Game presentation a thing of the past

With the game presentation over, there's still work to be done. Team Adventure WV put in many hours of hard work so I commend each and every one of them.

However, very soon a big presentation is coming up entitled GLOBALORIA EDUCATION PROGRAM PREPARING WV STUDENTS FOR DIGITAL WORLD and there is some last minute tweaking that will be required for full functionality. Steward Deering has been working on some of the elements of the game including the implementation of sound, additional navigation features, etc. Good job Steward!

And now--as promised long ago--I will share a little bit about my experience working on my first game including: 1)What I did; 2) What I learned; 3)Problems; 4)Future plans.

What I did:

I was responsible for the interface design of our game. The interface is the screen that you see before you play a game and while playing the game. Think of the interface as every tool outside of the game. This includes creation and design of an introduction, start and stop functionality, creation and design of menus, navigation between menus, design of any tools within the navigable menus, and a preloader device (eg. everything but the games and sound).

What I learned:

When you set out to learn Flash, you will find many avenues for exploration. Drawing, coding, design functionality, and animating are among some of the attributes you can explore. Knowing Photoshop and InDesign definitely helped me pick up on Flash quicker because the Adobe programs have some of the same functionality. That said, Flash is very unique from all other Adobe programs, and so knowing anything other than Flash is not a prerequisite.

When I first started using Flash, I was most interested in shape and motion tween features. (For an example of this click here).

Motion tween has been especially useful for creating animated narrative and objects in general. With either type of tween, you can fade in and out using the Alpha tool--also something I have been using frequently.

Drawing is a bit challenging in Flash, so if you're an expert in photoshop, don't be surprised if Flash gives you trouble. However, Flash does seem to have a particular brand result unique from Photoshop by default and drawing in Flash can be advantageous at times.

Using and learning Action Script is often meticulous and time consuming, but I spent more time using tweens with multiple keyframes. Gradual and purposeful movements between keyframes can create very positive results with animation.

Overall, I think I have a well-rounded experience with Flash and I am much more confident in my ability to use Flash to accomplish workplace projects.

Problems:

I ran into some problems with developing the preloader, which required more ActionScript learning than I had hoped. I went through several AS tutorials but none of them correctly addressed a preloader that would function properly based on the way I had intended it to work (a map gradually fills in with color, county by county of the state of WV, until all counties are full).

I had problems coordinating efforts for research. Much of the information I was provided, did not apply to the content needed. All of the information that was gathered for me was disorganized, or not in a format that I could use. This was, in part my fault, as the dissiminator of the info, but also the fault of everyone involved (researchers) who did not communicate with me or where lack of understanding was present.

I had problems with the group overall, because there was little communication between each of the 3 divisions: Game 1, Game 2, and Interface creators. This lack of communication led to problems with the integration of the games into the interface.

Plans

I hope to continue working on Flash, and I know I am better prepared to take on larger tasks, work with a team of developers, and plan and organize. I also plan to learn any programs that may eventually compete with Flash, like Silverlite for instance. In my experience, I have found that knowing one program that has similar capabilities, often makes it easier to learn a new program.

Knowledge is power - Part II on the benefits of Flash (warning! autobiographical in nature)

First a little about me:

- Have a B.A. in online journalism from the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications/Marshall University
- Currently in school to obtain my associate degree in Web development

The reason I clarify?
Many people have a hard time understanding why, after receiving a B.A., I would return to get an associate degree.

Well, here's the reason:

I like computers. I have always liked computers. That sounds very generic, yes, but it's true. You see, I never learned how to work on cars, build houses, run electrical lines, or fix anything really. Exiting high school, my teachers considered me a decent writer. I have always liked to write...and draw. I also like to play guitar and write music. Historically, I have had absolutely no direction. I was slowly becoming a master of nothing, while semi-skilled in various arenas. I decided to become a reporter and change the world. I enrolled at WVU as a print journalism student, enjoyed 2 semesters and subsequently transferred to Marshall. At Marshall, I continued what would be a long journey to graduation. About 3/4 of the way through to graduation, I began to question my dedication to outstanding journalism on a 24 - 28,000 per year salary. I noticed the emergence of a new program at Marshall's J-school: Online Journalism. "This could be it," I said. The program change only set me back few credit hours, and I thought it might open the doorway to different, higher paying jobs.

Well, I got my degree, and shortly after receiving it, I "lucked out" and found a copy editor position at the Herald Dispatch. The job was beginner level, and paid $8 something and hour--not quite enough to pay off my school loans. After 6 months and several unfulfilled promises, I moved on. My dreams were bigger. I was beginning to to want for material things like electricity, water, and alright...nice clothes, vacations, etc. I guess age did that to me, because honestly, I used to not care.

