The Expert Consultants of 2008

The Expert Consultants who participated in the 2008 Expert sessions culminated their year-long efforts in game design with custom exergames during the Expert Summer Session 2008 in the New Mexico State University Learning Games Lab. During their previous session, the Experts were introduced to Scratch, a program created by researchers at MIT, and learned the basics of programming. With NMSU game developers, Experts began the summer session with a brainstorming day, inventing possible games that encourage physical activity. Through game development, Experts engaged in additional fundamental practices of game development and programming, including concept development, group work, character animation and design, sound recording, product testing and analysis and project management. Experts were divided into two groups, developing games for a game bike and a dance pad. The PC Exerbike team, including Tre Diaz, Sierra Landrum and Dante Laroche, created the game, Get Off My Lawn. The dance pad design team - David Martinez, Kyleigh Pearson and Alexandria Soto, created the rapid prototype of Donkey Kong. In Get Off My Lawn gamers mow lawns as quickly as possible while avoiding obstacles such as toys, trees and fences. In Donkey Kong, gamers avoid barrels, which can kill the main character Luario (a new character created by the group combining Mario and Luigi), and climb vines to the Donkey. The Experts worked closely with game developers on their game programming, animations and sounds. Throughout the session, the experts reviewed and discussed their experiences using the online educational forum, Moodle. In Moodle, users respond to queries from developers and fellow games lab consultants online, in and outside lab sessions. Experts are encouraged to continue participating in Moodle forums during the summer.