Monday - GWHS Visit

Expecting a ho-hum morning with lots of teachers and students in a post set-the-clock-back haze, and a pre- election-advertisement bloat, I was proven wrong this morning.

I meandered into Vicky Neal's Globaloria class as they were setting up their computers and found the whole group present and focused on their games, Flash drawings and team conferrings. They were welcoming and eager to tell me about their game concepts and to show off their Flash skills, which already far surpass what I was able to achieve in several days of close instruction at Bridgeport.

Here's a recap of what I saw and learned:



Team ALIVAN is working on Mr. G-Raffe's Trivia Dress-up, a game of wide-ranging trivia, educational of course, where participants can dress cute figures of frogs and other animals if they answer questions correctly. Very nice Flash drawings and animation in progress, and a clear and focused paper prototype. I definitely want to play this game.














Team CHERENA is dabbling in history with their "Adventures of the Past" (working name) game. I like the idea of an educational game that incorporates fun as well as sequence lessons for the player. Time travel will be an exciting concept to work into this adventure. Nice Flash efforts, too.







ANIMATION DIEBE team is working with foreign language (German) in their game name (diebe is German for "thief," they informed me, so I received a language lesson, too.) They are working this name into a game that aims to take DUI offenders off the map; it involves an ever-increasing punishment for an offender's elevation of blood alcohol. Clever concept - great job in early efforts to animate. I can't wait to see this one.

Using a "shooting" concept is the CRAZY APPLES team. Use your imagination to envision the "Tobacco Sniper" as he takes out smokers but leaves little old ladies alone - if they are tobacco-free, that is. Very clever! This team is enjoying their work!



Team S---E---is looking to do some cleanup and recycling in their as yet unnamed game. There is timing involved: You'll have to work quickly for points as the amount of trash increases. Sounds like a challenge. Mrs. Neal suggested using the post-football game playing field as a picture background along with animation. Very nice paper prototype also - it can be viewed on the Wiki.




THE LORDS OF THE BLACK FLAME are working a shooting challenge into their "Gun Down Obesity" game. I think they could give a lesson on Flash - lots of tweening and impressive animation going on on their screens. A serious and well-organized duo!


While I realize this is an early stage of development, I can't help but be impressed with the progress made and the focus of these six teams. To have thinking caps on at 8:00 AM and to accomplish so much in a 45 minute period - Wow!

This is a model group, doing it all right. (And how many teachers would be seen climbing on tables to get just the right photos of her teams at work? Gotcha, Mrs. Neal!)