Today I am going to relax a little and simply write about what goes on at Houkago Lab.
In the second term, which began in October, the children split into four teams: Roblox, Minecraft, AI, and Art. Over six months, each team will turn something they want to make into a finished work (meet the second-term teams). One month in, the room was in an uproar again yesterday, Wednesday. We are nothing but grateful to Imoya Ponpoko for lending us a space where it is OK to be this noisy.
"Game balance is hard"
The Minecraft team has nearly finished their Digital Chase game. On Saturday, November 14, it will be shown to the public at the Irishi Festival at Iriarai 4th Elementary School (festival announcement). Their next project is a PvP engine, a system for players to battle each other. Yesterday, everyone was fighting it out with that engine.
"Game balance is hard." I heard someone say that, too.
"Let's ban diamond armor." "Maybe we should give everyone potions." They kept muttering ideas to each other while looking at the screen.
When you are just playing a game, you can simply complain: "This weapon is overpowered." "Ganging up on me is so unfair." But once you are the one making the game, things change. If one side is too strong, the match is over in seconds and nobody has fun. Weaken it too much, and nobody uses it. You look for the sweet spot, fix it and fight, fight and fix it again. That work becomes yours to take on.
I took "This is hard" as the words of a child who has stepped from playing games into making them.
Everyone in their own way
The other children were spread out doing their own things: some playing Roblox, some making games with AI, some drawing.
Even with teams, not everyone builds at the same pace every week. Some days are for playing; some days their hands don't stop. The children decide for themselves how to spend their time.
The boy who came to visit
Then a boy from a school far away came to see what we do. Since he was there, we showed him how to make a game with AI and let him try.
The method is simple. Tell the AI in words what game you want. Play what it makes. If it isn't what you pictured, put into words what is different and tell it again. Even for children who are used to it, it usually takes about an hour to get something that really plays.
But he had a lot of energy. As soon as one game was done, he was already on the next. In no time he made several games and posted them one after another to the AI Game Plaza. He came to watch, but by the time he left, he may have posted more work than anyone.
A few words on the way out
As the end of the session neared, he came up to me.
"Can I take the computer home?"
"No."
He probably hadn't made enough yet. Maybe he planned to keep going at home.
Then, just as he was leaving, he came back, apparently recovered, with a big smile.
"Sensei, I've decided! I'm going to come here!"
"You can't. We're full."
Heartless, I know. He went home looking disappointed.
Then again, with that much energy, I suspect he will find another chance, and our paths will cross again.
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Houkago Lab has 16 seats. We are already stretched to the limit and have had to turn away a number of children. Having a child like him want to come here is a happy thing, of course.
Houkago Lab is held every Wednesday from 4 to 6 p.m. at "Imoya Ponpoko" in Ota City, Tokyo. Registration for the current term is closed, but we are still accepting visits and waiting-list sign-ups (Houkago Lab page). If you would like to lend a hand watching over the children, please see our volunteer page, and to support our work, see our donation page.