Eduforge: Flash Based RPG Game Engine

Though not having blogged again for a while I have however been busy coding a new variant of RPG Storyteller for the Medical Dept of Auckland University, specifically for delivering medical case studies to under-graduate students. Though a big sideways step visually from the original this engine uses a large number of the original code blocks, being based on a similar concept of having an authorable xml document for the case study creation.

Menu and navigation button driven it supplies screens of text, images and movie clips. Popup assets such as documents, movies and audio can also be added to each screen. The menu display is configurable enabling the author to display all available content or demand a linear progression through the content by disabling unvisited areas of the case study. In an educational context investigation of student learning is also enabled through the use of questions (answer input, labeled movieClips, true/false, multichoice and multi-multichoice) with submitted answers saved off to an external database. Students can also save a current version of their progression through the case study to the local computer.

A capture of the test case study screen is shown below.

Regards
Aaron

I am astounded at how long it has been since I have blogged, or indeed done anything, on this project site.  I still check the downloads periodically and am very pleased to still see a regular number happening each week but other projects, mainly my work inside the MUVE Second Life, have unfortunately left me little time to do any further work on RPG Storyteller.

I was pleased though when attending MoodleMootNZ07 a few weeks back (where I presented on Sloodle, a mashup of the LMS Moodle and Second Life), to see that the variant I created for the Open Educational Resources repository has now been populated with content and an example can viewed online.  The following link should open the example but if not try going in through the OER link, Construction Planning (at the bottom of that page), then look for 3. Making decisions - Simulation exercise.

Construction Planning : Simulation exercise

Nice to see an actual example of the Storyteller (albiet a variant) being used in an educational setting.

Enjoy
Aaron

The Beta version of RPG Storyteller will be removed from the project site this coming weekend.  All new users should now be using the Stable version.

Regards

Aaron

Though not working much on RPG Storyteller at the moment I have been thinking about future development.  The variant commission got me a lot more focused on deciding on the next programming objective which will encompass various forms of reporting.  Things such as replaying game paths, game printouts and possible file exports will be looked at.

I would be interested to hear from those using the RPG Storyteller system or one of its variants as to what forms of reporting they would like and in what format the reports should be generated.

Regards

Aaron

The variant of RPG Storyteller that I mentioned in my last blog entry is now complete and being used by the subject matter experts to build their learning objects.  Functionality is quite different to the original Storyteller though it works well for this specific content, that being building and construction, and should have functionality in other subject areas as well.

This variant delivers screen by screen sets of choices to made in the construction of a building.  Time and cost of construction and future maintenance are tracked depending on which choices are made by the student.  A final results screen compares the student's choices to optimal choices and the student can print off their final results.  A side menu allows students to revisit any of the choices they have made and change them if they desire.  Choice dependancies are also enabled, i.e. if a particular construction choice is selected for part of the building that causes a dependancy in another future choice, that will be flagged for the student when the dependancy is encountered.  Tips for each choice set are also enabled.  A slight difference in terms of screen layout allows for the author to choice from 3 different options.

Am going to do a little more work on the .fla in terms of commenting before releasing it on this site (see last entry).  As soon as the actual learning objects are available I'll point a link towards them as well.

Regards
Aaron

Its been quite a while since I did any work on RPG Storyteller, having been very involved over the Christmas and New Year periods with my other Eduforge project.  However just recently I was approached regarding a commission for an adapted version of the rpg engine for use in a construction training learning object for the OER Repository.  A very cut down version with limited functionality compared to the full-blown engine but quite functional nevertheless.  As part of the commissioned price the RPG Storyteller Variant itself will be produced under a GNU-GPL license and the source code made available on this site.  Keep an eye out for it come mid-March.

As for further work on the main engine, this will again be taking second place to paid work over the next few months as I try and get the means together to upgrade my home computer to the specs required for working in the current environment with the current applications.  My wizzie (when it was new) computer, now 5 years old, is having a hard time keeping up with what I require from it these days and needs a serious and expensive refit.  So apologies to those hanging out for the web version of the rpg; its a while off.  You may find however that the variant I'm producing, which will be available here in .fla format, may fit your needs in the interim.

