Making Games!

Two new classes, a new Adventure begins!

2010-09-08T03:19:00.000-07:00

The classes have already looked at terrain, added items and creatures and this week we have started conversations (with choices).

Everyone seems to be getting on great, they love it! Both classes keep a blog of their gaming adventures and so I will post a link to these soon.

The only problem is the playing back of the games, where 1 in 3 modules dont load and end up freezing. The technician is on the case though and hopefully that will be sorted out soon.

I am excited to see what the pupils games turn out to be like this term. Lots of different ideas from last year.

Evaluation

2010-06-10T02:35:00.000-07:00

2010-06-10T02:33:00.000-07:00

Examples of 09/10 PROJECT

2010-06-10T02:29:00.001-07:00

New Beginnings!!

2010-06-10T02:04:00.000-07:00

The new term/session has begun and there are two new web wizz classes! Thats another 40 pupils learning about the games project Adventure Author this term. The course structure is always changing and I am still looking at opportunites to introduce the games project in S2, breaking it into two units, beginner and advanced.. but we shall see!

The new classes will be starting the project in August/September. They have all set up new blogs and will be ready to document the project as soon as they start.

I am also looking at assessment more closely and ways in which to report on how well the project outcomes have been completed.

I have attatched some of the work completed by last years Web Wizzers.

Project Continues!!!

2010-03-25T03:01:00.000-07:00

Everyone loved the trip and the pupils have not stopped talking about it since we got back!

I have managed to get new software installed on all of my pc's to record videos of the pupils games.

Today the pupils created and exported videos showing parts of their game, for example, how to create a conversation or waypoints or even just how their terrain looks. These videos will now be uploaded onto my department website.

The 'web wizz' class are just about to start a unit on HTML code and will base their websites on the Games project. Embedding the flash videos they created and screenshot images of their game. I will make sure links are available to these from my website.

Have thoroughly enjoyed being part of this project, thankyou!!

Technical Difficulties

2010-02-22T06:14:00.000-08:00

As the class are working through the games project, there have been a couple of technical problems with pupils not being able to load their games, and a few games that have frozen. I think this may be due to the size of the files, or it could be the speed of the network.... the technician is on the case. As well as creating the games the pupils have:

1. In pairs created fantasy mindmaps with as many words as they could think of and

2. Taken part in a GLOW discussion, commenting on aspects of the fantasy genre.

Im constantly looking for new ideas to compliment the project, I was thinking about the pupils creating their own soundtracks using sound editing software, and keeping a video log of how the project is going, or maybe even creating a video tutorial on how to create a game using Adventure author. Lot's of time to try new things out!

Conversations

2010-02-01T04:00:00.000-08:00

On friday, the class had a lesson on conversations, and this was directed by one of the pupils. He was very keen to show his peers what he had learned in an after school lesson the day before.

Everyone seems to be enjoying the project. Some of the girls dont like to admit it but are really getting into the whole fantasy genre.

We watched a clip of ' The spiderwick Chronicles' on youtube which gave them ideas of storylines and characters.

Today we are looking at Chapter 6: Developing Simple Quests. I like to keep introducing new aspects in each lesson which holds their attention.

So far, so good!

Playing the games

2010-01-22T01:50:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, the class tested their games for the first time. It was so much fun! We stopped half way through the lesson to discuss problems that arose, and how we could make them better. The obvious problem of too many dragons and evil pixies came to light, as well as terrain designs with big dips and mountains that made it impossible to move.

Today I am going to introduce Fridge magnets, and discuss the different categories. Im also going to give more time to exploring the toolset.

Excited to see what the pupils come up with!

Pupil Blogs

2010-01-18T07:54:00.000-08:00

My pupils have set up their own blogs to document the project, they are as follows (some are spoken in dalbeattie chat!):

Ems
Enny
Milly
Beks
rhi
rach
kirs
soph
Kirss
shaz
sam
Cam
Sand
Dan
eua
Ber

Moving Forward

2010-01-18T04:19:00.000-08:00

Friday went as planned and all the pupils completed the online survey about the 'village adventure'. I dont know if this was the best way to do it, but everyone completed a paper copy first and then transferred their answers onto the online survey at the end of the lessson.

A few points to raise about the software is that the controls are different to that on the training day. It is worth going into options and selecting the best settings for gameplay. For example, my right click didnt do anything, with or without ctrl (or x as it was set to) to the players view. Once that is set you can also control the speed of the angle movement, by this i mean if i even moved my mouse a millimetre the screen moved so quickly I couldnt get control of it. You can slow this down though.

Today the real fun begins! (If there are no techinical problems!)

Down to Business

2010-01-11T04:46:00.000-08:00

With the Christmas holidays now over, the project is starting to progress.

All PC's now have adventure Author installed with no problems to report.

Most of the consent forms have now been handed in, and about half of the class have completed the online questionnaire about computing.

On Friday I intend to complete the starter task as a whole class activity (the way Judy showed in the training) showing the game on the Smart Board.

I have decided to hold back on using the software with my S2 classes as they complete their current unit of work.

Never Winter Nights 2

2009-12-15T07:33:00.000-08:00

Not even started yet and some of my pupils have already commented on the new software. Sounds like some of them are pro's already. The awesome technician (he told me to say that) has got my computer up and running with no probs to report. Havent had the chance to complete any quests yet, but will likely be addicted before the week is out.