Blog Archives
Indie Developers at Game On!
Nine indie studios showcased their games at the Game On festival. Adults and children were able to play their games, ask questions and get tips ranging from making games to breaking into the video games industry.
Thank you so much to the following developers who came to Game On:
Nnooo, Necromancer, Visual Outbreak, Dinoroar, Bubble Gum Interactive, Alternator, Convict Interactive, Hedgegrove Enterprises and Blowfish Studios.
A couple of the indie studios were still developing their games. We particularly loved this photo of a message from the makers of Necromancer, James and Brogan. The message reads,
“Hello!
We are James and Brogan.
We are both Game Development students from NSI
We have been up all night coding, so we may look a little tired.
We want to demonstrate the ins and outs of game development,
So we are improving the game right now!
Ask us questions about game programming, games or anything in particular.
We are happy to chat.
James and Brogan
Authentic learning in context – absolutely!
All the developers were so enthusiastic and willing to share their knowledge and not just showcase their games. It was great to see adults and kids so eager to take advantage of this opportunity. A great day was had by all.
We Play, We Design, We Learn – Info Session
At our GAME On: Community Video Game Festival, you will have the opportunity to listen to four innovative teachers who have integrated games and game design into their classroom practise. Hear about why they think video games are relevant in 21st century learning, what they are doing and have the opportunity to ask questions.
When: Saturday 29th October, 2011
When: 10:00am
Where: Macquarie University Library Foyer
Click here to register for this session.
More about the teachers . . .
Joanne Cologon, De La Salle College, Caringbah
My Year 9 and 10 Elective classes have been using Gamestar Mechanic and serious games from Games for Change to investigate game design and the game space. The aim is to improve the students’ understanding and use of the Design Process in Technology and Applied Studies and in turn produce higher quality products.
Simon Hutchison, Gordon East Public School
I am a primary school teacher with 17 years experience and a computer coordinator for 10 years. I am a gamer to the core with a passion for finding ways of making teaching and learning more engaging and relevant to students in the 21st century. I am currently teaching students to design games with an environmental message.
Alice Leung, Merrylands High School
Merrylands High School students play Xbox Kinect and iPod games in the classroom and design their own games with Kodu and Aris. Games based learning is currently embedded into the science and PDHPE curriculum as well as Boys Education initiatives. Games design is integrated into the school’s Student Technology Team, a team of 22 students from Years 9-12 who help lead professional learning on 1:1 laptops and games based learning for staff and students.
Peter Robson, Northern Beaches Christian School
At Northern Beaches Christian School, students can sign up to join our online communities in Second Life and/or Minecraft. Both communities are student driven with little input from teachers. These worlds give students the opportunity to be creative, collaborate across the school community and develop interpersonal skills.
We have a number of students, across the year groups, who are leaders in the communities. These students monitor and engage regularly with the virtual worlds. Both communities are considered extensions of the playground and so behaviour expectations are clear. It is amazing to see the creations that students build and the way that these students protect their communities.
Play 3dedrats
Welcome to Rat HQ. We know that many creative rats live amongst us and we want to give you the opportunity to have your moment in the sun and, to us it is vital that this happens right now.
3dedrats is run by the Macquarie ICT Innovations Centre, but our three rats are leading the way. There is P13d.P1p3r our gamer rat, M.A.X. our robot rat and Nazumi our scientist rat who also has a keen interest in virtual worlds.
Three lab rats from the future who are a result of an experiment that went wrong. Over a period of time their abilities increased to the point where they were the most intelligent living things on our planet in 2050.
As they increased in intelligence they realised how desperate the situation was. Plants that are needed for medicine are scarce, natural resources exhausted, food depleting, temperatures soaring and sea levels rising. In 2050 the earth is dying and we can’t do anything to turn back time.
The rats decided the only possible thing they could do is send clones of themselves back in time to prevent this CATastrophic vision of the future.
The rats have researched this point in history and found that there is a key turning point or opportunity for us to transform this possible reality. In order for us to avoid this future we have to catalogue and develop our skills to be able to handle problems and create solutions.
The rats have analysed the data and they have found technologies of our time such as games, robotics, mobile devices and virtual worlds are the key to averting our chaotic future.
We need to form a critical mass of young minds who are skilled and passionate and able to lead the change into the future. We want you to join the 3dedrats and show us your potential.
Remember a big part of this festival is about spreading the message of innovation and creativity. You can become a member of the Rat Race by:
- Subscribing to this blog for regular updates
- Liking us on Facebook
- Following us on Twitter
- Watching us on School Tube??
- Attending one of our world first innovation events or ‘RAT LABS’
Adopt a Rat
Rat adoption is all about bringing your expertise and resources to help us grow a pack of rats that are creative and innovative leaders ready to take Australia into the 21st Century.
Sponsorship packages include:
