Dundee Event - HND Computer Games Consultation

Unfortunately we have had to cancel the above event in Dundee on the 8th June 2009 due to insufficient numbers. This is the first time we have had to cancel an event but we strongly felt that there was limited representation from the field to consult with at this point in time. An e-mail to those who had registered for the Dundee Event was sent this morning giving alternative options.

The good news is that the Glasgow event on Thursday 4th June is going ahead so please, if you have not had time to register now is the time to do so by clicking on the URL below:

http://www.rsvpbook.com/event.php?442274

HND Computer Games Consultation Events

Just a reminder that we have two Consultation Events coming up for the development of the new HND Computer Games award. The aim of the day is for the Qualification Design Team (QDT) to give an update on where we are at with the development, possible structure themes, survey findings and the opportunity for feedback from those in attendance.

The first event will take place on Thursday 4th June at 1330 hours in the Crowne Plaza, Congress Road, Glasgow - If you would like to register for this event, please click on the URL below:

http://www.rsvpbook.com/event.php?442274

The second event will take place on Monday 8th June at 1030 hours in the Queens Hotel, 160 Nethergate, Dundee - Again, if you would like to come along, please click on the URL below:

http://www.rsvpbook.com/event.php?467379

Look forward to seeing you then.

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New Edition of Develop Magazine

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Develop mag - the magazine for European games developers - is now available for free download at the developmag.com website. Just go to developmag.com/print-edition to download it. You'll need to register if you haven't already but it's worth it.

HND Computer Games - Consultation Events

We have two Consultation Events coming up for the development of the new HND Computer Games award. The aim of the day is for the Qualification Design Team (QDT) to give an update on where we are at with the development, possible structure themes, survey findings and the opportunity for feedback from those in attendance.

The first event will take place on Thursday 4th June at 1330 hours in the Crowne Plaze, Congress Road, Glasgow - If you would like to register for this event, please click on the URL below:

http://www.rsvpbook.com/event.php?442274

The second event will take place on Monday 8th June at 1030 hours in the Queens Hotel, 160 Nethergate, Dundee - Again, if you would like to come along, please click on the URL below:

http://www.rsvpbook.com/event.php?467379

Look forward to seeing you then.

Second Life + Moodle = Sloodle!

Image by VRider goes Web3D via Flickr

Mari Cruz García who is a Learning Technologist at Carnegie College has created a course explaining how to use virtual worlds in education. She says:

The course I have created is very humble, but I thought that it could be useful for beginners as it illustrates what you can do in Sloodle with very limited budget. The course includes free Linden scripts and objects, as well as a backup copy of the Moodle course. The only object which I couldn't display is the Presenter, until the IT Department can review the firewall settings that are currently blocking it.

I say: she's being modest and you should check this out at:

http://carnegiecollege.ninehub.com/course/view.php?id=7 (self-registration)
Password: tortilla.

The course is also available via SMUG (the Scottish Moodle User Group) at:

http://s-mug.org.uk/testbed/

Access in Second Life is at:

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Sloodle/14/229/22 and click on the "Registration both" object.

Thanks Mari.

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Development Giants Join Dare to be Digital

Image by Chu's your weapon via Flickr

Some of the biggest names in the industry will be assessing and mentoring students throughout the game development competition.

The biggest names in gaming are getting involved in this year’s Dare to be Digital game development competition.

Full details here:

Development giants join Dare to be Digital | Game Development | News by Develop

HND Games - Give us Your Opinion

The Scottish Qualifications Authority are currently working on creating a new qualification - HND Games Development. As part of the process it is important that we get as many views as possible on what is required. To do that we would appreciate it if you could complete the following survey:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=60ncuuOlp73guIcbtAIOrA_3d_3d

It's very short with less than a dozen questions and will take less than three minutes of your time but will be invaluable in structuring this award.

The survey will close at 5pm on the 5th of May so please don't hesitate to follow the link and complete the survey.

Click Here to take survey

Thanks in advance.

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Games in Schools

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LinkedIn: Discussion: Game Based Learning

Brand new research results and live web cast next week from Games in Schools project!

Two new reports will be released on 5 May, unveiling exciting examples and evidence of teachers' use of games across the EU. The same day, the final conference is taking place in the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, and a live webcast will be in place so you can follow the proceedings, and even ask questions via the social platform NING.

For more info, visit: http://games.eun.org

Free iPhone Programming Course

Image via CrunchBase

ne of the undoubted successes in the application and game development world has been iPhone/iPod Touch development. The recent announcement of the one billionth download from Apple's App Store is testament to that fact.

For those just getting started, or wishing to include iPhone development as part of their course Stanford University has released an iPhone Application Programming course. Comprising a set of PDFs with accompanying lectures available on iTunes the course covers everything from the basics of getting started with Cocoa to publishing on the App Store.

Definitely worth a look.

CS193P - Cocoa Programming | Announcements

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Play SEGA Online

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SEGA have launched an online game playing site with lots of free games available.

Is this a way to monetise relatively old intellectual property and give it a new lease of life?

I hope that whoever invented Sonic the Hedgehog is on a royalty and not a flat fee.

PlaySEGA

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Do News and Gaming Mix?

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Academics at Georgia Tech believe they do and are actively exploring ways of using games and simulations to explore the way the world works.

As they say:

Periodically, we will use games and simulations to analyze, debate, comment and editorialize major international news.

What do you think? Is it even possible?

newsgaming.com

Meeting of QDT

Image by rustybrick via Flickr

The QDT met this morning, 27/1/9, for the second time since the project commenced. There are representatives from several colleges including Ayr College, James Watt, Dundee, Telford, West Lothian, Jewel & Esk and Stow colleges.

We spent most of the meeting going over the project plan. We particularly focussed on the brief for the development (i.e. exactly that it is we are trying to achieve) and the communication strategy (how we intend to keep you up-to-date with what’s going on).

Re. the brief, we agreed that this project would include a review of the HNC award (the existing HNC Computer Games Development) so expect this qualification to change too. Another interesting aspect of the brief is our intention to take an innovative approach to assessment including an element of peer assessment.

This blog will be a key part of our communication strategy and we hope this it will become the main way for people to keep abreast of what’s going on… so please bookmark and visit regularly or add it to your feed reader. (Try Bloglines or Google Reader.).

Contact Caroline if you want to know more about Qualification Development Teams.

It would be interesting to know if you are thinking about offering this award when it’s available so I’d appreciate if you would take a few seconds to answer the poll.

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Welcome to the Development Blog

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This is the blog for the development of a new HND qualification, entitled Computer Games Development. It will record the various stages in the production of this new award. So this blog should be useful to anyone who may be interested in offering this qualification (when it’s available) and wants to keep up-to-date with how it is coming along.

There is already an HNC award in this area (HNC Computer Games Development) and this development will build on that qualification.

I’m hoping that most of the Qualification Development Team (QDT) contributes to it at various stages in the project, and I also hope that readers will provide feedback via the comment facility. Here’s hoping it’s a success.

If you want to talk to someone about this project, call Caroline on 0845-213-5476.

NB This is the new version of the blog that was previously located at http://hndcomputergames.wordpress.com/. Sadly Wordpress has been putting too many obstacles in the way of updating the blog.

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