January 21, 2010 Archives

Non-commercial art games and hobbyist remixes sometimes capture the collective interest of online gamers.

Since we have already covered this as part of a student presentation, I encourage you to participate in and further the discussion; I don't feel I need to assign additional readings.

I should point out that Adventure, 9:05, and all the IF games you sampled also count as indie games -- with the exception of "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," which was originally released as a commercial title.

One thing I will mention... Farmville.

What do you feel about games that integrate with social networks to this degree?

Your assessment of your own online article presentation, and your participation in the presentations of your peers.

I've added a bit to the "Indie and Viral Games" discussion page for today; I don't feel the need to add a whole online lecture there, since we already had a successful student-led discussion of indie games. But I did add a few details about viral games, such as Farmville.  (I'm using the term "viral" in the sense "spreads from user to user, much as a virus spreads from cell to cell.")

I've also added a final GriffinGate forum thread -- just an informal "What do you think of the course now that it's almost over?" prompt. You're also free to blog about your reactions, but I thought it would be appropriate to end the course in the same forum where we started.

Online Participation

I've reported grades for last week's participation -- both the blogging portfolio and the online reading quizzes.

I continue to be impressed by everyone's blogging, but because there is no assignment that requires you to look at each other's portfolios, I realize that many of you may not have seen the creativity of Matt's portfolio, admired the clarity and insight that Susan and Beth Anne offered, or marveled at Jessie's meticulously annotated links. I invite everyone to take a look at these excellent portfolios, and get some ideas for how to present Portfolio 3.

Rather than give reading quizzes this week, I will make the final blogging portfolio worth 100 points, instead of the usual 50.  I'll distribute those additional 50 points according to how actively you participated in your peer-led discussions, and how engaged you are in the online discussion of final projects. (Part of this component includes posting your project, or at least a rough version of it, early enough that your peers can see and comment on it.)

Wrapping Things Up

You are welcome to submit all your work by 5pm tomorrow and be done with the class; however, I will let the discussion of final projects run through the weekend, so if you'd like a list-minute chance to get some participation points, you'll have the time to view and comment substantially on all your peer projects. 

Those of you who already posted your project link for today, feel free to re-post on the Friday page, if you have made any changes that you want us to see.

Keep up the good work, everyone.