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David Leonard Capstone

Posted by David Leonard on
For my capstone I decided on making a 2D platforming game. The reason I chose to do this is I like to play a lot of video games so I decided to try and make one. I first looked for free tools for making a game for beginners where I found a web-based one called sploder which is what I decided on using. I then made levels for my game based on the gaming videos I watch by using ideas from the games being played and trying to input them into my game. I also had someone test out some of the game to get feedback on it and then made edits to the levels based on it. What I learned from this is if you plan making a complex game then you should not use any of the free tools since you are extremely limited in what you can do.

Bibliography:


Dooley, Jeremy, Matt Bragg, and Trevor Collins. "Speedrunners Gameplay - The Stream Team (Twitch Highlights)." YouTube. YouTube, 16 Aug. 2015. Web. 03 Feb. 2016. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4w2QRLenOg>. This video shows gameplay of a 2D game where the objective is to run an obstacle course and to eliminate the other players by making them fall behind and go off the screen using different types of tools and weapons. I chose this because one of the tools you have is a grappling hook to traverse different areas so I decided to have something similar in my game. I think this source is reliable since it shows enough of the gameplay to get a good understanding of what you need to do and how it works.


Heyman, Joel, and Adam Ellis. "How To: Happy Wheels." YouTube. YouTube, 31 Jan. 2016. Web. 05 Feb. 2016. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkHwvddJpcM>. This video shows gameplay of a 2D game where you play user created levels and have the option to create your own. I chose this because the website I am using to create my game looks like it has similar mechanics as this one but the ones I’m using seem to be a little downgraded but it still gave me some ideas.


Jones, Michael. "Rage Quit - Cat Mario." YouTube. YouTube, 30 May 2013. Web. 03 Feb. 2016. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BksFy5qbwwM&list=PLTur7oukosPGhIYDLakN7OXX1Wba5pMbG&index=73>. This video shows gameplay of a remade mario game with the same objective as normal mario except anything can happen like an invisible block appearing and random enemies coming out of nowhere and killing you. I chose this because I was going to have similar things happen in the game I am making but I couldn’t have the things do most of these so I am having my game do things that are close to the same ridiculousness.


Jones, Michael. "Rage Quit - Mega Man 10." YouTube. YouTube, 28 June 2012. Web. 04 Feb. 2016. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhdAqD890Og&list=PLTur7oukosPGhIYDLakN7OXX1Wba5pMbG&index=121>. This video shows gameplay of a classic 2D platformer shooter where you have to defeat enemies and get through the level to get to the boss and defeat him. I chose this because there is a power up in the game where you give the character a gun so I am going to make a level similar to this.


Jones, Michael. "Rage Quit - The Unfair Platformer." YouTube. YouTube, 20 June 2013. Web. 05 Feb. 2016. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yW8KKU-GXio&index=70&list=PLTur7oukosPGhIYDLakN7OXX1Wba5pMbG>. This video shows gameplay of another platforming game where you have to make it through each level while looking out for hidden things like spikes coming out of the ground or the ground itself disappearing beneath you. I chose this because in the game creator I am using there is a block that breaks when you step on it so I could do something like this or at least similar to it.


Jones, Michael. "Rage Quit - Trials Evolution." YouTube. YouTube, 19 Apr. 2012. Web. 04 Feb. 2016. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzqtePR5_YE&list=PLTur7oukosPGhIYDLakN7OXX1Wba5pMbG&index=131>. This video shows gameplay of a platform racing game where you need to complete different tracks that each have different types of obstacles that you need to get through. I chose this because it gave an idea to make a driving level in my game where you have to make it through some things in a vehicle.


Jones, Michael. "Rage Quit - VVVVVV." YouTube. YouTube, 15 May 2014. Web. 05 Feb. 2016. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDFnsHO0QR4&list=PLTur7oukosPGhIYDLakN7OXX1Wba5pMbG&index=26>. This video shows gameplay of a 2D game where your ship malfunctions and you have to travel all around the ship and space to get to them. I chose this because there are parts in the game where you have to traverse through some spikes while falling which gave me some ideas of a level I could add into the game I am making. I think this source is reliable because it shows a good amount of gameplay of the game and


Lee, Joel. "5 Free Game Development Software Tools To Make Your Own Games." MakeUseOf. N.p., 10 Feb. 2010. Web. 21 Jan. 2016. <http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/five-free-game-development-tools-make-your-own-games/>. This article has a list of game developing tools for people to use to create their own games. I selected this article because I needed something to use in order to make my game for my capstone. It had the tools in order from beginners to experts which made choosing one easier since I don’t have any experience with this. I think this is a reliable source because it explains what each of the tools is good with and the difficulty level of each tool.


