I want to create a non-profit that provides after school programs for kids to create and design video games, while also participating in contests where they can win scholarship money for college.

It seems like a smart idea, to me, but I’m just not sure of how to do it.

This is truth.  I have had this idea, in the back of my mind, that there must be a way to encourage a pro-creation, perhaps less consumerism-y attitudes in kids.  I know of so many people – yes, young people! – who are so driven to be hand-fed their entertainment, every day.  They don’t understand the value in creating, in crafting.  They hyperdigest games and look blankly at the screen when there is nothing left.

I want to offer an alternative.  I want to gear kids towards creating and solving, rather than having disks/cartridges that solve those problems for them.

Ideally, this would be a non-profit.  I would want the money coming in to go towards scholarships that enable kids with passion to create – and do so smartly!  – to go on to higher education with less stress on their parents.

Do I seem like an idealist?  I think this can be done, and can be effective.  Schools seem to be in dire need of more after-school programs around here, and in many other places.

Some bullet points on what I would probably need:

• Smart tools for creating simple games from scratch (think WarioWare DIY and Construct)
• Those who are passionate about teaching, and do it well, to help design curriculum and activities
• Math, art, computer science whizkids to help me make meaningful lessons in design
• I would love to incorporate teaching algorithms into the design curriculum… mmm.
• NON-PROFIT EDUCATION
• FUNDING EDUCATION (these are in CAPS because they are the most intimidating!)

If you have any tips, please pass them my way.

If you’re curious about my adventures, you can still read about them!  It’s strange for me to read this old travel log now, as there are so many things that would have been less surprising if my first trip had been done when I was older.

Enjoy!

http://jen-in-japan.blogspot.com/

I recently read over both my undergraduate AND graduate theses. Yes, both. I did them a day or so apart, and took notes during the entire process.

The writings appear to be worlds apart. My undergraduate work is stuffy; it doesn’t sound like me writing, perhaps more like a professor or two being channeled as I pushed that project out the door. My graduate thesis – although under greater technical restraints – reads as more relaxed, conversational dive into a niche audio programming/designing topic. I’m glad to have a “professional” outlet for my thoughts (this blog!), and to see that my writing style doesn’t pass away with my last thesis.

Anyway, back to the recent thesis, which has raised a few questions about how to proceed in my non-freelance, non-otherpeoplework life:

1. Working with Flash, Java, and Javascript concurrently isn’t wise.  It worked in most browsers for the most part, but it’s begging to break if I’m not babysitting it every time a new major browser is released or something changes with one of the three languages.
2. Flash or Unity?  I’m still torn on which to develop side projects in seriously.  I’m always working in Flash, but after developing two simple games in the medium, I’m not sure that it’s the way to go anymore.
3. JMSL and JSyn have my hands tied.  Moving solely to Flash or Unity makes using either library quite difficult, if not impossible.   Therefore… should I consider translating the aspects I like into a new audio library?  Unlike these existing libraries, I could gear it towards the specific needs of a reactive or interactive soundtrack.
4. If I make a new library, I will also need MIDI supported tools to quickly import composition ideas.  This, to me, is a must for getting what I want working/out the door in a reasonable amount of time.  I’ll be making these tools myself, though, on top of whichever methods I develop.

I suppose these are the big questions I need to pan out for the near future.  I’m feeling better about taking a break from my thesis/kicking myself about the millions of things I didn’t solve with it.  It’s easy to get lost with so many different kinds of technology coming about every day.  Dare I say it… there may be too many imagined possibilities, freezing the average sound designer in an icycle of indecision.