Regards

Aaron

Heading off for the Christmas break tomorrow so I'd just like to take this opportunity to wish all the supporters of this project a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Unfortunately with the end of year rush I still haven't had time to complete the step by step tutorial but may work on that a little over the holidays and hope to have it up on the site early in the new Year.  I'll be checking in occassionally over the break to administer the site so if you have queries, etc. over that period don't hestitate to post them.

Regards

Aaron

The first stable/production release of RPG Storyteller has been uploaded to the Files area of the project site.  Version 1.00.0 has minor upgrades from the last Beta version as follows:

** Feature Enhancements:
Created errorMessage.xml to allow complete translations of all system text into other languages (including author and user error messages).
Possession buttons' text moved from language.xml to <textOptions> element in story xml document to allow individual story text for buttons.
Created global variable to enable the use of rpgWidgets.

** Bug Fixes and System Improvements:
Fixed error where possession's description text not html enabled.

Finally I have found a wee window of time (the late night sort) to finish off the stable/production version of RPG Storyteller.  Sorry that it has taken so long folks but work (the paid kind) has taken off with a hiss and a roar lately and there has been little time for extra curricula activities.  I am just making the final changes to the documentation and intend to have the new version uploaded by Friday 24.

The big change in this version is the inclusion of an extra xml document for complete translation purposes.  Up till now only general interface items have been authorable but now the authoring and player error messages can undergo translation as well.  Added to this are a few bug fixes and the repositioning of possession buttons' text into the story xml document.

Still haven't found the time to complete the step-by-step tutorial but am hopeful that it will be up before Christmas.

Regards
Aaron

Developing online content can at times be feast or famine and currently new markets are showing great interest in Software Educational Resources' online courseware (the company I have a position in).  However this current moment of feast means little time spent here.  Currently re-configuring our content to be delivered through two different LMS and in a fortnight or so thank you... *smiles*.

More apologies of course to those who hopefully wander in to find little has changed for RPG Storyteller.  Stable version is basically done and dusted but I will have to do a little further testing and make some decisions about a fuller language document before releasing, then there's the update to the documentation and the tutorial to finish.

And no time right now!!! *sigh*

Soon folks I hope.

Regards
Aaron

Just a wee apology for the current inactivity on the stable release and the tutorial for RPG Storyteller.  Have been totally swamped at work with some major contracts on the boil and at home with the whole family down with a tummy bug this week.  So not a lot of time available for extra curricula activities.

Hopefully next week will allow me a little time to get things moving again.  Thanks for your patience.

Regards

Aaron

The first of a series of rpgWidgets have just been released into the Files area of the project site.  Called Sound F/X Widgets these are minute Flash files (.swf) that enable the playing of .mp3 sound effects on the content pages of your RPG Storyteller' stories.  These widgets have been specifically designed for authors who have no Flash development experience or do not have access to Flash to create their own.

The rpgWidgets supplied enable the playing (looping) of a sound (.mp3 files only) once, twice, three times or four depending on the widget selected.  Simply copy the required widget to your story folder, copy the required sound to your story folder, rename the widget to match the sound file name and insert the .swf into your page content using the <img> tag aligned to the right, e.g. <img src="storyFolder/water.swf" align="right">.  Also ensure that the tag is inserted within a body of text rather than at the end as Flash has problems seeing an img tag at the end of a textField.

Over the next few weeks I will be looking at various other widgets that may be appropriate for the authoring environment.  If any users have their own widget requirements please let me know.

Regards

Aaron

Many of you reading this blog may have noticed my excursions into the MMORPG Second Life over the last few months.  Interestingly enough there was a lot of talk on that particular environment at eFest.  So much so that it has galvanised me into setting up a project site in Eduforge that will be looking into the possibility of a collaborative NZ campus for educational activities there.  The first small step towards what could be a unique virtual training environment.

Obviously this is very early days but if you are keen to come on board you are more than welcome.  For those who already inhabit SL you will know that there are a large number of educational projects currently under way there, many funded by universities, corporate training divisions, museums, library groups etc.  I have an involvement with a number of these projects and am very excited about the educational possibilities they engender.

Regards

Aaron