James LaPierre, Author at Filament Games

Bucky on Parade Recap: bucky.exe

May 7, 2018 // James LaPierre

Filament Games | Educational Game Developer

A summerlong public art event hosted by the Madison Area Sports Commission, Bucky on Parade is a citywide exhibition of 85 life-sized Bucky Badger statues designed and created by talented local artists. On display from May 7 – September 12, 2018, you can find where all of the statues are located using this handy interactive map…including our…

Organizing Engaging Events for Young People

May 14, 2018 // Brandon Pittser

I’ve recently had the privilege of participating in a number of game-based learning events for youth in the Madison area, namely through Spring Harbor Middle School and the Madison Urban League’s Spring Break Gaming and Coding Day at the Madison Central Public Library. Both events were aimed primarily at middle schoolers, with the library event inclusive…

5 Excellent Educational Games for the Nintendo Switch

May 21, 2018 // James LaPierre

Alright, we’ll admit it – nearly our whole studio is obsessed with the Switch, the latest and greatest gaming console from Japanese gaming giant Nintendo. And we’re not alone in our love for Nintendo’s hybrid home/portable entertainment machine – devices remain in high demand more than a year after its launch, approaching levels of success…

staffinsights

The Summer Gaming and Reading List: 2018 Edition

May 23, 2018 // James LaPierre

As summertime draws nearer, we thought now would be the perfect time to offer our seasonal gaming and reading recommendations! Compiled by members of our staff, the following list of digital games and literary experiences encompass a diverse variety of genres, stories, and aesthetics – a true hodgepodge of high-quality content. A quick note before…

5 Great Games That Teach Computer Science

May 30, 2018 // James LaPierre

We’ve previously written about some of the many ways you can teach yourself to code for free – but are there game-based learning solutions for those who seek a more playful programming learning experience? Whether you’re future-focused parent wishing to expose your child to the basics of programming or a computer science teacher attempting to level…

Remote Collaboration & Telecommunication – Part 2: Navigating the Network

June 4, 2018 // Ethan Cayko

Looking for part 1 of Ethan’s ‘Remote Collaboration & Telecommunication’ blog series? Check it out here! At Filament, we work with clients near and far so remote collaboration and the use of teleconferencing systems is a daily practice. Our meeting rooms are outfitted with webcams, microphones, and conference telephones. As a producer, part of my responsibility…

Game-Based Learning Applications: CPR Training

June 6, 2018 // James LaPierre

The American Heart Association reports that more than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur each year in the United States, with a mere 12% of afflicted individuals surviving such an event. While survival rates are dramatically increased for those who receive immediate CPR attention from a bystander, the fact remains that less than 1 in 5 American adults…

How to Avoid Getting Sick at Conferences

June 11, 2018 // James LaPierre

With E3 kicking off this week and a slew of exciting EdTech and game-based learning events like ISTE, Games for Change, and Serious Play just around the corner, it’s safe to say that the summer convention season has officially arrived! While attending such trade shows and industry events can be a blast (or tremendously stressful experience,…

Inspiring Educators in Game-Based Learning

June 13, 2018 // Brandon Pittser

As an educational game development studio on a mission to create playful experiences that improve people’s lives, the team at Filament pays a lot of attention to the commercial games space and the trends that are capturing audiences’ imaginations and attention – but that’s just one half of the equation. In equal measure, we keep…

Reimaginings, Indie Heaven and New Realities: A Recap of E3 2018

June 18, 2018 // James LaPierre

Last week, QA Analyst Steven Farrell and I embarked on the journey of our lives – traveling from Wisconsin to California to attend the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo, more commonly known as E3. Industry badges in hand, we stormed the Los Angeles Convention Center each day from sunrise till sunset in an effort to soak…

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