Roy. "Tutorial #3: Platformer Creator: Making A Game." YouTube. YouTube, 21 June 2013. Web. 05 Feb. 2016. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnvHqMg9Ew4>. This video is a tutorial of the platform creator and shows an example of a game that can be made using it. This video helped me get an idea of what you can do with this game creator and gave me some interesting ideas for a level I could make with this game creator. I think this is a reliable source since it seems like that this person has created multiple videos on this game creator and has a lot of experience with it.


Ryckert, Dan. "More Addictive Than Ever." Rev. of Trials Evolution. Game Informer 18 Apr. 2012: n. pag. Game Informer. Web. 4 Feb. 2016. <http://www.gameinformer.com/games/trials_evolution/b/xbox360/archive/2012/04/18/review.aspx>. This article is a review on a platform racing game. This article tells about the previous game in the series and explains how this one is an improvement to it with the additions and new game mechanics. I chose this because this article shows what made this game an improvement from the previous one which I plan on having something similar.


SLA in the News

Posted by Christopher Lehmann on
​Two recent articles about all the good work at SLA:

How Engineering Class in 9th Grade Can Excite Diverse Learners - a write-up of the incredible work of the Engineering programs at SLA-Center City and SLA@Beeber. 

When Black Teens Get Real About America’s Love of Light Skin - A TakePart.com article about an incredible project by SLA senior Joie Nearn in Mr. Block's English class. 

Herstory

Posted by Taylor Washington in Gender Studies - Menasion - d1 on

She is from a guy growing up with difficulties, from the not fitting in with the norm side and ostracism.

She is from the group Jews that practice nothing but good religious views.

She is from the encouragement to seek higher education, and being the caregiver of a possible family

She is from the boys cannot cry and should not express too much emotion from the mother that would shame you if her son suddenly became a daughter and Father that would put in all his money for a boys education and absolutely nothing in a girls education She is from the who am I and what am I. From I should be able to be loved for who I am and whom I love. She is from the Jewish community that wouldn’t dare accepts her sexuality. She is from Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love but cant seem to be loved.  She is from it all but wont let that make her fall.

New Crew, Same Result. "REVERB"- Rough Cut's latest Short- Wins TSA Film Competition

Posted by Douglas Herman on
Screen Shot 2016-02-08 at 12.14.58 AM
Screen Shot 2016-02-08 at 12.14.58 AM
A feverish two weeks of filmmaking yielded excellent results. With "REVERB" winning the top award on Saturday, we qualify to represent Philadelphia at the State conference for the 2nd year in a row. 

Back-to-Back Champs, and the 10th award for a Rough Cut Film in 2015-16!

Here's a link to "REVERB" on the Director's Youtube Channel 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFMuGXiuL0I
 
Congratulations to Soledad Alfaro-Allah, Tamira Bell, Tiarra Bell, Addy Gonzalez, Cacy Thomas, Eamon Kelly, Declan Zisser and Mitchell "Des" Berven-Stotz. I'm so proud of this new crew!

#roughcut4life #roughcutfilmfest2016
Screen Shot 2016-02-08 at 12.15.34 AM
Screen Shot 2016-02-08 at 12.15.34 AM
Tamira Bell qualified in Photography too, and big shout outs to Saamir Baker and Lyle Seitz for some amazing photography. Can't wait to print your work for our exhibition in June during the Rough Cut Film Festival (6/13-6/20) 

#roughcut4life #roughcutfilmfrest2016

Podcast of identity- Noah W.

Posted by Noah Weinberger in English 3 - Block - D on

My podcast is of me interviewing my aunt. I asked her questions according to the guide, but near the end, we shifted focus into some other questions related to the topic that popped into mind. My overall goal for this project was to define what my Aunt’s opinion on identity was and I feel that this procedure went really well. I was actually very worried at first, but concentrating on the task at hand made this assignment less difficult


I feel that my strengths were in the recording portion and my drawbacks were mostly in the editing . I knew the perfect person to find and also knew just when it would be a good time to record. My podcast skills are also rusty as I don’t edit voice memos often. This made the assignment unnerving at first because it was something I have never taken part in. Now I am much more experienced for future assignments.
Noah's podcast (1)