NRCC News

Second iPhone game created by NRCC I.T. Students

Jul 21 2010

This is an archived article!

This article was published on Jul 21 2010 and was archived on Jul 22 2011. The information below may be outdated or inaccurate.

A team of NRCC information technology ( I. T.) students has created a new educational game, "Same Meaning Magic," which became available from the Apple iPhone/iPad app store on July 18. This game is the second in the Luna and Leo magic series of games. The first was "Same Sound Spell Bound" which was released on June 10.

The game can be downloaded for free to an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad by going to: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/same-meaning-magic/id381708642?mt=8# . The Same Meaning Magic games helps engage children in learning synonyms. The targeted age levels are for grades second through sixth. The game incorporates words and sentence structure to the particular grade level, based upon excerpts from grade-appropriate reading materials.

The basic idea of the game is to use touch-and-drag mechanics where the student drags the corresponding word to the bucket in the wishing well. If the word is correct, money is added to the loot bag. If the student gets five items correct in a row, a fairy appears and adds more items to the loot bag. If the student gets three items wrong in a row the screen shakes simulating an earthquake. If the student gets five items wrong in a row, then an imp appears and knocks on the screen with "Are you paying attention?"

All the images, sound effects, animations and programming were created entirely by the team of NRCC students: Cody Beasley, artist; Jason Clemons, game content specialist; Adrian Lowry, game programmer; Justin Price, user-interface programmer, Carmel Stowers, production specialist and Heather Walters, artist.

"We have a great team of very creative, talented students on this project," says Carlotta Eaton, professor of information technology at NRCC and head of game technology programs.

The Virginia Standards of Learning targeted are: 2.6d) The student will use language structure to expand vocabulary when reading using antonyms and synonyms. 2. 4.3 The student will read fiction and non-fiction with fluency and accuracy. Use knowledge of word origins, synonyms, antonyms, and homonyms and multiple meanings of words.

The work for this game was funded by an EETT Grant (Enhancing Education Through Technology) from the Virginia Department of Education working in collaboration with Dr. Matt Dunleavy and RU Games Lab team at Radford University, Radford City Schools and Pulaski County Schools. Other members of the NRCC team are instructors Carlotta Eaton, Tim Moore, Ginger Cromer and Mike Kaylor.

More game details are available at www.nr.edu/it and information about classes offered at NRCC in game design and development, or from Carlotta Eaton at ceaton@nr.edu or (540) 674-3600, ext. 4250.