Friday, September 11, 2009

The Killer List of Arcade Games

The Killer List is Here

Find as many as you can remember and write a list in your notebook.

1980s arcade games


Here is a link to a Java-based "Play 1980s Games" site online.

In-class exercise:

Please play four of these games and answer the questionnaire (the one handed out as a paper document - 3 per student)

Friday, September 4, 2009

Cartoon Network Game Creator Exercise

Answer the following questions on a separate text file:

A) What options are available to you as a 'game designer'?

B) How are these options provided?

C) What types of elements are provided for you to use to 'build' the game?

D) What limits are set on the level of the game play able to be customized

E) What does the process of using these game creators teach about the notion of the 'difficulty and achievement' balance? Explain using an example from your research.

When you are done, trade places with another student and have them answer the following questions.

1) Is the game level fun to play? (be honest!)

2) If so, why? If not, why not?

3) What could be done to improve the level?

Email the answers to the above three questions to the student who created the game.

Cartoon Network Game Creator Exercise

Answer the following questions on a separate text file:

A) What options are available to you as a 'game designer'?

B) How are these options provided?

C) What types of elements are provided for you to use to 'build' the game?

D) What limits are set on the level of the game play able to be customized

E) What does the process of using these game creators teach about the notion of the 'difficulty and achievement' balance? Explain using an example from your research.

When you are done, trade places with another student and have them answer the following questions.

1) Is the game level fun to play? (be honest!)

2) If so, why? If not, why not?

3) What could be done to improve the level?

Email the answers to the above three questions to the student who created the game.

Gmail Tasks

Students,

Please today if you have not already done so - set up the following:

1) A Gmail Account - go to http://www.gmail.com to start an account. You will need an existing email account to use to verify your password etc.

2) Using your gmail account, try the following services that come with it -

a) google docs - make a text doc and save it, make a simple presentation doc and save it.

b) start a google site - you can make as many of these as you like, but start by making one based on this class e.g. "My Exploring Game Worlds" site. Add some graphics (you can link to those which already exist on the web by adding the URL for the image) and try adding a link to a youtube clip, preferable games-related.

c) start a blog at http://www.blogger.com - give a name like "your_name_exploring_game_worlds". This blog will be your weekly repository of notes, comments, links, and any other material you generate for the course for you as an individual. When you work with others, you can collaborate with them on google docs, google sites, and even blogs.

Cartoon Network Game Creators

Go to the cartoon network game site and choose the following 'game creator' games - e.g. 'Batman' game creator and the 'Alien Force' game creator (you need to scroll through the menu of 'all games' to find these.

Answer the following questions on a separate text file:

A) What options are available to you as a 'game designer'?

B) How are these options provided?

C) What types of elements are provided for you to use to 'build' the game?

D) What limits are set on the level of the game play able to be customized

E) What does the process of using these game creators teach about the notion of the 'difficulty and achievement' balance? Explain using an example from your research.

When you are done, trade places with another student and have them answer the following questions.

1) Is the game level fun to play? (be honest!)

2) If so, why? If not, why not?

3) What could be done to improve the level?

Email the answers to the above three questions to the student who created the game.

"Us versus It" board game kit


This board game designing activity is one of a number of workshops undertaken at the games developers conference to help build the craft of gameplay and game design.

This link has all the components you need to build the game - the pieces and board need to be transferred to cardboard (i.e. printed then glued, or printed on sticker paper then stuck onto card).

This will be an in-class activity during September for Game 100