FLETCHERS LAKE: Two young boys from Fletchers Lake have found a creative way to keep their minds thinking while schools out due to the State of Emergency as a result of COVID19.
Rowan Williamson and Austin Wright, who both attend Grade 6 in Holland Road School in Fletchers Lake, have been busy working on making a video game they hope to have available for others to play it shortly. The game is called “Infectious Slime”. The two youngsters are collaborating over FaceTime video and email.
Austin is the graphics designer for the game, while Rowan is the one piecing it together with the computer code. Both have been busy testing and testing it to ensure it works. They have had some hiccups in building the game, like anything with technology it’s bound to happen.
“We play a lot of video games,” said Austin, who admitted he’s learning as he goes.
“We combined our favourite games and put them in one,” added Rowan, who’s favourite video game is Minecraft.
Rowan said a game called Terraria, was some of his inspiration for the game, and for Austin it was Flame Ranger and Mario Bros.
“That’s why decided the game would be called Infectious Slime,” said Austin, 12.
The game starts off with the user being a little slime, and you can collect coins and there will be enemies that are red. It’s like Mario Bros. game.
Rowan took coding through a program called ‘Code Ninjas.’ He explained why he took the program.
“I have always wanted to be able to code and do a video game,” he said. “That’s where you learn how to do that.”
The two said building the video game has made the time pass by quickly.
“It’s making the time go by fast because it’s so time consuming,” the two said.
Both said the COVID19 pandemic is the right time to create it; if there was school, they wouldn’t have the time to do it.
Austin said the video game will be available to play on computer.
“We’re not sure about tablets and phones just yet, but we might be able to do that,” said Austin.
Rowan, 11, said it’s been super fun to create the game.
“It’s kind of stressful sometimes because I’ve had the title screen of the game delete two times and I had to rebuild it,” he said. “I also had the slime do an issue, and when I came back the file wouldn’t work.”
The two hope this leads to more games in their future.
“We just did this game for fun and want to see how it turns out,” said Rowan.
“I want to make more games because it’s so fun,” added Austin.
