Stephen Calender Programming Blog


Filament Games Project: Scholastic W.O.R.D.

Tags: Filament Games, HTML5, Project, Typescript, Unity.

Scholastic W.O.R.D. is a reading and vocabulary program for early learners in K-5. W.O.R.D. is grounded in the research of Dr. Elfrieda Hiebert, who discovered and cataloged the 2,500 high-utility word families that make up 90% of all texts. Through games and written passages, students independently progress within a game-based, guided program in which they receive repeated exposure to those high-utility words and their meanings in multiple contexts. The content in W.O.R.D. is organized by grade level and thematic modules with associated word lists. Each module begins with a placement test to personalize the path of each student. This ensures that students are introduced to the same vocabulary, but at the appropriate text level, creating a zone of proximal development for learning. Additionally, students have the opportunity to play card games as part of their learning experience. This creates a zone of proximal development for learning.
Full Article

Comments (0)

Filament Games Project: Win The White House

Tags: Android App, C#, Filament Games, HTML5, iOS App, Project, Unity.

In Win the White House, players manage an end-to-end campaign for the U.S. presidency. Players create a customized gameplay experience by selecting their candidates’ appearance, home state, party, slogan, and platform issues. Using recruitment strategies, fund-raising, and media messaging campaigns, players develop their communication skills as they learn about electoral votes and campaign strategy. New improvements to the title include iOS and Android tablet support, updated visual assets, and a suite of new character avatar customization options.
Full Article

Comments (0)

Filament Games Project: Superkids

Tags: Filament Games, HTML5, Javascript, Project, Unity.

The Superkids Reading program is a core literacy curriculum for kindergarten through second grade that teaches all aspects of reading, and is seamlessly integrated with the language arts. Built on scientific research and proven pedagogy, it combines rigorous instruction with highly motivating curricula. Filament Games developed the online game-based learning component of the Superkids Reading program, Superkids Online Fun!, which includes books and magazines that are read aloud to players, as well as a variety of spelling, phonetics, and vocabulary games to reinforce ELA learning outcomes.
Full Article

Comments (0)

Filament Games Project: TVO mPower

Tags: Filament Games, HTML5, Project, Students, Typescript.

mPower is designed to teach fundamental K-6 math skills while learning about Ontario’s communities and environment. This experience combines both learning and practice with adaptive difficulty and just in time scaffolding that adapts to individual students’ needs. Activities present real world challenges giving students a new perspective and motivation for math skills.
Full Article

Comments (0)

Filament Games Project: McGraw-Hill Pinball Energy Challenge

Tags: Filament Games, HTML5, Project, Students, Typescript.

Pinball Energy Challenge teaches about the transfer of energy through unique pinball-style gameplay. Just-in-time feedback lets the player know when energy transformations have taken place, like when a turbine converts the energy of motion into electrical energy. Players navigate tricky obstacles, discover 19 different energy reacting objects, and learn all about energy transformations while solving mind-bending physics energy puzzles.
Full Article

Comments (0)

Filament Games Project: Interactive Books

Tags: Filament Games, HTML5, Project, Students, Typescript.

Dinosaur Skeleton

In 2014 when I started working at Filament Games they had a long history of Flash development and were starting to create games in Unity. At the time Unity still needed a plugin and was delayed deploying it for a year (ultimately browsers refused to allow a plugin and web support was delayed even further). Also we still needed to support IE9.
Full Article

Comments (0)

HTML5 and WebGL

Tags: Filament Games, HTML5, Opinion.

WebGL, like HTML5, is an agreed upon standard that browser software will support. It is based on OpenGL, which is the most widely adopted graphics standard in computing. This means that instead of relying on plug-ins, modern browsers can support rich content and advanced features without installing additional software. Specifically, WebGL allows for hardware accelerated graphics in an HTML5 canvas. Full Article

Comments (0)

Creating Games In HTML5

Tags: Filament Games, HTML5, Opinion.

I have worked with HTML5 for about a year now; it is an interesting platform that cobbles together several bits of technology. It is a capable tool to build games, but not as compelling as other options that can publish to web and native devices (Unity, Flash + Air). In my opinion, HTML5’s advantage is reaching all devices. However, running on all devices (supporting all browser versions and hardware) is also going to be its short coming. Until all versions of Internet Explorer are phased out in favor of Edge (Internet Explorer has been lagging behind other modern browsers) and we can usher in a new generation of tablet devices (the iPad2 and iPad mini, along with cheaper android devices are lacking in performance and a large segment of the tablet market share), HTML5 is not a cost efficient option for game development.

I expound on these thoughts and HTML5 development in my recent Filament Games article:

Getting the Most out of HTML5.
Full Article

Comments (0)

Flash versus HTML5

Tags: HTML5, Opinion.

The biggest event to happen to internet and mobile in a long time is the ongoing development of HTML5. Currently there is partial support but the new standard’s definition still isn’t finalized. I have no doubt that it will be a large advance for the web developers; my particular challenge was determining if HTML5 was going to outclass Flash for game development. Full Article

Comments (0)