Fun Activities

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Information, Media & Telecommunications - GAMES DEVELOPER

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Knowledge is Power!

PrimaryPrimary MiddleMiddle High School Secondary

ICT Capability Australian Curriculum General Capability: ICT Capability

NumeracyAustralian Curriculum General Capability: Numeracy

CriticalAustralian Curriculum General Capability: Critical and creative thinking

LiteracyAustralian Curriculum General Capability: Literacy 

Intercultural UnderstandingAustralian Curriculum General Capability: Intercultural Understanding

 

 

1. To be a game developer you need to understand the mechanics and logic of games. Many great game developers are board game players. They are fascinated by the construction, the intrigue and psychology of games.

In pairs, you going to select 5 board games from the past and present. Each pair in the class will select a different set of 5 games - with at least one game from the past.

Draughts

Draghts
Cluedo

Cluedo
Snakes and Ladders

Snakes and Ladders


Go

Go

Go is played on a grid of black lines (usually 19×19). Game pieces, called stones, are played on the lines' intersections
Risk

Risk
Monopoly

Monopoly
Royal Game of Ur

Royal Game of Ur


Senet

Senet
A Senet gameboard and game pieces from the KV62 tomb of Tutankhamun—originally from Thebes
Scrabble

Scrabble
The official Scrabble board design
Key:
2×LS = Double letter score 3×LS= Triple letter score
2×WS / ★ = Double word score 3×WS = Triple word score
Chinese Checkers

Chinese Checkers
Liubo

Liubo
A pair of Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 CE) ceramic tomb figurines of two gentlemen playing liubo
Sudoku

Sudoku
Typical Sudoku puzzle

2. If you have this game at home, bring it into the class. If it is ancient, create the board game from the information given.

Play the game. You might need some other pairs to play with you.

3. Think about the elements of each game and write down

  • how the game is constructed, the pieces, the grid, shape, size of board
  • the graphics - what clues do they give you? Use of colour?
  • the logic of the game - the rules, the strategy
  • the sameness of each game (do these elements that make it easier to play because you know what to do?) 
  • the target level - is it appropriate?
  • how educational it is

Write down these points and compare with a partner.

4. As a game developer, what new board game would you and your partner put together? Go to your Makerspace within your classroom or home or bedroom and start creating.

5. Work out the strategy on paper. Work out the rules. Construct the board. What visual clues will you give your players? How many players are required? How complicated is your game? Are there different levels? How challenging is your game - will people want to play it to get a solution or win?

6. Get other students in the class to play your game. Note down any questions! Change your game or instructions based on this feedback.

7. Which game from the range of games developed by your class was the best? Why?

TeacherTeacher

Create a MakerSpace for your students in your classroom.

Makerspace

 

 

Online

Playing Games is the best way to learn how to make them!

PrimaryPrimary MiddleMiddle High School Secondary

ICT Capability Australian Curriculum General Capability: ICT Capability

NumeracyAustralian Curriculum General Capability: Numeracy

CriticalAustralian Curriculum General Capability: Critical and creative thinking

LiteracyAustralian Curriculum General Capability: Literacy 

 

 

1.To learn how to create games, you need to play them!

Play the following games (select ones that you will enjoy and are at your school level) - at least 4 games. The Games on the left have been developed by the Noble Prize and have a Science bent.

Control of the Cell Cycle

Cell Cycle

  
Tic Tac Toe

Tic Tac Toe


Prisoner of War

Prisoner of War

  
Chess

Chess

The Blood Typing Game

    

Wordle - NY Times

Wordle
Pavlov's Dog

Pavlov's Dog
Gamestar Mechanic

Gamestar Mechanic

MRI Game

MRI
National Geographic - Mazes

Mazes

Chirality

Chirality

National Geographic - Matching Countries

Matching Countries

2. Repeat each of your four games but this time while you are playing think about

  • how the game is constructed
  • the graphics
  • the logic of the game
  • the sameness of each game (are there elements that make it easier to play?) 
  • the target level - is it appropriate or would you give it a different rating?
  • how educational it is

Write down these points and compare with a partner.

3. Create your own game on paper. Share with your partner and get them to give you feedback.

4. Go to Code.org

Code.org

And select, Students. Start on Courses 2 - 4 or the Accelerated Course (incorporating Courses 2 - 4)

5. Start coding your game. Share with your partner.

 

Analysing Games

PrimaryPrimary MiddleMiddle High School Secondary

ICT Capability Australian Curriculum General Capability: ICT Capability

NumeracyAustralian Curriculum General Capability: Numeracy

CriticalAustralian Curriculum General Capability: Critical and creative thinking

LiteracyAustralian Curriculum General Capability: Literacy 

 

 

1. Have a look at the following site: Tech Age Kids

TechAgeKids

2. Investigate the games reviewed here (2023):

  • Pirate Klondike

  • Flick! Fidget Spinner

  • Punk Row

  • Wordle

  • Sudoku

  • Spider

  • The following two are from the Nobel Prize (you may not have seen these - have a go!
       
  • MRI

  • Chicken Farm Game

3. With a partner, discuss: the games' complexity; challenge; age target group and interest.

How would you improve on these games?

List newer games that teach you or taught you games development. Share with the class.

 

 

 

Coding & Games

PrimaryPrimary MiddleMiddle High SchoolSecondary

ICT Capability Australian Curriculum General Capability: ICT Capability

CriticalAustralian Curriculum General Capability: Critical and creative thinking

 

Here are two coding programmes for students - from beginners to advanced.

a. Scratch: How to make a 'catch the bug game"
https://youtu.be/4l8kn4DoLBk

 

b. Unity: is an excellent way to get kids interested in coding, game design, and game development. Unity is a powerful game engine that makes it easy to create 3D and 2D games.

Unity
(Source: Moonpreneur)

The Unity Tutorial For Complete Beginners
https://youtu.be/XtQMytORBmM

 

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