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Steam Summer Sales 2014 |OT2| The valiant never taste of death but once

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Salsa

Member
Thanks a lot, that was nice to see :)
I love everything about that game - the music, the animations, the artstyle.
How come you're already playing it? Does it get harder later on?

keys already went out for kickstarter backers. im playing on 3DS

already got harder with some of the platforming, yeah
 
Has Evil Lore made the buttons larger for the ads on mobile?

Recently, I have not been able to hit last page or the shortcuts for bottom or top of page.

Regardless of where my finger hits, the ad catches. I even tested it by holding down my finger to see what catches. It's really quite comical how far away from the ad will still trigger it.

6e5d9e2d5424b8f64c1939ca873ea196767aa78b60b651cf08a2d99917d55bd5.jpg
 

Speevy

Banned
It honestly depends on the course at hand. My first thought would be that the integration of these games would be primarily for fun to give students a bit more incentive to learn the material, and stretch their minds in different ways from the rigidity of the usual school system. They'd take the form of a short "gaming session" at the end of the week on Friday, and at the end of, say, five weeks, the very last session could be the "test" to see how much students have picked up from these training exercises. For instance, in a computational/engineering course at the highest level of schooling I might do a brief introduction to logic gates by using redstone circuitry in Minecraft. That, however, may be too specialised.

However, to be honest, something better might be to explicitly tie it all into Bloom's taxonomy, which divides educational outcomes into separate classes that aim to really flesh out students' skills in separate areas. In the cognitive branch, these take the form of:

- Knowledge (memorising concepts)
- Comprehension (understanding concepts)
- Application (using these concepts)
- Analysis (critically examining these concepts)
- Synthesis (use the concepts in a new, creative way)
- Evaluation (making judgements about these concepts)

In America, do you ever have a critical thinking/creative learning course? I had one in middle school in my own country. I'd perhaps base a critical thinking course so that it explicitly tests these six different skills using a video game. For example, I'd have a short video gaming session every Friday (say, Minecraft, Sim City 4 or Civilisation V), in which a certain task is set within the game and students have to work together in groups to demonstrate an understanding of the rules (knowledge, comprehension, application). So for instance...in Minecraft, the task could be to work together to develop a small "city" that keeps enemies out the most effectively while still having a nice aesthetic design.

After several weeks of this, I'd set out a small informal test in which I'd ask a series of questions for the students to answer, asking them to evaluate their own work, think about how the tasks could have been done better and then finally how they'd use their experience to improve on their result (analysis, synthesis and evaluation). There could also be some peer evaluation integrated into this, so each group assesses another group's project.


You're definitely on the right track. Higher order thinking is the goal of any effective project.
 

Speevy

Banned
Only the fit survive. (Minecraft, custom world if need be)

1) Split the class into 3 groups, grouped as such:

a: This group has tons of everything in the game, basically creative mode.
b: This group has enough of everything to do what they want for the most part, but not so much they're rich, middle class if you will.
c: Give this group nothing, maybe a wooden pick axe.

2) Have them research what a town needs.

Let them know they'll have to research things needed for a town, city planning stage. They will need water, food, homes, roads, etc. It doesn't need to be perfect or fancy, just some semblance of what a town would look like. And have them as a group plan what the town will look like and where things will go.

3) Have them build the planned town.

Set them on their merry little way in building their towns. The rich group will have everything they need, won't need to gather resources. Middle class would have some stuff, need to gather others, perhaps buy some from the 'rich' group. The poor group will have nothing to barter with and must gather it themselves (or would they?)

Individually tell each group:

Rich: Tell them they can sit on their butts and offer to pay the other groups with supplies if they build their town for them.

Middle: Tell them they don't have to help the 'poor' group just because they are less fortunate. If they want something, make them earn it.

Poor: Tell this group they don't have to be poor, the rich group has more than they possible need, why not just take it from them without asking.

Third day: Have each group report on the happenings of the project and what they thought of the other two groups. See if the poor decided to steal their way to the top, see if the rich had slaves, etc.

