I’ve always been entranced by logos. There’s something about the simple complexity of communicating a big message with a small image that’s always fascinated me.
Good logos communicate layers of meaning, both boldly and subtly. Take a look at these 50 startup logos from 2011.
Learning to program through books and tutorials is hardly an exciting endeavor. The first few exercises might maintain your interest by capitalizing on your staunch commitment to reach your goal of becoming an avid programmer, but interest often wanes as the exercises become more difficult and seem to drift further from real world applications.
Enter Codecademy, an interactive game that teaches programming, right in the comfort of your own browser. Codecademy holds your hand through each step of the programming basics, including declaring your first variable and executing your first function. Explanations are concise and easy to understand, even for the absolute novice.
You can follow the exercises at your own pace, and you can even experiment using the scratch pad, an in-browser Javascript editor that lets you play around with what you’ve learned.
Best of all, Codecademy is built around basic game mechanics, including missions and achievements. Track and share your progress, and you’ll soon be on your way to programming your own website or game.
Right now, Codecademy only offers Javascript courses, but it looks like they’re working hard to add more programming languages as soon as possible. So if you’ve always wanted learn how to code, give Codecademy a shot.
If you’re at all interested in the VFS Game Design program, come on out for the Game Design Expo Open House on Sunday, January 22nd. You can take sample classes, learn more about the program, and talk to current teachers. I will be giving a short presentation about my experience at VFS, so stop by if you get a chance. Hope to see you there!
2011 has gone by in a flash. This year, I pushed my art, programming, and game design skills further than ever before, worked with three terrific teams, and contributed to six new games.
January
Veggiesaurus proves that a vegetarian T-rex makes for an awesome Flash game.
February
Chip is born.
March
Production on Blokhead officially begins.
April
I struggle with learn to program.
May
Blokhead gets its final touches.
June
Blokhead is presented to industry professionals, and GD18 graduates.
July
Hello, I’m Annie Dickerson, lead designer at Digido Interactive.
August
Blokhead is named a 2011 Unity Award Finalist.
September
Digido’s first game, MotionMaze, hits the App Store.
October
MotionMaze Trick or Treat offers players Halloween themed mazes.
November
Pop & Dodge brings penguin dodgeball to the masses.
December
MotionMaze Holiday Adventure uses physical activity to spread holiday cheer.
To my teammates, teachers, friends, and family, I cannot thank you enough for your support this year and every year. Here’s to even bigger and better things in 2012!
That’s right, you can now launch your own dodgeballs. The latest version of Pop & Dodge is now out, just in time for plenty of heated family dodgeball matches over the holidays.
The latest version includes the brand new Versus Mode, in which you can challenge your friends to head-to-head matches of penguin dodgeball. Tap to throw balls at your opponent, jump to dodge their balls. The player with the most hits at the end of 90 seconds wins. Good luck!
MotionMaze Holiday Adventure is now out on the App Store! This new version of MotionMaze features over 100 brand new mazes filled with pickups, as well as a Daily Scramble that offers a new maze every single day.
So what are you waiting for? Try out MotionMaze Holiday Adventure now!
Interested in learning more about the work we’re doing? Here’s the Geek Speak interview I did for the Georgia Straight, talking about our games and the work we’re doing at Digido Interactive.
The last time I took an art class was in high school. So when the chance arose for me to take a painting class, I jumped on the opportunity.
We’re almost at the end of our 6-week acrylics class, and in that time, we’ve covered the basics of design, caring for supplies, how to fix mistakes, and how to finish a painting.
I must admit, after years of digital design, it’s quite different for me to create a piece of art on paper. The first time I started a painting, I began by sketching everything out with a pencil before I realized that acrylics are a very forgiving medium. Make a mistake, and you can just paint right over it.
Within five weeks, I’ve created four paintings. I’ve learned a ton, had a blast, and discovered a new hobby I love. Hopefully, these paintings will be the first of many to come.
A new version of Pop & Dodge is now available on the App Store. This version includes new powerups, new achievements, and a new tap mode.
…wait a second. Tap mode? Aren’t our games supposed to be about physical activity?
Exactly. In fact, that’s precisely why we put in Rookie Mode, where you can play the same game by tapping instead of jumping. The hook? The Advanced Mode (jump to play) offers more powerups, more points, and more achievements.
Rookie Mode allows you to play Pop & Dodge when you’re on the bus, in the car, or anywhere else where you just can’t jump. Through tapping, you familiarize yourself with the mechanics of the game by using more standard iPhone inputs (i.e., tapping instead of jumping).
We know this could be a risky move. Sure, there might be people who only play Rookie Mode and never convert to jumping. But that’s okay. We can’t force people to jump; we can only encourage them to do so through solid game mechanics and motivating rewards. Offering a tap mode allows us to reach players within their comfort zone and gently push them to change their habits, instead of starting out with something completely foreign.
So now you’ve got no excuse. Whether you’re sitting, standing, or lying down, you can play Pop & Dodge anywhere, anytime. So grab the latest update now!