Game making on the iPad
Jan 18
posted by Mark Christie in
Livecode, Games, iPhone, RunRev, iPad, Android
| 0 Comments
I have been attending the RunRev online game academy which is designed to teach you how to build a game, in this case a side scrolling game where you avoid enemies and try to collect bonuses.
The game construction method uses the notions of "skins" where graphics for a traditional spaceship game as well as those for balloons and birds are available and you switch "skins" which simply swaps the graphic sets out and voila, a new game using the same underlying logic.
We can definitely use this knowledge to create some fun educational games that will run on PC, iPhone, iPod, iPad, android devices.
What is even better is that the course content is available for teachers free and I believe anyone ten and over would be able to work through the course... (well maybe 13 or older).
By learning the mechanics of programming when things start and stop on a screen means that we can apply the same code with a little tweaking to interactive story books as well as games. Lifeless images can now talk, move their lips with simple sprite animation that stops when the audio stops or the student clicks on the next item of interest.
The course is still on and by signing up you will receive access to the previous webinars and training material along with access to the next webinars.
Because of the natural English language programming language and the metaphor of a stack of cards or a book with pages, non-programmers can come to grips with the programming environment quickly.
Check out http://runrev.com for the live game academy, before it is too late.
On a related note we are running an informal learning event every friday afternoon via adobe connect video conferencing aimed at introducing folks to livecode and assisting them with building their first application. Contact me if you are interested in joining in as the intention is to create a regional Northern Territory mobile device programming group interested in developing applications for education or educating our students in how to program applications for whatever device interests them.
