James LaPierre, Author at Filament Games

A Guide to Video Game Events in Wisconsin: 2018 Edition

February 26, 2018 // James LaPierre

Filament Games | Educational Game Developer

As previously detailed on our blog, Wisconsin’s game development scene is thriving. In addition to being home to a growing list of development studios, each year our beautiful state also hosts a number of video game-related events – a wide array of trade shows and meetups designed for developers, gamers, and academics alike. With so…

Exploring the Future of Digital Curriculum with Explorabl.es

February 28, 2018 // Brandon Pittser

Remember Arne Duncan? I do. He was the Education Secretary under the Obama administration, and in 2012 he (somewhat controversially) declared that “Over the next few years, textbooks should be obsolete.” From our 2018 vantage point, this statement seems a little silly. Textbooks are still relevant to today’s schools, but I can sympathize with the…

Playful Philanthropy: Extra Life & Other Charitable Gaming Events

March 5, 2018 // James LaPierre

Many games task players with becoming a hero and saving a fantasy world – but can playing video games actually make a difference in the real world? Many would argue yes, in part due to the recent emergence of popular gaming-related fundraising events and charities. From all-day gaming marathons to charity-focused online storefronts, there’s no…

Video Game Side Effects

March 7, 2018 // James LaPierre

A 2015 report from the Entertainment Software Association states that more than 150 million Americans have been affected by video games, with 4 in 5 households receiving regular exposure. As this global epidemic continues to spread, one question remains at the forefront of everyone’s minds – what are the true side effects of repeated exposure…

How AI Supports Teachers

March 12, 2018 // James LaPierre

Citing Pearson’s 2016 report Intelligence Unleashed: An Argument for AI in Education, our blog recently highlighted a few ways in which artificial intelligence tools can greatly enhance collaborative learning. Today, we’re here to discuss another application of artificial intelligence in education: how AI supports teachers. According to a 2015 report from the Center for American…

Community Outreach & Collaboration: Spring Edition

March 14, 2018 // James LaPierre

Here at Filament Games, we’re extremely proud of our Wisconsin roots – meaning we’re constantly looking for new ways to volunteer, engage with, and give back to our local community. But here’s the thing about engaging with your local community: it often requires that you get out of the office! So as the weather warms up…

Research Roundup: Game-Based Language Learning

March 19, 2018 // James LaPierre

Language immersion programs, Rosetta Stone, face-to-face classroom instruction, and more – all tried and true methods of acquiring the skills necessary to speak a new language. But what happens when game-based learning enters the fray? A number of recent studies have attempted to determine the efficacy of digital game-based language learning programs, providing evidence that…

Speed Sketch! Plants

March 21, 2018 // Roma Jenson

When developing custom learning games for clients, artists like myself are sometimes given the direction to make art that “looks like all the other Filament games.” While some of our past games share similar styles and visual characteristics, the truth is there is no one “Filament style” that is common across all our previous games…

Resource Roundup: How to Get Hired at a Game Studio

March 26, 2018 // James LaPierre

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) reports that the US video game industry generated $36 billion in revenue in 2017, a growth of 18% from the prior year. With 2,000+ video game developers and publishers directly employing over 65,000 individuals across all 50 U.S. states (seriously, find out who’s near you using this handy interactive map),…

Blockchain, Self-Care, and Low Poly Animals: Highlights from GDC 2018

March 28, 2018 // Sarah Spiers

If you were in San Francisco, California last week, you may have noticed an extra 30,000+ people wandering around the downtown area (myself included). These folks were most likely there to attend the annual Game Developers Conference (GDC), a revered professional game industry event for developers, publishers, and academics alike. A little more context for…

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