Monthly Archives: July 2010

Presenting the GD18 Wagmobile!

The best part of life is without a doubt the people who are there with you along the journey. And that’s definitely true for my experience thus far at VFS. Every class at VFS is given a number, based on … Continue reading

Posted in Illustration Station | Tagged | Leave a comment

Would you like some SketchUp with those fries?

Everyone who knows me knows that I love ketchup. I put it on everything from eggs to sloppy joes, and, occasionally, corn as well. Ketchup can spice up just about anything. And as I found out today during my level … Continue reading

Posted in Game Design | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Serious Games

There’s no doubt that games will effect change on a global scale and fundamentally transform the way we learn. The question, though, is how. And when. I’ve seen games in which players explore the human body from the inside, games that … Continue reading

Posted in Game Design | Tagged | Leave a comment

The Easy Term

Just this week, I’ve written 4 papers, taken 1 midterm, created a detailed perspective drawing, and analyzed numerous games and movie scenes. And this is supposed to be the “easy” term. Now into the 4th week of my first term, … Continue reading

Posted in Game Design | Tagged | Leave a comment

The Google of the Game World

Spending your extra money to buy pink tractors and virtual chickens? You’re not alone. Zynga, the social games giant that created FarmVille and Mafia Wars, has over 200 million players a month, giving it a broader audience than its rival … Continue reading

Posted in Game Design | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Plants vs. Zombies

Like vampires, zombies have mystified the masses for ages. But who knew that you could fight off zombies with pea-shooters, mushrooms, and other veggies? Plants vs. Zombies, released in 2009 by PopCap Games, has been a huge hit for casual … Continue reading

Posted in Game Design | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Don’t Bother Me Mom – I’m Learning!

Imagine you’re a parent (this is less of a stretch for those of you who already have children). Your child is growing up in a world in which people use cell phones to check email and rely on GPS narration … Continue reading

Posted in Game Design | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Design, Play, Repeat

Everyone knows that designing a game is pretty simple. All you need are gameplay mechanics, basic rules, and an objective. Designing a fun game, on the other hand, is a completely different beast. A couple of weeks ago, I was tasked with … Continue reading

Posted in Game Design | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Games Can Change the World

Not sure if games are worthwhile? Well, according to Jane McGonigal, games have the power to transform the world, giving players the skills to solve large-scale real world problems. Don’t believe it? Take a look. She can be quite convincing.

Posted in Game Design | Tagged | 2 Comments

Just Write!

Maybe it’s the blog, or my love of reading, or my three-year break from student life, but I’ve discovered a new love for writing. Instead of dreading essay assignments, I now crave them. Just today, I completed two analysis papers within … Continue reading

Posted in Game Design | Tagged , | Leave a comment