Constructing Code

Every year we run into the same problems with the game coding. Students can't seem to find the code they need for their games. It's not like there is no code on the wiki or no tutorials offered or no videos available to teach different kinds of action script. So, what really seems to be the problem, you ask? Well, to generalize, it's simply most students don't want to read, watch, or look for code. They want to just be able to write it themselves or ask someone to do it for them. It's so much easier that way. But, that's not the way it works in Game Design. And, I'm sorry to say, that's a hard lesson to learn for so many students who struggle with coding in their games.

It really isn't that difficult to find the type of coding that you want in a game. If you want collision detection, or a scrolling platform game, or if you are simply working on making a button. There are all kinds of tutorials and videos available for you on the wiki. You can copy the code and change the instance names to what you are using in your game and it should work. Sometimes, depending on where you place it in the actions frame, you may have to move the code around a little or change a bracket or two, but things should work correctly.

It saves time and aggravation. You learn and even discover things that you didn't mean to find and that can give you some good ideas or inspiration for your game. It builds your problem solving skills and helps to build your critical thinking skills. What a variety of skills you acquire in completing this task--and all to your benefit!

You can become the best problem solver, critical thinker, and team player that you can possibly be. Game Design gives you the perfect opportunity to do this. I see that you are improving, but you still have room for growth.

How far can you go? How much can you grow? Test your limits with Game Design. I'll be there to support you. Let's construct code. Let's construct your future.

Game Demos Completed

Now that the game demos have been completed, your focus needs to be on completing the game. Please read the professional reviews of your demos and take the suggestions of the reviewer seriously. Make the suggested changes and proceed with your game.

Divide the tasks with your team members and the work won't seem so overwhelming. Then develop the next levels of your game. There are other tutorials that you will need to complete in order to get the coding that you need to complete your game. And, not all of you will need the same types of coding to finish your games.

We are still working behind schedule, so please work as quickly and efficiently as possible as you continue your games. January 18 is the last day of the semester and we will present our final games prior to this. So, let's get these games rolling!

Thankfulness

It's nearing Thanksgiving time and a time to be thankful for all of the things that we have. A time to remember the first Thanksgiving in America when times were a lot leaner than they are today. We are blessed and take for granted many of the conveniences that we use every day. In the last couple of weeks many people in our nation have lost their homes and had their lives altered by Sandy. Some even lost their lives.

We had power outages, high winds, and a few feet of snow. We lost a week of school and will have to make up the days at the end of the year. As of today, there are still people without electricity and telephone service in our area. This was a traumatic time for us locally. Still, we were able to cope.

At times like these, we have to remember that we are blessed to be alive and healthy. We have to be resourceful and concerned with our friends and neighbors.

During the coming days, think of things that you are thankful for and give of your time and resources to help someone who is less fortunate or can benefit from something you possess. Happy Thanksgiving!

Game Design

Well, it's almost time for the presentation of the demos. We've had to face more obstacles than any class that I've ever had, but the time is drawing near for the demos to take place. Are you ready? For some of you, I think you are nearly there. For others, I think not. I don't know if you think this is something that is going to magically happen on its on, but you are going to be sorely disappointed.

Teamwork has not gone very well for some of you. Could it be because you've not done your part in making your team a well-working unit? Have you put forth all the effort that you could to make your team the best it could be? Do you contribute something every day that is going to make your game better? Does your team meet at the beginning of every class period to discuss the game plan for the day so that everyone knows exactly what he/she needs to accomplish that day. Do you meet at the end of the block or the next class period to revisit and assess what you've accomplished and what you need to do to take the next step? This is the process that you need to do over and over. And, you will find the teams that are making progress, your peers in this class, are doing just that.

It may seem strange to you and you may think this class is not important, maybe just an elective class, but life is a lot like game design. You will work with others in a team, sometimes people that you don't especially like or don't know that well or that you don't socialize with outside the workplace. In order to be successful, you will need to use the same strategies that you will use in here to be successful. Are you surprised? You shouldn't be. Your employer will not be interested in what you can do alone but how well you can work with others in a team environment, how productive you can be, and how you can channel your innovative and creative energies into a product or service when you are working on a product or service in a less than perfect environment.

You, my friend, are not on an island alone. You probably never will be. How will you learn the strategies to be successful? You have the opportunity to do so right here, right now. Take advantage of it and make a super game with your team members. I am confident that you can and will. Show us what you are made of!

Troubling Times at Tygarts Valley

The last couple of weeks at Tygarts Valley have really been difficult for all of us. I don't ever remember a time that has been so hard to get through as what we've had to deal with in the circumstances surrounding the death of one of our students two weeks ago. Today was the funeral and I hope that it brings some closure to some of the pain and grief that we've been dealing with. We are in shock and disbelief that something so horrific could happen in our small community. It will be hard to go on, but we must.

The storm brought a week without power and a couple feet of snow to us so we haven't had school for over a week now. Things seem so surreal with all that's happened. If it were only a bad dream that we could wake up and shake off.

Life sometimes shakes us to our core and makes us evaluate ourselves and our lives. It's not an enjoyable time, nor is it something that we look forward to. However, it is good for us to look at our direction in life and our beliefs and redefine what really matters to us. I hope that we can grow individually, in community, and unify our school with a spirit of love and hope for a better tomorrow.