The problem with projects you love...

.. is that they tend not to ever get done.

Case in point: to "pass" Project 3, the arcade game that is designed needs to meet a specific set of criteria that is pretty easy to complete. Watch the lesson, apply what you learn, and make sure you meet the rubric requirements.  I could have turned that version of the project in two weeks ago.

To exceed expectations, this project is really no different than the others: make it your own. Add something, change up how it plays, and you should be reaching that extra level of recognition.

Now, I've heard from several different sources that "web projects are never complete; they can be iterated against and constantly refined". When I like what I am doing, I tend to keep iterating and adding as I go along.

• Game is finished. 
• It's too plain, though. It needs something different. This project is for Udacity... why not make the game theme about Udacity? The player can collect books, instead of gems. Then, they can take the books to the top row, and put them there. Once the row is done, they win. Simple to implement.
• Books added, top row now is a scoring row.
• The player character needs to be Udacity themed too... hey, what if I get permission from Miriam and Mike to use their "likenesses" in the game?
• Characters added. 
• But, it needs a neat intro. Not just an HTML intro... something within canvas, that seems catchy and goes with the game. Gives it something I haven't seen yet.
• Intro done. 
• Well, there should be an exit equivalent too, to wrap the game up.
• Outro done. 
• The top row seems plain. 
• Add building sprites to top row.
• Then I can add...

You can see how this seems to never finish. There's always another neat idea to add, to give the game just a bit more pizazz, a little more to make it stand out. I thought I had finished a while ago.

I am glad that Udacity encourages this kind of exploration within their project structure. Not only have I learned a ton by being able to continue to put the concepts into practice, but I get to stretch creatively, and see appreciation for the work. The coaches are great at giving encouragement, which can be hard when working with 800+ students.

Oh, and my project probably still has another few days of changes before I can call it done... unless I find something else that just HAS to go into it.  :)