<![CDATA[Austin Tate : Weblog items tagged with Na'vi]]> http://elearningblogs.education.ed.ac.uk/oldelgg/elgg/atate/weblog/ <![CDATA[Moon Bloom - The Legend of the Bloom of the Aligned Moons]]> http://elearningblogs.education.ed.ac.uk/oldelgg/elgg/atate/weblog/7992.html http://elearningblogs.education.ed.ac.uk/oldelgg/elgg/atate/weblog/7992.html Fri, 30 Mar 2012 10:11:23 GMT For my MSc in e-Learning IDGBL Game Design exercise I have created an exploration style game with a Na'vi/Avatar theme.

The web site for the game information and links to allow access to the areas in which some elements of it can already be played in Second Life are at:

 

More details of the elements that went into the design are in this blog entry - Game Design Preliminaries.

]]> <![CDATA[Game Design Preliminaries]]> http://elearningblogs.education.ed.ac.uk/oldelgg/elgg/atate/weblog/7706.html http://elearningblogs.education.ed.ac.uk/oldelgg/elgg/atate/weblog/7706.html Fri, 02 Mar 2012 09:48:50 GMT I have been thinking about the game design asessment since Christmas.  It is my style to make notes and get ideas flowing early on and collect assets before seriously starting any work element.  I had originally thought a game using assets already available to me from a project on the "Virtual World of Whisky" might make a suitable topic for the game design.  See for example:

I have seen other opportunities while exploring quests in World of Warcraft, a number of space-themed games mentioned in this blog, and playing a range of new (to me) games on the course.

I am finding that a number of themes keep arising in my interests while engaging with these games and thinking about their narrative, objectives, and the ways in which they introduce artifacts and skills.

  • Situated Learning and Narrative
  • Levels, Scaffolding and Push to the ZPD (Vygotsky)
  • Use of encyclopaedia resources
  • Community-based Learning
  • "Ancient" style of learning at the feet of teachers

My interests continue to be strongly with games which have a social and community dimension, and a way to engage players with the broader community involved is often something they involve.

So, I have begun development of a game design for a quest style game in the Avatar movie theme areas of a MMO such as Second Life. The game is based on an exploration of the Pandora moon flora and Na'vi culture.  It will have strong community and knowledge sharing aspects, but allow for play that engages with others or not, with consequences.  I call the game "Moon Bloom – The Legend of the Bloom of the Aligned Moons".

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