{"id":909,"date":"2017-07-24T17:15:48","date_gmt":"2017-07-24T21:15:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/skins.abtec.org\/skins5.0\/?p=909"},"modified":"2017-08-02T01:44:52","modified_gmt":"2017-08-02T05:44:52","slug":"today-was-an-exciting-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/skins.abtec.org\/skins5.0\/today-was-an-exciting-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Day 1: Today Was An Exciting Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

Day One: Introduction<\/p>\n

\"\"
Skawennati and Jason introduce the workshop.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Participants arrived to a fully functional lab and classroom space that is filled with state-of-the-art hardware fully loaded with the freeware that will be utilized throughout the workshop.<\/p>\n

Introductions to the workshop instructors, mentors, and presenters began our morning. Next, Jason and Skawennati, co-directors of AbTeC and the Skins workshops, shared their art and research practices.<\/p>\n

Jason told us the\u00a0origin story\u00a0of how he became an artist, professor and research director,\u00a0showing us images and clips of his artwork, too. Skawennati, an artist who\u00a0addresses history, the future, and change, particularly as they relate to\u00a0Aboriginal cultures, talked about some of the experiences that influenced her along the way, including Barbie and video games. She showed clips from her machinima projects, TimeTraveller\u2122<\/a> and She Falls For Ages. She then moved on to the first actual lesson, Storytelling 01, featuring a video called Seeing Red by Elizabeth LaPens\u00e9e (formerly Beth Aileen Lameman), about Native representations in media and video games. A discussion of stereotypes ensued, in which\u00a0the participants explained some of the particulars of being from a community whose\u00a0culture has been coopted for tourism as well as entertainment.<\/p>\n

\"\"
TimeTraveller\u2122 welcome page<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pippin Bar is an assistant professor in the\u00a0Department of Design and Computation Arts<\/a>\u00a0at\u00a0Concordia University<\/a>\u00a0in Montr\u00e9al where he currently\u00a0teaches\u00a0an introduction to creative programming, a game design studio, and an internet\/web-based art studio. He opened his presentation telling the participants all about his work creating games, game design, experience design, prototyping, and criticism. Pippin introduced the key elements in games as well as genres that are popular in today\u2019s gaming world. He also explained the Skins philosophy\u00a0to use free software as much as possible so that participants can access it\u00a0at home.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Pippin shows us his game art.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Prototyping session<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"
Noe, Gonzo, Bryan, and Lilikal\u0101 display their beaded IIF bracelets, a gift to our hosts.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Participant-Mentor\u00a0Noelani Arista, discussed Hawaiian culture, sharing that mo\u2019olelo is a collection of stories, songs, chants about Hawaiian culture. \u00a0Discussion about the good, the bad and the misrepresentation of Hawaiian culture that exists in media is certainly inspiring participants to work together to get fuller stories with awesome ideas to tell their own mo\u2019olelo.<\/p>\n

Simon-Albert Boudreault said that stories\/feelings should be expressed in new media, especially games. Without an emotional connection, game play is not\u00a0stimulating. Without excitement and anticipation, the game may not capture the player\u2019s interest for long term playability.<\/p>\n

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Simon-Albert in our upstairs presentation area.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Nancy Townsend\u2019s love of games started before courses were an option outside of expensive private schools. She travelled and tried everything digital media, succeeding as a producer because of her artistic past. Nancy helped lay a game foundation which led to the Cree Syllabics Virtual Reality project. She joked that\u00a0as a jack-of-all-trades she\u00a0is not an expert, however, her\u00a0understanding of the tech and its limitations and abilities is critical to the success of many complex projects, like a video game. \u00a0Nancy can fill in gaps, and makes sure the project is completed.<\/p>\n

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Nate, Ioane et al listen intently.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Nancy helped participants look at the \u201chouse keeping\u201d for the workshop: logging into computer, accounts, Google Drive & chat, Game FSO, the blog (to access lesson plans, check the schedle, past games and more).<\/p>\n

What a busy day! Please bring your inspiration: drawings, Photoshop, downloaded images, mo\u2019olelo, song, chant, or video\u00a0to the table for\u00a0tomorrow\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0decision making. Mahalo nui.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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