Changes

Jump to navigation Jump to search
126 bytes added ,  17:52, 16 January 2010
Line 42: Line 42:  
  I think it's great.  Three points:
 
  I think it's great.  Three points:
 
  1)  Users probably don't want to play many games of the same operation
 
  1)  Users probably don't want to play many games of the same operation
(e.g. x+y=10), and the teacher probably doesn't want to create a new game
+
    (e.g. x+y=10), and the teacher probably doesn't want to create a new game
for every operation.  You should allow users to select a range of
+
    for every operation.  You should allow users to select a range of
operations (e.g. numbers up to 12, + - and *) and have the game select a
+
    operations (e.g. numbers up to 12, + - and *) and have the game select a
random operation from the set for each game.
+
    random operation from the set for each game.
 
  2)  There are some interesting possibilities for using network collab
 
  2)  There are some interesting possibilities for using network collab
between users and teachers, but work on that last.  To start, users should
+
    between users and teachers, but work on that last.  To start, users should
just punch in the operation (or range of operations) when the activity
+
    just punch in the operation (or range of operations) when the activity
launches.  Teachers can just tell the students what settings to use, and
+
    launches.  Teachers can just tell the students what settings to use, and
then look at the screens to verify.
+
    then look at the screens to verify.
 
  3)  The visual structure of the game seems almost identical to Gnome's
 
  3)  The visual structure of the game seems almost identical to Gnome's
Tetravex.  In the spirit of Open Source, you should consider reusing the
+
    Tetravex.  In the spirit of Open Source, you should consider reusing the
Tetravex gameboard display code.
+
    Tetravex gameboard display code.
 
  --Ben
 
  --Ben
    
*Wade Brainerd (via email)
 
*Wade Brainerd (via email)
   −
Looks great Mark!  Feel free to get in touch with me if you need any
+
  Looks great Mark!  Feel free to get in touch with me if you need any
 
  help with implementation.
 
  help with implementation.
I agree with Greg that this would be a good target for PyGame.
+
  I agree with Greg that this would be a good target for PyGame.
 
  Regarding the game design, you should consider adding some sense of
 
  Regarding the game design, you should consider adding some sense of
 
  progress, or else players will get tired quickly. Some ideas:
 
  progress, or else players will get tired quickly. Some ideas:
- Start with two cards, gradually ramp up to 9.
+
  - Start with two cards, gradually ramp up to 9.
- There needs to be a good "snapping" mechanism when dropping, so
+
  - There needs to be a good "snapping" mechanism when dropping, so
users don't get frustrated by trying to line the cards up.
+
    users don't get frustrated by trying to line the cards up.
- Adding the ability to rotate the cards in 90 degree increments would
+
  - Adding the ability to rotate the cards in 90 degree increments would
add to the challenge.
+
    add to the challenge.
- Your notion of customization seems limited to replacing the square
+
  - Your notion of customization seems limited to replacing the square
with a graphic, which might obscure the number.  Is this really a good
+
    with a graphic, which might obscure the number.  Is this really a good
way to customize it?
+
    way to customize it?
- I agree with Ben that when you start the game you should first
+
  - I agree with Ben that when you start the game you should first
select which types of puzzles (* + - / etc) you want, how many
+
    select which types of puzzles (* + - / etc) you want, how many
squares, whether rotation is allowed.  No need for the teacher to be
+
    squares, whether rotation is allowed.  No need for the teacher to be
involved.
+
    involved.
- Why limit it to numbers?  E.g. how about comparisons like "X is
+
  - Why limit it to numbers?  E.g. how about comparisons like "X is
heaver than Y" and on the sides of the cards are things like
+
    heaver than Y" and on the sides of the cards are things like
"elephant", "bacteria", etc.  Or "X is newer than Y", etc.  This is
+
    "elephant", "bacteria", etc.  Or "X is newer than Y", etc.  This is
where customization would be cool.  Let the teacher define a
+
    where customization would be cool.  Let the teacher define a
relationship, and input a series of terms, and define which pairs meet
+
    relationship, and input a series of terms, and define which pairs meet
that relationship.  This would be called a "set", and could be
+
    that relationship.  This would be called a "set", and could be
exported to the Journal.
+
    exported to the Journal.
Good luck with your project!
+
    Good luck with your project!
    
*David Farning (via email)
 
*David Farning (via email)
Line 89: Line 89:  
  1st grade niece played with it for over half an hour.  It will be a
 
  1st grade niece played with it for over half an hour.  It will be a
 
  hit on her XO.
 
  hit on her XO.
 +
 
  david
 
  david
    
*Greg DeKoenigsberg (via email)
 
*Greg DeKoenigsberg (via email)
   −
Mark, this looks like a brilliant little activity.  Simple, fun gameplay, extensible.  Really great.
+
  Mark, this looks like a brilliant little activity.  Simple, fun gameplay, extensible.  Really great.
 
  Some thoughts:
 
  Some thoughts:
 
  1. I'd love to see this as primarily a PyGame activity, with just enough "Sugar" to run it on Sugar  
 
  1. I'd love to see this as primarily a PyGame activity, with just enough "Sugar" to run it on Sugar  
easily, but also easily available as a Windows or Mac activity.  If done well, this is precisely  
+
    easily, but also easily available as a Windows or Mac activity.  If done well, this is precisely  
the sort of activity that could cross over.  (Which is, in fact, how I'd like to see most Sugar  
+
    the sort of activity that could cross over.  (Which is, in fact, how I'd like to see most Sugar  
games built.)
+
    games built.)
 
  2. Always think a little bit (but not too much) about assessment.  The student knows they're  
 
  2. Always think a little bit (but not too much) about assessment.  The student knows they're  
getting better because they are "leveling up".  The teacher knows the kid is getting better  
+
    getting better because they are "leveling up".  The teacher knows the kid is getting better  
because... how?  Game data is pushed up to a server... somehow?  Dunno if anyone is paying  
+
    because... how?  Game data is pushed up to a server... somehow?  Dunno if anyone is paying  
attention to this  question, but it would be great if there were a simple way to allow teachers to  
+
    attention to this  question, but it would be great if there were a simple way to allow  
aggregate "high score" data, which really doubles as assessment data in cases like this.
+
    teachers to  
A great start.  I look forward to seeing what it becomes.
+
    aggregate "high score" data, which really doubles as assessment data in cases like this.
 +
    A great start.  I look forward to seeing what it becomes.
 
  --g
 
  --g
    
==Comments==
 
==Comments==
150

edits

Navigation menu