Perhaps show them real world situations where there has been a disparity between classes and how they acted towards one another. I dunno.... All I could come up with.

This is an interesting project, but I'm not sure it's entirely ethical.
 
I'm a teacher, so I thought I would design a contest that mixes gaming and teaching in a fun way.

Free $25 game to the best entry to this contest. Contest ends in two hours.

Here's the scenario. You are a teacher and your students love video games. You want to teach them something that incorporates their interests into your instruction.

To make this appropriately challenging, let's stick with K-12. That's all the grades before college. If you're from a country aside from the US, just translate these grades into however your school system is structured.

This project must

  1. -Have several elements of choice on the part of the student
  2. -Give students the chance to interact socially in some way, either through groups or as a whole.
  3. -Have at least three steps so it takes students more than one day to complete
  4. -Integrate video games in some way, while still teaching the required content.
  5. -Teach some concept in one or more of the following areas: English-Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, Physical Education, Art, and/or Music. Classes such as Biology, Algebra, Economics, etc. fall into these categories.
  6. -Have a way to test to see if the students learned what you taught them This does not have to be a written exam. Just describe what they'll do.

***I don't want a lesson plan.*** You are most likely not a teacher. I want you to tell me how you would make video games relevant to what the students are learning.

Bear in mind that I have successfully taught game-related lessons in Math and Social Studies so I know such a project can be done.

Your entries will be judged on the basis of thoughtful response and creativity. If you are unfamiliar with state or Common Core standards, just consult a website. However, I'm more interested in how you design the project. I just want a description of what you'll do.


A media project where students learn about the use of music and specific visual effects/imagery to create different emotions.

Students work in small groups of 2-3
Before they begin show them a small range or video game clips (most likely from trailers) that have different emotional effects on the viewer such as excitement or emotionally moving. On their first viewing have them watch it without sound and comment on what they saw and or felt. Then watch them a second time with sound and have a second discussion, also discussing what type of emotion they think the creator intended. For example this metal gear solid 5 trailer, you would obviously select ones appropriate to the age of the students and could even use something like Mario brothers for younger students.

For the first piece of work students are all given the same clip/trailer of a game and given the task of selecting the audio track. They then justify their selection describing what type of effect they were hoping to create and how the music accomplishes their goal. An extension of this is to allow students to alter the footage in ways like speeding up, slowing down, or cutting out sections. This enables them to explore how images effect our emotional reactions (for example slow motion is often used for dramatic effect or tension).

For the second piece of work the students work in their groups. They must work together to agree on a game to use, an intended emotional effect and how to create that effect. They have the freedom to select their own footage (youtube, making their own recording using a free program like fraps, or compiling images into an animated powerpoint) as well as their own soundtrack. They will present their work to the class along with their justification and the rest of the class will use guided feedback forms to provide constructive feedback to each of the groups (guided feedback as in 'state your favourite aspect of their work' 'state what you think they could improve on').

Their justifications and presentations will be used to assess their understanding of the use of music and imagery to create specific emtional responses.
 

Stuggernaut

Grandma's Chippy
School Project - Create a Game

I have been putting a lot of time into RPG Maker so I think it would make a great group project.

This is a 6 week project.

Week #1 - Choosing an idea, learning the basic tools, and having a project lead.

  • Intro to the software, and a basic rundown of what it is possible to do.
  • Ask for volunteers to be the lead on the project, have them submit their ideas in writing. Just a general plot line, style.
  • Have the entire vote on the one that we be made
  • The winning idea will be the overall project manager
  • Detail the plans for week #2

Week #2 - Group assignment and design setup.

Divide up in 4 groups, let people choose if they want to, or have the project lead organize. This week is all about design. Have them design everything out on paper first. Continue instruction on software as needed.

Group 1 - Map design (overworld, towns, etc).
Group 2 - Character design for NPCs
Group 3 - Storyboard design, dialog writing.
Group 4 - Character design for enemies.

