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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories 'We tried to de-escalate it' App Finder: Top tax apps Emergency Services West Medford neighbors welcome program to feed homeless, but want bathrooms added Eight vie for Medford School Board positions Crime, Courts and Emergency Services 'We tried to de-escalate it' Emergency Services Boyfriend gets 20 years for abuse of toddler Pursuit of stolen car in Medford ends with crash, power outage Emergency services, March 19 Politics and Elections Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US Special election: Jackson County voters OK marijuana tax Ex-Merkley aide chosen as Oregon secretary of state Ashland: Budget increase, swimming pool funding discussion on council agenda Education Eight vie for Medford School Board positions Proposed Medford textbook raises constitutional concern North Medford High School principal to retire in June Southern Oregon University's building boom adds up to $130 million South Medford, Ashland, St. Mary's students building video game Environment Mt. Ashland hopes coming storm will reopen ski area Odd visitors found off Oregon Coast Forum explores data gathered in Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument Herptilian haven Proposed new rules for Oregon critter catchers would require the killing of nuisance animals State News Bend company's aim: Connect investors to Africa Brown proposes $1 billion in California drought spending Are they decorations or desecration? 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Test Drive: 2015 Subaru Outback Limited Silvio Calabi: 2015 Cherokee is a modern Jeep Oregon winemaking emerges as mighty agricultural force Rogue Disposal plans natural gas fueling site Real Estate News East McAndrews Road sees a resurgence in commercial projects Business briefs: March 7 New construction prices jump 18.2 percent in Jackson County People In Business People in Business: Feb. 28 People in Business Transportation Rogue Disposal plans natural gas fueling site Alaska, United Express boost Medford airport to record February CEO Rieder leaving Erickson March 31 Lodging gains bode well for travel industries Agriculture Harry & David announces new president Warm winter has fruit growers poised for action Briefcase: Business briefs for Feb. 21 Opinion Latest Our View: Textbook authors' reasoning hard to fathom Letters to the Editor, March 20 Michael Gerson: Hillary Clinton's Nixonian path to office Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Antionette Kerr: Some items shouldn’t fly with TSA Editorials Our View: Textbook authors' reasoning hard to fathom Our View: White House public records move is less than sunny Our View: Where the wild things shouldn't be Our View: Keeping the light trained on government Other Views: State must rein in medical marijuana Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, March 20 Letters to the Editor, March 19 Letters to the Editor, March 18 Letters to the Editor, March 17 Letters to the Editor, March 16 Columns Michael Gerson: Hillary Clinton's Nixonian path to office Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Dana Milbank: GOP budget is one big gimmick George Will: Kasich waits in the wings Kathleen Parker: Hillary and the Media: Act 2016 Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Central Point Cemetery needs work and city action Guest Opinion: Return to clearcutting is wrong approach for counties Guest Opinion: Plan a Hawthorne playground for all children Guest Opinion: There is nothing uniform about the Uniform Crime Report GUEST OPINION: Police, community should work to prevent profiling Lifestyle Latest stories Looking Up: Looking for the zodiacal light Ocean salmon look plentiful off the Southern Oregon coast this year, but next year's a different story (No heading) Wood bison to roam Alaska again Health Watch: 5 tips for seasonal allergy relief Food Eat this, not that Peanut allergy breakthrough Eat your sprouts More fast food perils Pork perfection: Consider pork steaks instead of ham for the Easter dinner table Home and Garden Hello, honey: Invite bees for a lush garden Understand home inspection Dear Monty: Tips for checking out an existing septic system Garden Cameos: Now is the perfect time to spot wildflowers Paul Rogers: It’s time to assess the damage to yards Health Health Watch: 5 tips for seasonal allergy relief A better bedtime Studying stress Eat this, not that Peanut allergy breakthrough Hiking Biking Faith Religion briefs Religion News: Presbyterian Church gives approval on same-sex marriage Religion briefs: Friday, March 13 More religion events in the Rogue Valley Religion Briefs Milestones and Achievements Haga-Parks Exercise helps special-needs kids adjust to airport procedures Engagement: Workman-Wright Anniversary: Hofer Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Here's five top entertainment picks for the coming week Alt-rock band Key of Three is a contender this weekend at Rising Stars Improv rock and folk band hosts a dance party at the Ashland Community Center Andrew Lloyd Webber's lush musical 'Sunset Boulevard' opens at Camelot Theatre in Talent Review: 'Same Time' after all these years Theater Andrew Lloyd Webber's lush musical 'Sunset Boulevard' opens at Camelot Theatre in Talent Review: Thanks for the Memories pulls off challenging 'Anastasia' Review: 'Same Time' after all these years Randall Theatre presents playwright Bernard Slade's comedy Thanks for the Memories presents 'Anastasia' Music Alt-rock band Key of Three is a contender this weekend at Rising Stars Improv rock and folk band hosts a dance party at the Ashland Community Center Kites & Crows, Ryan Marchand and Mercy Duo face-off this