Blogging Exploration: Kongregate

The website I have decided to choose for my blog exploration is the free flash game site, Kongregate which allows users to upload user-created Adobe Flash or Unity3D games completely for free. It is a site that I have been visiting for years and have played many extraordinary (as well ordinary and even boring/annoying/crappy) games.

Kongregate has a system of points, in which prizes are awarded for performing certain on-site actions. There are several ways to gain points on Kongregate, such as rating games, rating artwork, rating user-created levels, earning achievements, creating games, completing quests, and completing challenges. The site has stated plans to make points redeemable for certain prizes, but the feature is not yet available.

As part of Kongregate's points system, there is a badge system similar to that found on Microsoft's Xbox Live gaming hub. Registered users have the opportunity to win badges upon reaching particular requirements (called achievements), for example killing a designated number of enemies, reaching a certain level, or building a certain number of turrets in certain games. For each badge, a user is awarded a specific amount of points based on the difficulty of the achievement. The "Easy" badges are worth 5 points, the "Medium" badges are worth 15 points, the "Hard" badges are worth 30 points and the "Impossible" badges are worth 60 points.

Kongregate also hosts a large community of independent games developers. There is a coding forum for people to ask and answer questions. It also includes information on how people can get started in flash game developing. There regularly are small contests for developers to participate in. The winner is awarded "kreds", Kongregate's virtual money used for purchasing in-game items and tipping developers. There also is a collaboration forum to encourage teamwork among developers. In July of 2010 Kongregate was (unfortunately) sold to the video game retail company Gamestop.

Studio Exploration- Red Interactive Agency

THE FORCE IS STRONG WITH THIS ONE....

I decided to choose Red interactive Agency based on the animation and interactive abilities it allowed the users to experience. The way the site loads is smooth it allows the user to maneuver around the cemetery with User84144, which is a 2D animated character that guides you to other characters that you can communicate with . The other users are the ghosted images in the background. As you walk through the cemetery others users pop up and a box appears above their head asking if you would like to chat with them ,so in some ways it also acts as a Social network .You can use your keyboards directional keys to guide him along the way or you can use the mouse. Headlines are also used for upcoming events and latex news, they are located above your character. To the right you also have additional news as well . The further you go throughout the cemetery it seem as though you are walking along with him as the page moves with the user in a linear direction , which you can go forward or backward (possibly more). This site is built with Flash and javascript which is real nice because they have a very similar languages and fun to work with . I also liked another company named 2advance studios and the use of cutting edge 3d animation . With todays computer technology and interactive media growing at a amazing rate the users mind in desiring more and more believable 3d environments and 2advance has a very awesome portfolio to show prospective clients. As i viewed their portfolio i had seen some really awesome 3D renderings using Utilizing advanced software applications such as 3D Studio Max, Cinema 4D, and Maya. I loved the cities,to spaceships a lot of which can go into a video games or any other 3D environment application .