Moooooo!

Globaloria Vlog 2 (Presenting Our Demo) from Milkapeida! on Vimeo.

I commented on Robbie's blog

The Sweet Sound of Victory

Sound is going to be a big part of our game. We plan to have background music on all levels. Our cutscenes obviously have sound, too. There are going to be punching and hitting sounds, schools bells, and screams during the bullying. We will probably have a sound when you win or lose a level.

                                                                    

Demo Assembling

From assembling my demo, I don't think I've learned a whole lot. It did make me think about who I was targeting with my game, but it doesn't help me to learn a lot by just writing it down. It did help me learn about frames and buttons and things like that. Coding is now starting to be in my hands. I still get a lot of help, but I think before I raise my hand. I think I need to get better at working out problems without Mrs Kails help.

 

Gobble Gobble!

I had an awesome Thanksgiving! Every year we go to my Grandmommy and Grandpa's house (my greatgrandparents) and all sorts of cousins and aunts and uncles are there. Then we go to my Nanny's house (my other greatgrandma) and I stuff myself all over again! We definitely eat turkey, but more than that I eat mashed potatoes! I'm obsessed with them, as you can see by the picture below. For my three days off, I slept a lot but mostly I was in tech week for a musical called MARY that I'm in! Everyone should come see it. I can give you the details!

I commented on Robbie's blog.

Can You See It?

There is definitely a lot of visual storytelling in out game! The video cut scenes definitely are visual. They give you the facts of the game in a fun manner that's a lot better than reading them off a screen, I think. Our first playable scene took a lot of time. But we wanted to make sure that it was visually appealing and that our characters matched what they looked like in the videos. Through the levels and cut scenes you really get to see how bullying affects Daniel, our victim. Ayiti was really good at visual storytelling. I spent hours playing the game. The visuals of the game really allowed you to see what life would be like in Haiti. I think playing other games influenced us in the way that we are setting up our game. Cut scenes are a popular element of many games.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

I think Karl's father did those things to him because he wanted what he believed was best for his son. I don't think he saw a future for him if he was so tiny. I think he sold him because he became frustrated that his attempts to make him taller didn't work. If I was his father, I would have encouraged him to do whatever made him happy and assure him that being a dwarf doesn't make you less of a person, though I understand that times were different then. If I was Karl, I don't think I could forgive my father, and I don't think I could have gone on to become an actor and do great things. I probably would've given up.

I commented on Austin's blog.

Developing My Primary Game Scene

One of the main features of our game is keyboard control. The victim is moved by keyboard control, which is vital because he is the character that the player controls. I think our game has a high learning value. It teaches our topic through video cutscenes and levels which I think are pretty fun. I think the only way to make it better at this time is to just keep working with the code to make it better.

Robotic Dog

I think a robotic seeing eye dog is a scary idea. I mean, what if it malfunctions? Or how about when it rains or snows? It can't react to real life situations as well as a real dog could - like oncoming traffic or people. The one advantage I could see is that it could have a GPS for a big city like NYC where people walk all the time. If I had a seeing eye dog, I think I'd rather have a real one. As much as I know they can get distracted and eventually it will lead to heartbreak when they pass away, there is so much more of a trusting emotional bond with a real dog.
Besides, who could deny this face?

Make A Scene!

I think the biggest thing I've been learning is that bullying is a much bigger problem than I'd realized before. I mean, I knew it happened, but I guess I didn't get just how prevalent it was. The biggest help to me was stopbullying.gov. The website is government run, so I know it has good facts. It's also interesting and visually appealing.

I commented on Austin's Blog.

Running Blind

Stargardt's disease is hereditary and a form of macular degeneration. It causes you to gradually lose your eyesight. If I had it, I honestly don't know if I'd run. I hate running as it is. As much as I love my dogs, I'm not sure I'd trust one to not get me lost or run me into a tree. Maybe if they were specially trained, but even then it's kind of intimidating to put your trust in a dog, no matter how smart. I'd rather have a guide person running with me.

I commented on Austin's blog.

Blind Marching Band

I think the marching band is really inspiring. I'm in show choir and even with sight I can't stay in line and get my choreography down. I think they learned to play by feeling the instruments and memorizing where their fingers go. In a way, it's no different than how I learn. I don't stare at the fret board when playing guitar, I just know how to form the chords by memory. I imagine they learn the music largely by ear. They probably have help from their assistants to read them the notes, and it's possible they have braille sheet music, which would be really cool.

I commented on Robbie's blog.

Is That a Cow?

Milkpedia's 1st Vlog from Austin on Vimeo.

Here's our Big Idea Vlog! :D Enjoy.

I commented on Robbie's vlog.

Back To Good Ol' Ben

WHO are you designing your game for? (Include the player's age, abilities, and prior knowledge of your topic.)

High school students. I am assuming that they have at least heard of Ben Franklin and know a little bit of basis knowledge about him such as the fact that he was a political figure, and that he did the kite experiment.
WHAT will your game teach the player about your topic? (Be specific!)
- More in depth about the kite experiment
- His political beliefs
-Poor Richard's almanack
-His 13 virtues
WHERE does your game happen?
Pittsburgh

Describe the world you will design for your game.
It will take place mostly in Pittsburgh - including his home, where he met with other delegates, and his lab.