weekend at Rising Stars music competition in Jacksonville Rogue Valley Chorale presents 'A Festival of Choirs' at the Craterian Theatre SOU's Chamber and Concert choirs present 'Songs of Passion' Community Events Rogue Valley artist Linda Evans' pastel paintings capture landscapes of Southern Oregon Ashland Independent Film Festival announces this year's lineup OSF Hip-Hop Poetry Open Mic Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Jesse Lawson and Joe Moxley host 'Barkeeper' Dining Jasmine Thai Cuisine Restaurant Inspections Agave offers gourmet tacos, tamales, ensaladas and more Serra storms Seattle Sakura Japanese Sushi Restaurant opens in new location Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines/Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW 'We tried to de-escalate it' ... Our View: Textbook authors' reasoning hard to fathom ... Emergency Services ... 'We tried to de-escalate it' ... Our View: Textbook authors' reasoning hard to fathom ... Emergency Services ... EDUCATION AND ENTERPRISE South Medford, Ashland, St. Mary's students building video game Local high school students building video game for commercial release By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 17, 2015 @ 12:01 am By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 17, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Nearly a dozen South Medford High School gamers congregated earlier this month in one of the school’s labs during their eighth period to play-test a video game created by their peers. The students, as characters Penelope, the foil, or Connor, the protagonist, navigated a digital maze encountering “slinky wolves,” crabs, bats and other villains along the way. A few got lost in the maze, but most made it to the fifth and final scene. “I’m a pretty big gamer when I’m not playing sports,” said South sophomore Carlene Platts, who made it to level four before being defeated by a mini minotaur, a mythological, bull-headed creature. “I’m excited for the full version, and I’ll probably buy it — or ask my dad to buy it because I’m a high school student and have no money.” The demo and forthcoming video game, "Legacy," isn't a student's senior project but the creative enterprise of Undiscovered Game Studios, a group of tech-savvy, artistic teens from South Medford and Ashland high schools and St. Mary’s School. There’s also one teenager, Simon Price, from Wales who composes the audio for the game. UGS was formed in late 2013 after South junior Patrick Conner got together with several students with unique skill sets, including artists, designers and techies like himself, and persuaded them to collaborate on “something cool.” The group meets for several hours every Saturday in an empty apartment, owned by Conner’s mom, to work on the video game, which is scheduled for release in February 2016. Members also have created a comprehensive website and several podcasts with updates on the gaming industry, studio projects — namely "Legacy" — and other topics. South sophomore Alexandria Kruger, the group’s project manager and “jack-of-all-trades,” has contacted several companies to see whether they want to advertise on the podcasts. “But so far, I haven’t got any yeses,” Kruger said. The group also launched an unsuccessful Kickstarter campaign to raise money for a studio space. Nonetheless, the students are hardly disheartened, and the group continues to grow. Carson Bennett, a freshman at South, said he joined the group in December after seeing a poster at school. He'll be working with freshman Jacob Beke on level design. “I’d always enjoyed games and wanted to make one but couldn't do it on my own,” Bennett said. Conner, the lead programmer on the project, said he’s invested nearly 260 hours in the video game. Before he started the group, he ran a YouTube channel and worked for Rogue Hack Lab. “I worked with them teaching classes and building electrical components,” he said. “We once built music amplifiers with Altoid tins. “I like the process of starting with basically nothing and ending up with this cool thing that you can sit and stare at and be like, ‘Did I make this?’ ” he added. Conner hopes that the UGS and "Legacy" will be the start of a larger tech industry in Medford. The demo, he explained, is rudimentary but features player interactions and basic story art while the end product will be reminiscent of Nintendo’s “The Legend of Zelda” with a fantasy storyline and “simply, complex game play.” Kruger, Conner and others in the group have pitched their demo to their friends and classmates and held three test play sessions at South Medford to get feedback. “I just walk around campus and ask students if they like to play video games and if they’d be willing to play-test our demo,” Kruger said. More than 15 students showed up to the first two sessions and nearly a dozen to the third. When they’re done, Kruger asks them to fill out a survey rating their overall experience on a scale of zero ("Horrible waste of time”) to five (“Perfect! Look forward to more”). Platts recommended that there be a shorter delay between the attacks, and another student, James McAdams, suggested that the group “put more into the characters and design.” “At first, I thought it would suck and drag on, but then it got interesting as it went along,” said McAdams, who, like Platts, was defeated by the minotaur. Another student shouted, “Yea, I made it!” as the red, victory curtain came across his screen. Reach education reporter Teresa Thomas at 541-776-4497 or [email protected] . Follow her at www.twitter.com/teresathomas_mt . By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 17, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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