Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Crowdfunding better GCompris graphics

GCompris is the most established open source kids educational game. Here we practice use of mouse with an Efika smartbook. In this subgame, mouse is moved around to uncover a image behind.

While GCompris is nice, it needs nice graphics badly. Now the GCompris authors are running a indiegogo crowfund exactly for that - to get new unified graphics.

Why should you fund? Apart from the "I want to be nice for any oss project", I see a couple of reasons specific for this crowdfund.

First, to show kids that apps can be changed! Instead of just using existing iPad apps as a consumer, Gcompris allows you to show kids how games are built and modified. With the new graphics, more kids will play longer, and eventually some will ask if something can be changed/added..

Second, GCompris has recently become QT/QML based, making it more portable than before. Wouldn't you like to see it in your Jolla tablet or a future Ubuntu phone? The crowfund doesn't promise to make new ports, but if you are eager to show your friends nice looking apps on your platform, this probably one of the easiest ways to help them happen.

Finally, as a nice way to say happy new year 2015 :)