All teams will have to communicate their designs, and Group #2 & #3 will have to work very closely together throughout. The project lead will have to be a liaison between all groups to make sure things progress smoothly.

Week #3 - Implementation and testing

This is the week where all of the details go into practice. In game maps are made, towns, dungeons, etc. All added in. NPCs and enemies are added, and dialog is written in where needed. All groups will openly discuss events within the game.

Bugs will happen, teams will have to figure out ways to solve them.

Week #4 - Polish and final details.

This is where all the little details are touched up and all the final kinks are worked out. Teams can tweak dialog, add cosmetic upgrades to maps and towns, etc.

What does this all accomplish?

Students will learn a lot of things from this.

  • How to work in a team and be constructive
  • How to follow an overall plan without diverting or getting distracted by personal opinion
  • How to create and implement a proper design without just diving in and stumbling through
  • How to work with team mates to solve problems, come up with creative solutions to stumbling blocks

In the end, this project would be all about a team effort to make something cool. Hell if it turns out well enough they can continue to develop it, and maybe even sell their project to make money for other class events.
 

Mono

Member
Have a Desura key! ヾ(@^▽^@)ノ

ModBot said:
Instructions for participants:
I am giving away a Steam key. To enter this giveaway, send a PM to ModBot with any subject line. In the body, copy and paste the entire line below containing the key.

Rules for this Giveaway:
- If you are a lurker you are not eligible for this giveaway. You need five or more posts in either the current Steam thread or the previous one to be eligible
- This giveaway is a LIGHTNING raffle. The winners will be selected by random draw 15 minutes after the draw was created. Any games not claimed after that point will be given away first come first serve.
- Do not trade keys you win off-site to enrich yourself. Don't try to claim games you have no interest in collecting or playing. Don't claim games to give them to friends off-site.
- If the key is already taken you will not receive a reply. Replies may take a minute or two:

Towers of Altrac - Epic Defense Battles -- MB-E78C1837EB3CC113 - Taken by Gravelord_Nito. 1 entrants total.


t1403757340z1.png
 
Has Evil Lore made the buttons larger for the ads on mobile?

Recently, I have not been able to hit last page or the shortcuts for bottom or top of page.

Regardless of where my finger hits, the ad catches. I even tested it by holding down my finger to see what catches. It's really quite comical how far away from the ad will still trigger it.

I've been having the same exact problem. I thought it was just my phone being shitty.
 

Vibranium

Banned
First time using Modbot, I figured why not giveaway in this thread, as big as it is?

ModBot said:
Instructions for participants:
I am giving away a Steam key. To enter this giveaway, send a PM to ModBot with any subject line. In the body, copy and paste the entire line below containing the key.

Rules for this Giveaway:
- Do not trade keys you win off-site to enrich yourself. Don't try to claim games you have no interest in collecting or playing. Don't claim games to give them to friends off-site.
- If the key is already taken you will not receive a reply. Replies may take a minute or two:

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition -- MB-2C24FD5E7C3B54EA - Taken by dot
 

Anustart

Member
This is an interesting project, but I'm not sure it's entirely ethical.

Well, the way the world actually operates isn't ethical :) Use it as a way to show how ethics can be defined by the three groups.

Would the 'poor' all want to work hard for everything, or would it be okay to steal some supplies since the rich had a seemingly endless supply? etc.

Edit: M&M's just keeps on giving. Consider me in the rich group now :lol
 

waby

Member
Has Evil Lore made the buttons larger for the ads on mobile?

Recently, I have not been able to hit last page or the shortcuts for bottom or top of page.

Regardless of where my finger hits, the ad catches. I even tested it by holding down my finger to see what catches. It's really quite comical how far away from the ad will still trigger it.
I'm not having this issue. Currently viewing GAF on firefox on android and my phone is galaxy S2
 
sheesh....so sad right now

any of you guys use the marsmoviemoments $6 thingy a lot of times?.....i can't use the marketplace now since i need to verify it or just wait a week again :(
 
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