Flat Vs. Not: Join the Debate

Read the story here than post your comments 

Rules, Space, Goals, Components, Core Mechanics, Challenge are defined here as "Six Game Design Elements"...  Choice can be considered as an additional element. In addition, Balance is a concept of Game Design that is essential.

I Can't Wait for Kandu!

Kandu lets anyone make great games and apps without knowing how to code.

Kandu asks:

What Will You Make?

See the Kandu Pre-release Promohere:

http://goo.gl/7cCg4f

Pattern Recognition compared to Flowlab.io

Pattern Recognition theory of mind p. 65 How to Create a Mind
http://www.amazon.com/How-Create-Mind-Thought-Revealed/dp/0143124048

http://flowlab.io/resources_behaviors caption

I can't help but see the connections between an illustration from  Ray Kurswell's How to Create a Mind and a tutorial illustration from the Flowlab.io game design engine.

Since I am currently reading one and designing in the other, the similarities jumped right off the page (actually iPad screen) while I was reading on the subway this morning.

Thoughts?

High School students take part in closed Beta testing of Carbon Cutters

Students in my 9th and 10th grade Digital Media classes at Dwight School in NYC are currently in a closed-Beta test for an iOS game in development called Carbon Cutters. The game is being designed by Russell Savage from Dented Pixel (a NYC game developer with two Apps currently online). 

Russell came to Dwight on Monday, 2/3/14 to introduce the game and to watch the students play.  "Carbon Cutters" is intended to link gameplay with carbon credits via partnerships with advertisers and engineering firms.

Students are required to fill out a Google Feedback Form designed to further the development of this innovative game.

Read more about Carbon Cutters and Dented Pixel here:

http://ccutters.com

See the related Dwight School Facebook post here:
http://goo.gl/suY2bx

Read about other Beta testing of games at Dwight here:
New York Observer: Can Video Game Classes Get kids Into College?
http://observer.com/2014/01/video-games-once-a-vice-are-now-a-private-school-academic-pursuit/#axzz2t3uQMI9P
Published on 1/31/2014


 

Beta the Game Launch:

Beta!
http://betathegame.com/
“Beta is a game that teaches game design, computer programming, and analytical thinking”

I've been super excited about the recent release (last week) of Beta the Game. My high school students participated in a closed-beta testing of Beta the game, an experience that proved valuable and rewarding in many ways.

As a game design teacher, I've been so fortunate to have been able to gain access to this user-friendly yet powerful and challenging game design platform during the late stage of the development cycle. All of my students will now be using the final version to develop their own games.

See more images from the Dwight School Facebook post:

http://goo.gl/9YPFTs

Read about other Beta testing of games at Dwight here:
New York Observer: Can Video Game Classes Get kids Into College?
http://observer.com/2014/01/video-games-once-a-vice-are-now-a-private-school-academic-pursuit/#axzz2t3uQMI9P
Published on 1/31/2014

 

Beta-testing: Beta the Game

Beta the Game

http://betathegame.com/

Errol King, founder and lead developer from Hidden Level Games (a New York City-based company) has introduced this innovative game design platform to my Digital Media students last November. Since then, the students have been learning, testing, iterating and reflecting on their experiences. Feedback by the students to the game dev team happened in face-to-face workshops, shared Google Docs and emails.

“Beta is designed to support self-driven learning. Through their relationship with Beta, students will engage STEM and CompSci concepts in a fun way. While Beta can be played alone, it is best experienced in a community!”

The game art and character design of Beta the Game are simple, direct and very compelling.

Read about other Beta testing of games at Dwight here:
New York Observer: Can Video Game Classes Get kids Into College?
http://observer.com/2014/01/video-games-once-a-vice-are-now-a-private-school-academic-pursuit/#axzz2t3uQMI9P
Published on 1/31/2014