Greetings humans, Botley here. I’ve time-traveled here from a bygone era of edutainment to let you know that there’s a brand new episode of the Filament Games Podcast out now!
via myabandonware.com
In this episode, Brandon and Dan interview former Filament Games designer Lydia Symchych about the JumpStart series, specifically JumpStart 3rd Grade Mystery Mountain. JumpStart was a learning game franchise that began in 1994 and closed in 2023. To learn more about the ins and outs of these games, and why JumpStart 3rd Grade Mystery Mountain is so significant to Lydia, you’ll have to tune in to the podcast!
Before we jump into the episode, I have to ask – are you interested in staying up-to-date with the latest trends in game-based learning? Connect with us on Twitter and Facebook! Catch the episode below, or enjoy it on the go via Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher.
Episode outline:
[0:00 – 13:40] Intro and What We’re Playing These Days
[13:41 – 17:50] A brief history of JumpStart Games
[17:51 – 20:48] The plot of JumpStart 3rd Grade Mystery Mountain
[20:49 – 22:45] The learning objectives of the JumpStart series
[22:46 – 27:15] Examples of the gameplay in JumpStart 3rd Grade Mystery Mountain
[27:16 – 37:25] How dated is JumpStart 3rd Grade Mystery Mountain in terms of its design and its sensibilities? What would our game designers keep or change about the game?
[37:26 – 41:29] How do educational video games from the late 90s and early 2000s influence our current game design?
[41:20 – 51:57] Creating intrinsic motivation in players with educational games
[51:58 – 54:51] Outro
We hope you enjoyed this walk down memory lane! If you’re feeling inspired as well as nostalgic, let us know! We’re educational game developers with 18 years of industry experience, and we want to help you create playful experiences that improve people’s lives.
Listen to more of the Filament Games Podcast: