Adding Start and Stop Button

Although I love creating music on garage band, I got really irritated when I had add it to flash. Making the buttons on flash were pretty simple, because there were no keyframes involved. I didn't really have time in one day to find a way to represent the music playing. The code was easy to follow. Overall, I'd rate this as one of the easiest things I've done. Especially if I could complete it in one day.

After Adding Civics

I found out many new things about my game topic after we incorporated civics. I was unaware of many laws and regulations for windmills and water wheels. I also learned what water wheels were used for. Designing the game will be more organized now that we have actual topics. We will actual have something to work towards instead of just throwing things in as we go. I can't wait to get my second paper prototype done, because its my absolute least favorite thing to do. I don't even think there's a reason for a second one. I haven't watched the first one since I uploaded it.

Adding Interaction

Adding Interaction was simple because we've already done it. I hadn't added the left and right buttons yet, but I figured it out easily. Lately, the lessons haven't had an impact on my game. They haven't really related to the topic. However, the game ideas are still getting better. The graphics really seem to be improving. So the mood of the game is fun because its very organized. Adding a civics theme into our game is improving the overall excitement as well, because before we didn't really have a theme. It also sets goals that we didn't have before.

Adding Sound

Adding sound was simple compared to the last few lessons. I gave mine a horse sound when you roll over the button. I think sound is important in a game because it sets the mood and creates better effects. You will get more into a game if they're are sounds that go along with it. For example, a farming game would have farm animal sounds. Instead of them being pixels on your screen, they seem alive and real. My game seems to be making some progress. Its a good think animation isn't a big part of the game, because I still can't get my windmill to spin. However, if I get ahead on my lessons I will go back to work on it.

Adding Animation

I really disliked animation, because my game didn't require any movement. The only thing I needed was to drag & drop. That is something I still can't figure out. I'm not really into animation. Maybe if I were to add more to my game I could make a windmill spin or something. Thats the only example that I could really use.

Game Relating to Civics

My game topic is about saving energy and finding more efficient ways to produce energy. It didn't relate to civics until we added a few small details. We first had questions about the structures. Instead of using the questions, we deleted those scenes and added an inspector guy that tells you all of the rules and regulations about the structure you are beginning to build. It will help you build a safer and sturdier structure. The player could learn how a windmill, water wheel, or solar panel contributes to the earth and what situations they are used for. Some of these structures will please the citizens with proper construction.

Research Day 2

Today, I researched more about windmills. I found more information about the windmill farm at Mt. Storm. Even the people that live in the Davis/Thomas area like the windmills. Some regulations deal with the way the neighbors feel about them. Sometimes the noise level can be a bother. I read about a guy that really appreciates the production of windmills. NIMBY stands for "not in my backyard." Maybe I will incorporate the neighbors into the game as well.

Windmill and Water Wheel Research

After finding information about how windmills produce energy, I have gained more ideas for my game. Many people put a windmill in their community or backyard to produce energy for themselves. I was unaware of that, because the windmills closest to my home are in Mt. Storm and there are tons of them! I'm not even sure what they do. For the game, I will probably only use one windmill or a few to support a poor community. The water wheel is used for circulating water or drawing it from the ground. For my game, I'm going to have the water wheel supply water to livestock. At the beginning of each stage, there will be an inspector. He will explain the regulations and the reasoning for the construction. If it is not built to his expectations, you will not go on.

Adding Navigation

Adding navigation was the best thing we've done yet. The only thing difficult about it is remembering your labels, because without the labels you're just using codes. I wrote my labels down to keep things more organized. I'm more excited to start adding animation to move things forward with the game. There are some things on my game that I'm unsure about. I don't know if my pieces to the structure are considered navigation or animation. I'm sure once I move on I will figure it out.

Drawing in Flash

Drawing in flash was my least favorite thing to do. It was too difficult to find other things to trace so I just drew them myself. I still haven't done much research on the actual topic. I know more about windmills than water wheels, but I think windmills will stay the most interesting. I need to do my research soon, because its needed for the about and manual in my game section. Once I got the play screen, instructions, and level 1 drawn, it became easier to add details.