Weblog of Wesley Fryer

Hadron is a free shareware game similar to Pac Man for Macintosh computers that is simple and fun. One of the best features of Hadron is that it includes a levels editor, so you can create your own version of the game level by level. This provides a fantastic problem solving and video game development opportunity! My 8 year old has really enjoyed creating different levels of the game to play himself, and then having me give them a try. The skill set he is developing in actually authoring his own video game versions is tremendous, especially when compared to what a person learns just playing someone else’s game. And this game is non-violent (if you don’t count exploding bricks which can kill “Hadron,” the hero of the game who you play.) I classify this as non-violent because the character you play is not able to (or rewarded for) killing other characters or destroying anything. I am not categorically opposed to video games that include some violence, but the fact that Hadron does not and is so engaging and creativity encouraging are big plusses from my perspective. I equate creating game levels with Hadron as an activity similar to building new creations with legos. A very worthwhile “play activity” that would likely make Daniel Pink (advocate of “play” as a vital 21st century “sense”) happy.

The same software author also made PhotoPresenter for Mac, which is a very slick slideshow application. The program’s visual effects are AMAZING! The animated slide show options are superb, and you can even export an animated slideshow as a QuickTime movie to share it with others. There are a wide variety of animated slideshow effects, my favorites so far are “Aquarium” and “Bouncing Cubes.” PhotoPresenter is $8 shareware.

PhotoPresenter has an interface tied to your iPhoto library, and presents many more options than the basic iPhoto slideshow setup. What I want to buy (and no one has this on the market as far as I know) is an affordable, large (at least 17″ diagonal) digital picture frame that can wirelessly download images from an online web gallery I specify, and use effects as cool as PhotoPresenter to show them off. And I want a product that does not require a monthly subscription, like Ceiva. I think the best way to do this (at least for now) is to hook up an old computer CPU to the cheapest LCD screen I can find. This on my “future projects” list.

On this day..

• Creating a Customized URL Shortener with YOURLS - 2011
• Stay Connected and Stay Warm with the Media Muff - 2010
• Google OS Could Reduce IT Department Demands - 2010
• Podcast335: Classroom Basics for 1:1 Computing by Shawn Massey and Wynn Draper-Bryant - 2009
• 7 Mac and iPhone Software Apps for which I'm thankful - 2009
• Read Facebook in Pirate English - 2009
• Learning about Xinjiang, Urumqui, and China's Uygur People - 2009
• Mobile Digital Storytelling - 2007
• Ideas for student research and digital stories in 2008: Controversial topics - 2007
• FTC on P2P - 2005