I made plans right before the beginning of the Fall '07 semester, to return to school and pursue a degree in Web development. My logic: 1)It is only taking me a year and a half to get an associate degree; 2)It adds some flare/flair to the online journalism one; and 3)I'll probably make a lot more money as a Web developer.

After leaving the Herald Dispatch, I began vigorously searching for a job, a good job. I searched the job market for over a year. I searched out-of-state, in-state, everywhere. I had numerous interviews, typed about a hundred cover letters, submitted twice as many applications, and still had no job. I began to get discouraged. "Maybe I should have stayed at the HD. But, how am I supposed to make a living on 8 an hour?" The answer to this perplexing question is simple: It's bullshit. You should get paid more than a fast food clerk, however limited your experience, once you have a degree. Keep in mind, I wasn't looking for 20 an hour starting. I would have settled for 13 or 14. But $8? Come on. I can't pay my bills on that kind of money. My parents never stepped foot in college and they make over $20 an hour, and started at over $10 an hour in 1970 for the postal service.

So, I concluded that: 1)the economy is in really bad shape; 2)journalists are grossly under paid; 3)I have to lower my expectations.

My experience just isn't up to par yet, and I can cry all day about it, but it won't change the fact that employment is scarce and wages are not going up. In fact, most statistics support the idea that wages been at a near standstill for nearly 20 years.

Fortunately, I did get lucky and found an acceptable job in my home state of WV as a Web developer.

But don't let that encourage you too much. You see, living in West Virginia can be hard when you want to find certain work, like reporting, editing, or Web developing.

This gets me to my main point that's relative to Flash.

When I was interviewed my current job, I mentioned all of my skills and really beefed up myself...because that;s what you;re supposed to do. You sell yourself in interviews, and when job creation is down, you better do a good job. So, I mentioned my experience using Word, Excel, Publisher, Frontpage, Access, Photoshop, InDesign, QuarkXPress, Final Cut Pro, Dreamweaver, and of course Flash. I mentioned my knowledge of HTML, PHP, DBMS's. I submitted samples of published work, including designs and articles created using all of the above mentioned programs. And, I guess I gave a good interview, because they hired me.

The first few days at work, I wasn't sure what I would be doing exactly. I was tasked to write some HTML code and basically learn the everyday processes and business model. I have since emerged as the Flash guru, however limited my skills may be in Flash. The value of Flash is dependent on where you work, but also I think the value of Flash has yet to be recognized by many companies. I had to levy for my role in creating a slideshow by letting my superiors know that the job was something that could be done in Flash. Since then, I have proposed some new ideas using my knowledge of Flash and hope to continue having a bigger role in the actual Web design and animation using Flash.

It's interesting that while I work among 3 designers, another developer, I am the only one who knows anything about Flash. Now is a good time to learn Flash because not many people understand it, especially on an expert level.

Finally, (back to the job market), there are plenty of jobs emerging for people who know Flash and they pay pretty well. It takes dedication to learn Flash though. But, If you enjoy it like I do, learning it will not be a problem.

MyGLife wiki critique

For my next assignment, I have been tasked to review some of the existing work that students have submitted to the wiki. So, I think it's fitting that I first start off with a critique of the MyGLife wiki community as a whole.

I think the whole idea of a virtual learning environment is fascinating and has great potential. It allows people to interact and share ideas to continually build and improve the learning experience for future participants.

However, this type of environment is a relatively new concept and while it will continually improve, I think there is room to mention some immediate change needs. Personally, I think people will learn more efficiently if there is more conformity in the community. By this, I mean that not everyone in the community is operating in the same manner. I understand this is a complex environment with plenty of room for variation, but some stricter ground rules should be set to help people figure out the system and how it works.

If all the wikis pages are set up the same, community members will be able to explore neighbor wikis more easily. As it stands, when I'm given an assignment that requires I comment on work (or begin discussions while making use of the work of others), I have a hard time finding the work specific to any one person. I can access general files, but I cannot offer credit or critique in many cases, because there is no info to indicate where the work comes from.

Marshall's MCTC wiki page appears to be the only one which lists the specific user names (lefthand side near bottom of page) with "project pages" (see example) that chronicle the specific work of individuals. Why? This seems like a fundamental need in the wiki community. Is this because of privacy issues? If so, it's easy to set up a contact that uses an alias. Point being, we need to be able to communicate with others easily.

Finally, I'd like to point out that finding information in the community is sometimes a daunting task. I know everything can't be everywhere all at once, but I think we can do a better job putting info out there in it's proper location and improving the categorizing and sort-ability of all the information from one centralized point. That may be something down the road to look at, but it's definitely worth mentioning.

