serious games development - 2012 gala alignment school

Pablo Moreno Ger pablom@fdi.ucm.es

CarcavelosJune 26th 2012

2nd GALA Alignment School

Pablo Moreno Ger (et al.)

Serious Games Programming

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Introduction

What is this all about? Game programming Game creation Game authoring

Questions that will be answered How can I create a new game? Which technologies should I use? What level of expertise is required?

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Contents

Introduction

Challenges

Serious decisions

Authoring tools

GALA spotlight:GameCreator

GALA spotlight:eAdventure

Overview

Challenges when creating a new serious gameVariability and important decissionsAvailable tools and approachesGALA authoring tool spotlight

Game Creator eAdventure

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Contents

Introduction

Challenges

Serious decisions

Authoring tools

GALA spotlight:GameCreator

GALA spotlight:eAdventure

How does the game industry create games?

Great development teams 100+ creators Highly specialised roles (usually) Strong implication from stakeholders

Multimillion projects Wide audience Rigurous schedules High stakes

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How is the serious games industry?

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Contents

Introduction

Challenges

Serious decisions

Authoring tools

GALA spotlight:GameCreator

GALA spotlight:eAdventure

Who are we preaching to?

InstitutionsSchoolsUniversitiesCorporationsGeneral publicWhoever listens…

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Contents

Introduction

Challenges

Serious decisions

Authoring tools

GALA spotlight:GameCreator

GALA spotlight:eAdventure

Do they listen?

“After years of research and proselytizing, the proponents of digital game-based learning (DGBL) have been caught unaware. Like the person who is

still yelling after the sudden cessation of loud music at a party, DGBL proponents have been

shouting to be heard above the prejudice against games. But now, unexpectedly, we have

everyone's attention.”

Richard Van Eck (2006)

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Contents

Introduction

Challenges

Serious decisions

Authoring tools

GALA spotlight:GameCreator

GALA spotlight:eAdventure

And where are we now?

Serious games conferencesSerious games journalsSerious games institutesSerious games Networks of Excellence

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So, everyone is playing?

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Challenges

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Contents

Introduction

Challenges

Serious decisions

Authoring tools

GALA spotlight:GameCreator

GALA spotlight:eAdventure

Social perception

Teaching with games? But videogames are clearly…

Digital toys for kids A worthless waste of time Brainwashing devices for our children Violence inductors Evil tools that turn players into psychopaths

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Contents

Introduction

Challenges

Serious decisions

Authoring tools

GALA spotlight:GameCreator

GALA spotlight:eAdventure

Infrastructure

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Contents

Introduction

Challenges

Serious decisions

Authoring tools

GALA spotlight:GameCreator

GALA spotlight:eAdventure

Deployment

School computers (when available)Network systemsIT policiesSecurity concernsDeployment cost (PS3’s for everyone?)Time and scheduling

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Contents

Introduction

Challenges

Serious decisions

Authoring tools

GALA spotlight:GameCreator

GALA spotlight:eAdventure

Development cost

How much does a commercial game cost? Call of Duty? World of Warcraft?

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Contents

Introduction

Challenges

Serious decisions

Authoring tools

GALA spotlight:GameCreator

GALA spotlight:eAdventure

Should we surrender?

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Contents

Introduction

Challenges

Serious decisions

Authoring tools

GALA spotlight:GameCreator

GALA spotlight:eAdventure

Deployment

How are the students going to play? School?

Home?

Game console?

Mobile device?

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Contents

Introduction

Challenges

Serious decisions

Authoring tools

GALA spotlight:GameCreator

GALA spotlight:eAdventure

Budget and staff

How much money do we really have? Do we have artists? Programmers? Game designers? Instructional designers? Managed processes? QA teams? Beta testers?

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Contents

Introduction

Challenges

Serious decisions

Authoring tools

GALA spotlight:GameCreator

GALA spotlight:eAdventure

Budget and staff

Multidisciplinary teams are complicated

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Development methodologies

Very abstract

Low abstraction

DIV Games Studio, Dark Basic / Dark Basic Pro, Lite-C, Blitz, etc.C, C#, C++…

Game engines

General purposelanguages

Libraries and middlewareSpecific languages

Authoring tools

C, C#, C++…

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Contents

Introduction

Challenges

Serious decisions

Authoring tools

GALA spotlight:GameCreator

GALA spotlight:eAdventure

Authoring tools

Lower costs by limiting variability A continuous spectrum

Lower barriers By requiring less specialised staff

Improve reusability It is easier to make small changes

Allow instructors to create Or to modify Or at least to participate (appropriation)

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Contents

Introduction

Challenges

Serious decisions

Authoring tools

GALA spotlight:GameCreator

GALA spotlight:eAdventure

Unity

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Contents

Introduction

Challenges

Serious decisions

Authoring tools

GALA spotlight:GameCreator

GALA spotlight:eAdventure

Game Salad

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Contents

Introduction

Challenges

Serious decisions

Authoring tools

GALA spotlight:GameCreator

GALA spotlight:eAdventure

RPG Maker XP

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Contents

Introduction

Challenges

Serious decisions

Authoring tools

GALA spotlight:GameCreator

GALA spotlight:eAdventure

Raptivity

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Contents

Introduction

Challenges

Serious decisions

Authoring tools

GALA spotlight:GameCreator

GALA spotlight:eAdventure

And in GALA?

University research groups Computing, pedagogy, medicine, …

Large research institutes

Small game studios

Large corporate firms

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Contents

Introduction

Challenges

Serious decisions

Authoring tools

GALA spotlight:GameCreator

GALA spotlight:eAdventure

GALA expertise

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Contents

Introduction

Challenges

Serious decisions

Authoring tools

GALA spotlight:GameCreator

GALA spotlight:eAdventure

GALA Expertise

Kristian

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Contents

Introduction

Challenges

Serious decisions

Authoring tools

GALA spotlight:GameCreator

GALA spotlight:eAdventure

GALA Expertise

PLAYGEN

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Contents

Introduction

Challenges

Serious decisions

Authoring tools

GALA spotlight:GameCreator

GALA spotlight:eAdventure

GALA Expertise

eAdventure Easy-to-use platform for the creation of low-cost

educational adventure games Integration in e-learning environments (Moodle,

WebCT, Sakai, etc.) Tracking and assessment integrated in the games

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eAdventure – Classic adventure games

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eAdventure – Classic adventure games

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eAdventure – Classic adventure games

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eAdventure – First person games

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eAdventure – First person games

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eAdventure – And many more…

Really free for everyone Free license, unlimited use Open source Multi-platform

Sample games at http://e-adventure.e-ucm.es Redistributable Editable

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Contents

Introduction

Challenges

Serious decisions

Authoring tools

GALA spotlight:GameCreator

GALA spotlight:eAdventure

Worshop today

Will cover basic uses of eAdventure Creating a simple game Packaging and redistribution

Requires initial materials eAdventure Sample games Art resources

Ask for your CD before lunch!