Day 14- Where do we go from here?

Aloha,

The Skins Video Game Workshop certainly is not just about creating a game. What skills have been developed?

It is building a network with other individuals who are like minded and who are also building great teamwork capacities. When creating games, you sharpen your critical thinking and multi-tasking skills. When you are involved in developing such a large project you must take charge of what needs to be completed- even if it was not what you signed up for. Sometimes you have to get out of your comfort zone, to expand and explore, to try new things; to be innovative and learn new things.

Everything needs to run smoothly and communication is one key area that is used in every business and in every walk in life.

Using technology to coordinate all of the groups, works paces, files, and of course sending messages for quick responses heavily liberated the work space.  Building a video game certainly helps to test and improve your communication and leadership skills. Working with other teams has its rewards; two advantages are to develop better working relationships and to get all tasks completed in a timely manner.

Working and observing the participants, I have witnessed their love of a rich language and culture, beautiful hearts and hospitality. All of the Hawaiians I have had the privilege of being with during the Skins Video Game Workshop are extremely intelligent with creative minds. I believe that the kānaka maoli (Hawaiians) have a very important resource that is singularly their own. This valuable resource is their minds, their nature, their creativity, their Aloha ʻĀina. I can imagine all of the original and/ or historical reproductions that could incorporate readings from older Mo’olelo and historic documentation. Software learned have many purposes and should confidently be explored with ideas that are future dreams. Like the taro patch, this resource needs to be nurtured to enable it to unleash its creativity for its own gain.

In theater and film industries, storyboard creation is now being done using Blender software not only because of 3-D modeling and 360 views but also because lighting can be introduced and moderated. Of course there is also Photoshop which can be used not only for manipulation of photography and painting, but can be used for product placement, packaging and visualizations, marketing, and advertising, graphic design, web design and to create any print media and promotional docs.

In an earlier post I mentioned the software used for the Skins Video Game Workshop: Adobe Photoshop, Plastic Gluon, Unity, Blender 3Dsoftware, Reaper 64, Slack, Chrome, and Google Docs. What can you do with these new skills?

I could imagine using the features in Unity to create interactive Hawaiian based educational landscapes filled with cultural materials. If a large enough library of assets is created, I believe the possibilities to create interactive learning landscapes is unlimited.

Unity can be used in the design industry, architectural rendering and landscape design for simulated walk through, and instructional interactive demonstrations, training simulations.  In the Unity Answers webpage (https://answers.unity.com/questions/), Unity claims it can be used for non-game apps using their core features.

Of course there is also Photoshop, which can be used not only for manipulation of photography and painting, but can be used for product placement, packaging and visualizations, marketing, and advertising, graphic design, web design and to create any print media.

In any venture participants decide to explore using their new skills, I am confident that they will thrive. Happy explorations and many blessings on the amazing journey  in front of you.

Mahalo Nui