Now that I'm finished criticizing MyGLife, let me offer some words of praise. I am excited to be a part of the democratic society that is MyGLife. It is very beneficial to have positive feedback from the community, while gaining access to a host of online resources that may otherwise go unnoticed. It is also exciting that while MyGLife is already an effective tool for learning, it will undoubtedly continue to grow, help its participants learn and share ideas along the way.

It pays to learn Flash

Learning Flash can be fun, stressful, challenging...many things. But most important, I think, is the fact that learning Flash can help lead to job placement. From my experience, I've noticed employers get excited at the mention of anything Flash-related. That's not to say that you shouldn't learn other things...but let's face it...Flash is pretty cool! Look around on the Web. There's some pretty amazing Flash design work out there. While knowing Flash may not get you the job, it will definitely help.

Note to self: create comprehensive tutorials links

While there are many excellent books and disks out there which will teach you Flash, consider this: it's not free...but there are several bits and pieces floating around the Web that are free. For this reason, I am creating a comprehensive tutorials list. When I'm finished I hope to have everything categorized so it's easy to reference. Many people use delicious.com to tag all relevant links and that has been a good reference for me, but I'm also compiling a list outside of delicious for a quick and more visually appealing reference. I personally get tired of logging on to delicious from a public terminal because I have to access the information in a less convenient way. For me, I think the best approach is listing the info on a wiki page or personal site. Anyway, that's just some food for thought. I will post my list on this blog once it becomes comprehensive enough.

Retention is essential--second time learning better than the first

As I've noted before Flash is a dynamic program and, therefore, it's probably a good idea revisit the basics after a while...or just never stop using Flash. A few days ago, I noticed myself getting unfamiliar with some novice practices in Flash. So, I revisited the simple stuff. I noticed that I had an easier time learning the second time, and learned many new things as I dabbled with button creation, motion guides, rendering text, etc.

Though you may think you have a stranglehold on some elementary tasks in Flash, the program often surprises me. Just like with Photoshop and many other complex software programs, new Flash techniques can creep up on you at the least expecting times. My advice: try to master the small stuff, and even if you think you know it---revisit it. If I stay away from anything for too long I begin to forget pieces of the puzzle. Learning Flash is no different than learning a language. If you want to learn Spanish you have to practice it. If you want to learn Flash the same holds true.

Game creationism--Part I

Hello Anyone,

It's been a while since I've posted anything, but keep in mind that doesn't mean I'm not working. I've been particularly busy with the intention of helping complete the Adventure WV game, which is still in progress.

If you're clueless as to what I'm talking about here's a little history--I am taking a Flash gaming class at the Marshall University Community and Technical College. The game is part of a group effort and focuses on WV's many tourism attributes. For now, my class is creating two games and setting up an interface which will allow users to play the games OR learn more about "adventure" areas. I am responsible for creating the interface which will host these games, and allow users to read and watch videos and slideshows associated with these areas. I am also creating preloaders for the interface and games.

If you are reading this, you may be interested in the game creation process. So...let me explain some of the key aspects of game creation, and address some of the difficulties we are having as a class. My objective here is to offer some guidance to anyone or any group planning to create a game.

Some tips:

1) First, have a clear objective--make a prototype.

As a class, I feel we struggled to get the game off the ground early because everyone may have had a different vision of our final product and goals. Once we etched out a game prototype, things began to come together.

2) Divvy up the responsibilities, but monitor progress, struggles.

My group divided responsibilities into categories, like Animation, Sound, Background, Interface, Research, etc. This is a good approach as long as individuals occasionally communicate about their progress. I feel our group has mostly worked in isolation and this has prevented us from meeting time demands and achieving a signature style.

Also, while responsibilities should be divided based on the talents of individuals, do not overwhelm a single member, and allow the chain of responsibility to sway. If you monitor group progress as a whole, you can make changes to the chain of command as needed.

3) To the individual: Find your way of learning and learn the essentials

First, use all available resources. There are many ways to learn Flash--many many resources exist. I would guess that most of you have access to different tools to help you learn Flash (books, videos, online tutorials, some are free, some are not, etc.). I spent the first half of the game creation process going through various tutorials, each unique in their own way. My recommendation is to learn how you know to learn best. That's right...find the one that's right for you.

FYI: learning Flash does not happen over night...and like with anything else, it's good to get the basics down first. But, once you find a good resource it can really help to exploit it for all it is worth.

That's it for now. I feel like I've written a term paper and you're probably tired of reading...and ready to create your own game. Good luck!