A Long Time Coming

It's the final week of the edX class I wrote about: Introduction to Game Design.
I need to round up some of the other students to Beta test Gothic Windows!

And, I think I'm ready. I've made a lot of improvements based on things I learned in the class.
I'll invite the edX gang today, and you're invited, too. Here's the link:
Gothic Windows Beta Test
I'd love to have you try Gothic Windows and I look forward to any critique.
It's OK to be harsh. I want to make Gothic Windows as good as it can be.
Thanks!

Introduction to Game Design

I've enrolled in an edX course from MIT called "Introduction to Game Design".
This may seem odd since I've been designing computer games since 1983 and designed classroom math games for my Taproot (free school) students years before that.
However as my son, Devin, said, "Sounds interesting. Exploration and learning fundamentals is fun! I think that when one is already naturally smart & creative few simple fundamentals can go a long way."
Fun is right! This course is challenging and thrilling. The instructors are smart and friendly and so are lots of the other participants. The assignments are clever and practical.
I've even decided on some changes to Gothic Windows based on game design theory from the course. And this is only week 2!
Speaking of Gothic Windows. I may need a deadline. I'm looking at progvember.com a sort of nanowrimo for programmers.
So you don't believe my first game was published in 1983? Check out this magazine article:

Now Go Make Something Amazing -- Simon Sarris

I'm coding my new project, Gothic Windows, in HTML5. As usual, I'm not using any editor or authoring system or even loading special libraries (so far).
I'm old school.
I plan to thank people and Websites that have helped me directly or indirectly.
Thank you #1 goes to Simon Sarris
Here are some comment lines from his HTML5 canvas shapes code, which was a great tutorial for me on canvas, animation and even object oriented programming.
// By Simon Sarris
// www.simonsarris.com
// sarris@acm.org
// Free to use and distribute at will
// So long as you are nice to people, etc
// Now go make something amazing!
That last line inspired me. And I did make an amazing HTML5 interactive mapping program, with database for a client.  At least I amazed myself.
Next I hope to amaze others.
Simon's JavaScript methods guided my work on Fleximap and now on Gothic Windows.
So, thank you, Simon.
And, thanks for your kind attention.
Marcia

I'd Better Get Started

Since I'm currently working on a project I expect to release soon, I'd better get started on this blog.
I've been putting it off until I had time to "design" the blogger page.
Oh well.
Quote from an email from my son today: "Perfect is the enemy of good."
Absolutely right, Devin.
The project? Gothic Windows. Stay tuned until it's perfect.
Just kidding.
I'll make progress reports here.
Thanks for your kind attention.
Marcia