How will this setting add to the learning experience?
It will show how the things he did took place.
HOW does your game world teach the player about your topic?
It shows what life was like when he lived and the things he was surrounded by.
What happens in the world that helps the player learn?
All of his major accomplishments.
How does the player use what they learned to make something happen in the game?
After they learn about the glass armonica, they would get a chance to play it.
After they learn he started the 1st fire dept in Pittsburgh, they will get to play as a firefighter, etc.
WHY is a game a better way of understanding your topic than a quiz?
It's a lot more fun and entertaining and it makes the information stick longer.
I commented on: Austin's blog

Roses Are Red, Violets Are Blue

If I was him, I would definitely try the drug. I couldn't  go my whole life wondering "what if." If I had to lose a sense, it would be smell. In turn, I would lose some of my sense of taste but still, it's the lesser of evils here. I am a singer, guitarist, and actor - I need my hearing and I need speech. I'm also a writer and it would be so hard to adapt to Braille if I was blind.

Ben Franklin

I picked Ben Franklin because he did a ton of things. There's a lot of things he did that people aren't aware of. However I am now learning that Ben Franklin won't work because it doesn't fall under a category for the competition. :( Oh well... Basically he was involved in science, political life, philosophy and writing.
My three sources:
http://www.history.com/topics/benjamin-franklin
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/benjamin-franklin-dies
http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/


I commented on Austin's blog.

Strategies...Strategies...

From my choices of game to review, I learned that not all games of a genre are equal. Some are good and some are bad and most are right in the middle. Most importantly I want to create a game that is interesting and informative, which Ayiti did. Survival wasn't so good at doing that. I'd like to learn how to make pop ups and buttons. I liked the animations on both games, and it'd be great to learn how to draw as well as these games have been drawn. I have to figure out why one game worked while another didn't. I think a lot of it is personal taste. I don't like science but I love learning about history and culture, therefore I was predisposed to like Ayiti more. I know then that my game can't please everyone, but how can I make it as interesting as possible to as many people as possible?

Pop Goes The Weasel

So, all last week we got to make our own mini game. It was a really interesting project. It also proved to be kind of difficult, because Flash code is a LOT harder to memorize than HTML. I think in the end the result is also a lot more rewarding though. The best part was really just watching what you created from simple words and commands turn into an actual interactive game. I am not an artist by any stretch of the imagination, so drawing has been quite an interesting task. I really like how the drawing tools are set up, but I'm still not great at using them. I'm hoping there will be some tablets available to use. My mini game was basically Pop Goes The Weasel. The weasel is trying to get the penny, while the monkey is chasing him. Meanwhile, the Jack In The Box is moseying along trying to stop the weasel, too. Every time the monkey or Jack hits the weasel, the score goes down by one, and every time the weasel gets the penny, the score goes up by one. I think it was a pretty good start, but I'm hoping to get a lot better. That's all for now.

I commented on Austin's blog.

Flash Mob!

We just started using Flash. I have to say, I really like it so far. I had a mini-freak out when I made an oval move across the screen, which to most people doesn't seem like a big deal, but hey, you have to start somewhere. I really like how when you code with Flash, it highlights it in a different color to let you know you've entered the code correctly. Actionscript is a little intimidating only because it's like learning another new "language." However, I didn't have trouble with HTML so I'm hoping this goes the same. I love how when you draw with Flash it makes the lines "softer," and rounder which is great since I'm not good at drawing on computers. Now that we're in the swing of things, I hope we move at a pretty fast pace. That's all for now.

I commented on:
Micah

"You Mean Not Everyone That Goes To GeeDub Is A Jerk?!"

We watched a video about the dangers of a single story. I think it really did make me look at the way I judge people. Everyone does it, but we don't even consciously think about it most of the time.

Questions:

1) What does it mean to have a 'single story' about a place or community?

It means to only look at something from one point of view, without hearing all sides of a view, argument, belief, or society, etc.

2) Describe a single story you have heard told about your community. What is missing from that story? How could people learn more about that community?

I can't tell you how many times I've been talking to someone and they ask what school I go to. This is pretty basic, normal info. However, when I say I go to GW, I sometimes get a weird look and an "Oh! Really?" as if they are shocked beyond belief that I'm not some super rich jerk with a ten story house. What a few people who go to other schools don't get is that GW is just like any other high school. We have people from all kinds of cliques and social classes. I think the difference is that they mostly leave each other alone. If people just took the time to hang out with people who go to GeeDub they might understand it, but truly the only way to really "get" it is to go to school here.

4) How could a game let players experience many stories about a place or community? 

I think a game can be really informative and interesting, even as it educates. In order to be fair about this though, the creator has to be objective. If your making a game about politics, you can't put your own opinions in it. If you do, your only giving a single story and not being fair to all sides of a story. This is true no matter what the topic is. However, you have to be age-appropriate with it and make sure it's understandable - what you explain to a 3rd grader about a political leader is not the same as what you explain to a high school senior.

I read Austin's blog!

Roughly 171 Days To Go

     We've been up and running for about a week now, and it's been crazy. HTML is no longer a foreign language to me, and I think my wiki page is turning out pretty great. The rest of the year is just a little scary though. I got ahead of the game with my wiki because I could do extra work on it at home, which isn't an option once we start using Flash. I hope I get the hang of it pretty fast and don't have to give up all my off periods to work on it. My friend Austin and I have been wracking our brains trying to decide an idea for our game, but we're still not sure. I definitely want it to be about history, but the history of what? Narrowing it down is going to be a challenge. So far, this is my favorite class. I love having it last period because it's actually an enjoyable way to end the day. In the next hundred-some days I hope I can make an awesome game, connect with other people, and maybe do a little interning if I'm any good.

Blogs I commented on:
Gary
Brittney
Sam
Austin