Filament Games Blog

Community Outreach & Collaboration: Spring Edition

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…

March 14, 2018 // James LaPierre

Filament Games | Educational Game Developer

How AI Supports Teachers

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…

March 12, 2018 // James LaPierre

Video Game Side Effects

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…

March 7, 2018 // James LaPierre

Playful Philanthropy: Extra Life & Other Charitable Gaming Events

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…

March 5, 2018 // James LaPierre

Exploring the Future of Digital Curriculum with Explorabl.es

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…

February 28, 2018 // Brandon Pittser

A Guide to Video Game Events in Wisconsin: 2018 Edition

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…

February 26, 2018 // James LaPierre

How AI Enhances Collaborative Learning

Artificial intelligence is poised to radically change education, according to Pearson’s 2016 report Intelligence Unleashed: An Argument for AI in Education. Though the report lists numerous ways in which recent advancements in educational AI programs are improving learning efficiency and outcomes, a section I found to be particularly thought-provoking highlights a few ways that artificial…

February 21, 2018 // James LaPierre

Speed Sketch! Character Redesign Challenge

Art RPGs can create some weird critters. The below creature is called an ‘Esk,’ created by artist Witherlings over at DeviantArt. Their relatively new ARPG “Those Who Went Missing” has skyrocketed in popularity, garnering over 1,000 new members in a mere nine months. Esk are furry creatures with four legs, long flowing tails, and a distinct…

February 19, 2018 // Natasha Soglin

Creating a Culture of Play: A Creative Approach to Company Events

At a recent Culture Community event, brand master D.P. Knudten made the case for companies defining and living their values. He used the example of R.E.I. who has made multiple policy decisions over the years to encourage their employees to live for adventure and spend more time outdoors. As a result of this effort to create…

February 14, 2018 // Jennifer Javornik

Learning from 2017’s Best Commercial Video Games

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds A Hunger Games-esque battle royale survival game, online shooter PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds tasks players with a single objective: stay alive until you’re the last player standing. Each match begins with 100 players dropping out of an airplane onto a giant landmass packed with towns, farmlands, mountains, and forests – immediately thereafter, players begin fending…

February 12, 2018 // Brandon Pittser, James LaPierre, Nell Farrell

A Look Back at our 2023 Releases

What We Mean When We Say AI: Understanding Types of AI

Resource Roundup: 2023 at Filament Games