James LaPierre, Author at Filament Games

Professional Production Practices: What They Don’t Teach You in School

August 13, 2018 // Liam Craffey

Filament Games | Educational Game Developer

A couple of months ago, I walked across the stage to commemorate graduating from college. I studied the Management of Creative Media, and have since started working at Filament Games (Filament) as an Associate Producer. Over that time, I’ve realized there are a couple things I wish I knew more about before starting. However, I…

5 Popular Video Games You Never Realized Were Educational

August 15, 2018 // James LaPierre

In the world of game-based learning, there exist a handful of games recognizable by players, teachers, and adults alike- titles like Minecraft: Education Edition, Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?, and The Oregon Trail, to name a few. But as those of us entrenched in the educational games space know, these titles are simply…

Instructional Designers: Level Up Your eLearning Content with Learning Games!

August 20, 2018 // Jennifer Javornik

Instructional designers are experts in the art of making information understandable, consumable, and retainable. They have the very difficult task of handling large volumes of complex information that has to be distilled into slides, visuals, and different kinds of eLearning formats. As the features in self-authoring tools like Adobe Captivate have evolved, many instructional designers can…

Planet Mechanic Classroom Study

August 22, 2018 // James LaPierre

At Filament Games, we don’t simply make learning games – rather, we strive to create memorable game-based learning experiences that result in lasting, real-world impact. Accordingly, we routinely work with real-world educators to conduct classroom studies in an effort to deepen our understanding of the subject matter efficacy of our games. One such study –…

Baby Steps in Game Development: Discovery-Only, Alpha Release, Prototype, or MVP?

August 27, 2018 // Jennifer Javornik

Whether you want to test the market with your new impact game or need something to impress your funders, sometimes you want to make a smaller initial investment in your game before you commit to taking it to Gold. The good news is that you have some options to consider when you want to take…

Breaking Boundaries in Science is Available Now!

August 28, 2018 // James LaPierre

We’re excited to announce the launch of our latest game: Breaking Boundaries in Science. Developed in partnership with Oculus, Breaking Boundaries is an interactive VR celebration of some of history’s most influential women in STEM. Designed and available exclusively for the Oculus Go and Samsung Gear VR, Breaking Boundaries immerses players in the life and times…

Keeping STEM Real in Virtual Reality

August 29, 2018 // Jennifer Javornik

To get more people interested in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), research tells us that there needs to be more diverse STEM role models so that all people can see themselves in STEM professions. Unfortunately, there is a tendency to focus on STEM stereotypes rather than STEM role models, and STEM stereotypes are everywhere. STEM…

What I Want You To Ask Me in Your Educational Video Game RFP

September 5, 2018 // Jennifer Javornik

We get hired by organizations all across the world to make educational video games on their behalf. Some organizations just want to meet us, trade ideas, and get to work. Some organizations want to play or see a ton of our games. Some organizations want to meet our team so they can “look us in the…

The Perfect Platform for Personalized Learning: Video Games

September 10, 2018 // James LaPierre

Marketing Director Brandon Pittser tapped 2018 as a big year for personalized learning in our most recent EdTech predictions article, citing a series of sizable investments from the Facebook-backed philanthropic powerhouse Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. For those unfamiliar with personalized learning, the term refers to the idea that each learner needs a learning experience that is…

Speed Sketch! Bucky Badger’s Four Legged Friends

September 12, 2018 // James LaPierre

What’s black, white, and red all over? While my intentionally misleading riddle may have led you to believe that I’m talking about a newspaper, I am in fact referencing a different beast entirely: Buckingham U. “Bucky” Badger, the official mascot of nearby University of Wisconsin – Madison. As you might recall, our studio recently participated in…

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