Title: Game Design
Course: 21 Things for Students > Section: Game Design

Game Design

Scratch is a programming language that makes it easy to create your very own interactive stories, animations, games, and art!  It was developed by the MIT Media Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Before beginning your quests click on the Scratch Cat in the image above and Scratch around a little!

Introduction

Psst... Hey you!  Are you listening?  Are you ready for the Game Design mission?  It will require you to use both sides of your brain... the logical left side and the creative right side.  Your mission is to pose as a game designer and infiltrate the brains of unsuspecting kids.  Your goal in the end is create a fun engaging game or story that demonstrates a different way to learn something, possibly a process or a cycle.  More details will follow at the end of the following quests!

Play the game below (click the image) to get clues to becoming a game designer or computer programmer.

Created by Jacob (picklerok) and Caleb (Cabob) with teacher Renee Jorae

Best viewed with Windows 7, IE 9 - Your Java must be up to date (check with your SSI Chief and Technology Control Agents)

Quest 1 Brain Works

This Quest challenges you to create games utilizing both sides of your brain.  To learn more about how your brain works click the map below to go to Quest 1!

Quest 1-Brain Works

Designing a quality game requires a person to use both sides of their brain! They need to be very creative, imaginative, and have artistic talent.  In addition, they have to be patient, logical and have the ability to solve problems.

Think about the games you play. What is unique about the game? What holds your interest? What did the designer do to make it special and fun?

Learn more about how your brain works and play some brain games at Lumosity.  Click on the Get Started  button once you are at the site. When you finish the activities return back to this web page. To begin click on the image below!

Answer the following question about your brain.  Get the answer correct to move on!

If you are a very logical thinker, what side of your brain is very developed?

                 or

Writing Connection (Optional) - In life, you will be required to use both sides of your brain.  Think about some of the jobs you would like to obtain in the future.  Check with your SSI Department Chief to see if this is a required task for you!

1. Explain why it would be important to be able to use different parts of your brain in this job?
2. Convince an employer that you are able to think differently than anyone else.  Why is it that they should hire you instead of someone else?

 Check off this quest

Quest 2: Scratch Intro

Introduction

"So you have mastered how others think! You are now ready to begin learning how to make a game or story!  The tool you will use is  Scratch.
This program was developed specifically for kids at MIT.  While using Scratch you may learn important mathematical and computational ideas, learn the think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively!  These are all skills you will need in the future!"

Getting Started in Scratch

1.  Watch the video introduction to learn more about how to use Scratch.

2.  Your SSI Department Chief will need to have Scratch downloaded on your school computer already.  However if you want to also work from home you can download and install it yourself  Scratch Download .

3.  Download the file below called, Getting Started With Scratch, then go through all of the activities and create your own animated project.

PDF Document Getting Started With Scratch

4.  Ask your SSI Department Chief how he/she wants you to submit your work for this activity.

NOTE - If you are sharing your project online using WEEBLY, then make sure none of the projects start with a GREEN FLAG unless you want them to AUTOMATICALLY PLAY when the website is open.  An alternative to using the Green Flag is to have them start when the SPACEBAR IS CLICKED.

5.  For further training go to the learnscratch.org website and click on the Video Course Drop Down.  This resource provides video tutorials that demonstrate how to create various Scratch projects. (Your SSI Department Chief will determine which lessons you need to do before continuing your mission!)

You'll be "scratching" in no time!

  Check off this quest

Quest 3: Game Assignments

Introduction

Programming is problem solving.  You need to become an independent thinker and use resources around you to figure out answers to your questions.  This is often a challenge for kids and adults.  However, you have made it this far so you must like a challenge! You are ready to now begin working independently! Does this mean you know everything?  The answer to that question is "no", but you now have a basic understanding of how the Scratch program works and you have links to resources and examples below.

Your quest is to design a project that demonstrates a different way to learn something. Have your SSI Department Chief  approve your project before you begin.  Good luck as you complete your mission!

Scratch Examples:

1. Take a Scratch tour to see what other students have done with this tool.
2. Click on the Images below to see samples that other students have completed which demonstrate how to do something.
3. Ask your SSI Department Chief how he/she wants you to submit your work for this activity.

Scratch Resources:

 Scratch Reference Guide

 Scratch Cards

 Intro to Programming with Scratch - Online Course created by Chris Shaltry  and Renee Jorae

Teach -ICT Scratch - Video Tutorials

EThemes Links to Scratch Resources

Scratch Programming for Budding Computer Scientists created by David J Malan

Exercise 1 - Choosing a sprite and making it move in 4 directions created by Christopher Michaud

Exercise 2 - Sensing the world - Using Conditional Statements created by Christopher Michaud

Exercise 3 - Something to eat - Conditionals, Variables, Hiding, and Sound created by Christopher Michaud

 Check this quest off your tracking document

Scratch Question

What side(s) of the brain does it take to design games?

- Both sides of the brain
Feedback: Great job!
- Left Back
- Left
- Right

Scratch Question

What is Scratch?

- Something itchy
- A Game Design Program
Feedback: Great job!
- A Presentation Program
- A Search Engine

Scratch Question

What is a Sprite?

- A dark colored beverage
- An elf
- A character in Scratch
Feedback: Great job!
- A gymnast

Game Design Award

Congratulations you have completed the Game Design Mission.

If your Scratch Game is going to be uploaded to a website such as Weebly, you will need to first share it on the Scratch Website by uploading it. Copy the embed code to your website. It is located on the right side sidebar on the website.  Make sure you choose AS AN APPLET.  Go to your website and copy the applet into an HTML block.

If your Scratch Game is not going on the Internet at this time ask your SSI Department Chief how they want you to share your project.

To receive your Badge or certificate for completion from your SSI Chief :

1.  Take this Game Design quiz .  The password for the quiz is game21 .  Do your best!

2.  Take a screenshot of your quiz results to show your SSI Chief.

3.  Please take this short survey to share your ideas on how to improve these activities and this 21things4students resource.

4.   Show your completed work for this mission to your SSI Chief to receive your Game Design Badge.