Games aren't just for the students anymore
Using Flex for Educational Games... anyone in for writing a monthly newsletter
I have started learning Flex (free to use! Multi-platforms!), having about no prior knowledge of Actionscript/Flash. I would like to use Flex to write educational games, in 6 months, a year time.
You may not be aware, but actionscript 3 is a huge step forward compared to AS2. You can now get 3D at realistic speed using 3D papervision. Powerful 2D open source game engines start to appear, like APE. You can pilot games on your mac or pc via a wii remote. Flash can be used to program games on the PSP or the Wii.
Seems worth taking the time to learn AS3 to good level! Some way to determine constant learning and constant progress is to commit to writing a monthly newsletter on the theme of game for education, with as secondary theme how to write mini-games using Flex.
If I was to do that, would anybody in this group be ready to contribute short articles (1 or 2 pages) to this newsletter? I can set up a wiki on which you can write drafts and provide file hosting, etc.
Based on various newsletters of that type I have come across here is the structure I am thinking of:
1. Editor's intro
2. News
3. Reader's input (emails, forum comments)
4. Answer to reader's questions
5. Tutorials.
6. One of these, changing from issue to issue: Game library debate, interview, comics.
7. Hacks and tricks.
8. Game reviews.
9. Competitions (any sponsor out there to provide prizes?) - mini game of the month, graphic demo of the month, 3D graphic of the month, etc.
10. Classic games collection. Discussing some of your favorite old games, why you found them great, what would still work 5-20 years later and what wouldn't work anymore.
11. Some type of last word, funny column, etc.
What I tend to be good at is at improving the overall quality/structure of other persons' contributions. I am not that good at ensuring the guaranteed absence of typos. English is not even my first language! Persons who love writing are very welcome to propose their help for overseeing the final editing of the content.
The idea is that if I was to do it alone, this would probably never happen. But if I can get a few persons contribute, then there are good chances we would produce something we can each be proud of while learning a lot of new stuff in the process. (I am a great believer in collaborative work ;-) ).
You may not be aware, but actionscript 3 is a huge step forward compared to AS2. You can now get 3D at realistic speed using 3D papervision. Powerful 2D open source game engines start to appear, like APE. You can pilot games on your mac or pc via a wii remote. Flash can be used to program games on the PSP or the Wii.
Seems worth taking the time to learn AS3 to good level! Some way to determine constant learning and constant progress is to commit to writing a monthly newsletter on the theme of game for education, with as secondary theme how to write mini-games using Flex.
If I was to do that, would anybody in this group be ready to contribute short articles (1 or 2 pages) to this newsletter? I can set up a wiki on which you can write drafts and provide file hosting, etc.
Based on various newsletters of that type I have come across here is the structure I am thinking of:
1. Editor's intro
2. News
3. Reader's input (emails, forum comments)
4. Answer to reader's questions
5. Tutorials.
6. One of these, changing from issue to issue: Game library debate, interview, comics.
7. Hacks and tricks.
8. Game reviews.
9. Competitions (any sponsor out there to provide prizes?) - mini game of the month, graphic demo of the month, 3D graphic of the month, etc.
10. Classic games collection. Discussing some of your favorite old games, why you found them great, what would still work 5-20 years later and what wouldn't work anymore.
11. Some type of last word, funny column, etc.
What I tend to be good at is at improving the overall quality/structure of other persons' contributions. I am not that good at ensuring the guaranteed absence of typos. English is not even my first language! Persons who love writing are very welcome to propose their help for overseeing the final editing of the content.
The idea is that if I was to do it alone, this would probably never happen. But if I can get a few persons contribute, then there are good chances we would produce something we can each be proud of while learning a lot of new stuff in the process. (I am a great believer in collaborative work ;-) ).
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mark Lucking on -
Marielle,
Just found this post looking for this very subject. Tell me how are your flex/actionscript skills getting on? Did you move forward with this project?
Mark
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