Passwords and Usernames

It may seem like a simple thing in the beginning, but it is a good idea to write all of your usernames and passwords down on a sheet or put them in a safe place so that you can have them in case you forget them. They can be a little overwhelming at first because you have so many. In class we keep a password sheet. You may also want to keep them in your phone or to keep them in some other safe place. Even when you have them memorized, it's easy to forget them when you come back from a long break or long weekend. These are just tips that will help make life easier for you as you start the semester in Game Design. Let's make this a success with as few problems as possible.

New Classes--New Start

Welcome to the new semester and to Game Design I and II. We are off to an adventure like you have never imagined. Coming on the heels of the end of the first semester with no break in-between, we have the new second semester classes. And, I am excited that you are here in Game Design. Whether you are new to Game Design or you have had a semester of the class before, this will be something different. New to me is the addition of an eighth grade class, and I am excited to have them in my classroom. I hope they are as excited as I am for them to be here. We are just getting our feet wet this week, but by next week we will be delving into the curriculum head first. So, get ready and start thinking of what you want to make your game about this year.

Heaven Can Wait

We've all heard it said that when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Resourcefulness is the mother of invention. These adages are common but nonetheless true. We are a resourceful bunch making do with what we have. In life we don't always have what we want, but we can almost always get access to or we almost always have what we need. Then if we spend our time and our other resources wisely, we can be successful.

This can be said and proven true in any endeavor. We can use it in the classroom, in the workplace, or in the home. If we use our creativity and imagination now like we did when we were young, we might be able to do some amazing things. Have you ever wondered what happens as we grow older to our imagination? Does it go away or diminish? It actually does not. We just don't use it as much as we did when we were younger. You will find that some of the most successful entrepreneurs do use their imaginations and their creativity to brainstorm and develop new ideas.

This is something that we develop and use in Game Design when we create games, when we search for ideas for new games that are both educational and fun. We put our imaginations to work. We use our critical thinking skills, our collaboration skills, and our problem solving skills.

Can you imagine what life would be like if all of us used these skills every day of our lives? If we consciously developed our imaginations and our skills of creativity so that they would be honed and ready to take on the tasks that we encounter each day of our lives. We could change the world. That's worth thinking about. That's worth doing something about. Let's just do it.

Final Survey for Game Design Class

There is a Final Survey that you need to take before you leave the class.There will be a link on the class page for you. Click on the link and complete the survey and submit it. Please let me know if you have any problems with it. Also, let me know when you submit it so that I can check your name off of my list. This is a requirement for the class. You completed a survey at the beginning of the class and this is the final survey and needs to be completed before you exit the class.

If you have questions, please let me know. (This needs to be completed before exam days; Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, Jan. 14-16)

Final Game Presentations and Vlogs

As we finish the semester, each team has presented the final game presentation and has recorded a final vlog. Please take some time to view your presentation and vlog. If you are not happy with any or all of your vlog or your presentation or if you think that you would like to video either of these again, please let me know. We practiced your presentations, but each time you present you are improving and there is room for improvement for all of us.

There are some presentations that I have already talked to the teams and asked them to present again. Some of the vlogs could also be improved. This is a representation of you and your team and people do watch these as they look at your team page and because you are entered into the Globey competitions. It would be in your best interest to have the best presentation possible. I know that you have heard me say this time and time again, but this is not for me but for you. I am not a competitor--you are. I do not have a chance to win a computer--you do.

You have worked all semester, since August, to create and complete a game. You want to make sure that you are showing and telling everything about that process in the best way that you can. If it takes having the video recorded two or three times to get the best one, then what is that? Do whatever it takes to do the best that you can. If you play a sport how many times do you practice before you perform well? It is certainly more than one or two times. This is no different. Put the effort into it that it deserves. The reward is definitely worth the time invested.

Games Completed

Now that your game is completed or nearly complete, you can breathe a little easier. But, don't think that you can forget about it and go on with your life. There are edits to be made and when the professional reviews are complete, there are suggestions that will be made to you. In  order to make your game the best that it can be, you need to do everything in your power and that means working until the end of the semester, following the suggestions of the reviewer, and following the suggestions of the instructor.

This will help you to submit the best entry into the competition that you can. And, it will give you the satisfaction in knowing that you did the best that you possibly could to create a game and develop and see it through from conception to completion in one semester. That in itself is quite an accomplishment. I am very proud of your achievement this term and I hope you are satisfied with what you have accomplished in the course. You may not realize it now, but you have acquired and developed skills that you will use for the rest of your life. Teamwork is not easy and it's not always equitable and fair. Sometimes life is like this.

Let's finish the course with the best effort that you can put forth and I wish you the best of luck in the competitions. I hope to see some of you in Game Design II next semester or in the coming years.