends and discover clubs and societies that might be of interest.  Again, click on the Staffs Uni bag in the left hand corner to view your inventory.  Items and tasks will be 'ticked off' as they are collected or completed.  It is highly recommended that you complete the tasks in the order in which they are listed in your inventory.
19. When you have explored the items on your notice board and desk, click on the door icon to go outside and begin collecting items for your inventory. 
20. Your first task is to locate a bus stop to collect your bus map and timetable.  If you click on the bird icon in the bottom bar, you can switch to 'birds eye view', which provides an aerial overview of the campus.  Drag and rotate with your left mouse button, and zoom in and out with your roller wheel.  A yellow arrow indicates your current location.  In this view, you will notice small blue icons around campus to indicate the location of bus stops.  Find your nearest bus stop, then switch back to walkthrough mode to go and find it.  Alternatively, you can 'teleport' around to different parts of the campus by clicking on the large 'Jump Here' arrows.  When you locate a bus stop, approach the character nearest to it.  They will give you your bus map and timetable, which will then be 'ticked off' in your inventory.
21. Next, you need to locate a place to eat, where you can pick up a cup of coffee for your inventory.  Again, all places to eat are marked on the aerial view by a small brown icon.  When you locate a cafe, restaurant or other Students' Union venue, approach the character nearest to it, and they will give you your free cup of coffee.  That's another item ticked off your list!
22. The main objective of Level 2 relates to collecting flyers for the events and activities taking place during Welcome Week.  All students are encouraged to take part in some of these activities, as they are a great way to meet people and make friends during your first week at university.
23. Some of the people that you bump into around campus will offer you flyers for your inventory, and you need to collect at least 10 flyers to complete this task.  You will also meet more 'FAQ avatars' who will prompt you to ask questions about relevant topics - be sure to familiarise yourself with this information, as it will help you in your first few weeks at Staffs.  As you collect flyers, they will be saved in your Flyers panel - click on the My Flyers button in the bottom bar to view all the flyers you have collected so far.  Click on each flyer to see a larger version.  The arrows at the top of the panel enable you to flick through the pages of your flyers.
24. When you have collected 10 flyers, the third task will be ticked off your inventory list.  At this point, you can return to your room, either by clicking on the door button, or, if you are living in Halls of Residence, by navigating your way back to your building and approaching the Halls Warden next to the main entrance.  This is good practice for familiarising yourself with the layout of the campus and finding your way around.
25.  When you are back in your room, you'll notice that your bus timetable has appeared on your notice board - clicking on this will give you the link to the online bus map and timetable.
26. The next part of your challenge is to add your Welcome Week flyers to your 7-day Wall Planner.  You can do this in a number of ways: 
    • Click on the Wall Planner, and then click on the 'plus sign' for one of the days.  This will open your flyers panel.  Choose an activity you like to look of, check when it happens (eg Monday 10am) then click the 'Add to Calendar' button.  Select the relevant slot on your wall planner, and that's it, you have added the item to your calendar.
    • Alternatively, you can add flyers from the Things to Do brochure on your desk.  Click on the brochure to open the index of flyers.  Click on the flyers to enlarge them, and then flick through to find an activity you like.  Then click 'Add to Calendar' and insert it into the right day and time slot.
27. To complete the game, you will need to fill all 14 slots in your calendar.  Remember, these are flyers for real events, so take time to browse all the flyers in your 'Things to Do' brochure so you don't miss out on something that interests you!
28.  Once you have completed all 14 time slots in the 7-day planner, the fourth item is 'ticked off' the list in your inventory.  Just one final step to complete the game...  You need to save a snapshot image of the calendar.  This snapshot will be the proof that you finished the game, and if you're one of the first 500 people to present it to the Students' Union reception when you arrive, you'll win a free 'Team Staffs' T-shirt!
29. To save a snapshot, click on the Wall Planner on your notice board to open it.  Click on the SAVE button in the bottom right of this panel.  On a PC, you will then see a window asking you where you want to save your image.  We recommend saving it to the desktop - you will need to choose a filename - and keep the file extension (.png) as it is.  If you are using a Mac, you will need to save a screenshot manually - you will be given the instructions on how to do this.
30. Congratulations!  You have completed the game!  You will now be presented with the closing screen which explains how to collect your prize.  At this point, you can simply exit the game, or 'exit later' to return to your notice board.  Alternatively, you can choose to 'Explore Campus'.  You now have the option to freely explore either the Stoke or the Stafford campus.  To switch between campuses, you can also click on the 'smiley face' post it note on your notice board.

The game has been designed to enable you to refer back to the notes and information at any time during your first few weeks at university.  Next time you load the game, simply select 'Continue Game' from the opening screen, and you will be taken back to where you left off, with all your notes, flyers and Welcome Week activities stored for your reference.

We hope you have found this game to be useful.  We intend to continue development of the game in time for next year's new students, so any comments or feedback that you might have would be gratefully received.