Tools and Templates for Teaching Video Game Development

Foundations of Digital Games 2014April 3-7, 2014

Ken HogansonCynthia CalongneMario Guimaraes

Jing Selena HeBarbara Truman

Speakers and Games• Ken Hoganson - Digital Gaming & Innovative Computing Conf

– Game Design Camp, Courses: AI & Game Design, Game Theory & Design– http://science.kennesaw.edu/~khoganso/

• Jing Selena He - Madden, Littlest Pet Shop I & II (NDS, Wii)– Electronic Arts, Course: Game Design and Development– http://cs.kennesaw.edu/she/

• Mario Guimaraes – Game Maker, Unity 3D, HTML5– Teaching Computer Game Development– http://www.zu.ac.ae/main/en/colleges/colleges/college_information_technology/bio/mario_bio.aspx

• Barbara Truman – GAMESMOOC, Game and simulation design– http://barbaratruman.com/ and http://www.slideshare.net/barbaratruman

• Cynthia Calongne – GAMESMOOC, Game and simulation design– Courses: Advanced Game Design; Games, Gamification and Serious Games– http://www.slideshare.net/lyrlobo/presentations

Panel Questions1. Will the first game course be offered on campus, blended

with online, or fully online?

2. How does the first course integrate into the curriculum?

3. Will the project require identifying the game’s requirements, similar to simulating a game’s business requirements?

4. Will the requirements and design determine the choice of tools? Will the first class focus more on using a single tool or on selecting the right tool for the job?

5. What are your lab requirements? Do you recommend including some reverse engineering examples to explore alternative methods of using the tool to tailor existing game features?

Panel Questions II6. If the course was taught as a game that teaches game design

and development, what challenges need to be discussed?

7. If the course is applied rather than theoretical, what are the requirements for the final project?

8. For a group project, what are the collaboration goals of the course? How do these goals align with what learners need to learn about the content?

9. If the class is part of a certificate or a degree program, can the class activities continue after the course ends and be used for subsequent courses so that the design and development benefits more from time?  

10. How can the faculty on the panel collaborate to multiply their efforts, save time, and improve their students’ learning outcomes? 

1. Will the first game course be offered on campus, blended with online, or fully online?

2. How does the first course integrate into the curriculum?

3. Will the project require identifying the game’s requirements, similar to simulating a game’s business requirements?

4. Will the requirements and design determine the choice of tools? Will the first class focus more on using a single tool or on selecting

the right tool for the job?

5. What are your lab requirements? Do you recommend including some reverse engineering examples to explore alternative methods of using the tool to tailor existing game features?

6. If the course was taught as a game that teaches game design and development, what challenges need to be discussed?

7. If the course is applied rather than theoretical, what are the requirements for the final project?

Delightful Transforms into the Phoenix during Her Game Presentation

8. For a group project, what are the collaboration goals of the course? How do these goals align with what learners need to learn about the

content?

A Student Game Designer Demos Her Game Badge

9. If the class is part of a certificate or a degree program, can the class activities continue after the course ends and be used for

subsequent courses so that the design and development benefits more from time?

10. How can the faculty on the panel collaborate to multiply their efforts, save time, and improve their

students’ learning outcomes? 

Mayan Temple Game Simulation

Designing a Game Inside a Game

Photo by C. CalongneGame Design by AgileBill Firehawk

The PlayerStory, characterization and

aestheticsDevelopment of quality

models and game prototypes

Immersive and Mobile Games

Game Genres and Play StylesTypes of games

• Word, trivia or puzzle• Scavenger or Treasure Hunt• Action or adventure• Real Time Strategy (RTS)• Roleplay game (RPG)• MMORPGs• Arcade or Video games• First Person Shooter (FPS)• Simulations (Sims)• Board or card games• Mobile and social games

Play styles

• Individual or social• Multiplayer cooperative• Multiplayer competitive• Everyone is a winner!• Last man standing – PvP• Player vs Environment• Roleplay• Capture the flag• Team wins• High score• Social and free play games

Design Concepts

Video Games

• Rules• Objectives• Environment• Setting• Win Conditions• Challenges• Treasure, Loot or Gold• Badges• Reputation

Roleplay Games

• Story• Terrain • 2D or 3D Graphics• Strategies• Conflict• Players• Non-Player Characters (NPCs)• Enemies or Monsters• Competition

A Few Design Distinctions

Strategy Game• Game engine• Modeling

– 2D diagrams and 3D objects

• Character Creation• Level & Strategy Design• System Integration• Game Events • Win Strategy - Objectives• Quality Assurance

– Unit & Integration Tests– Play and Usability tests

Virtual World• Virtual World Simulator• Rapid Prototyping

– 3D Game Objects

• Bots (NPCs) and Avatars• Linking Object Models

– Designing on the z Axis

• Multimedia & Animations• Rubrics - Objectives & Outcomes• QA - Change Management

– Object Behavior Tests– Integration, Play & Usability Tests

Design Comparisons

Strategy Game Design• Treatment & Design• Game Strategy & Engine• Rules, Content, Behavior• Models, Terrain, Characters• Game Logic & Programming• Artificial Intelligence - NPCs• Operational Test• Level & Strategy Test• Usability & Play Test• Documentation – user & design

documentation

Virtual World Simulations• Treatment/Concept• Game Design & Objectives• Learning Rubrics & Behaviors• Modeling & Prototyping• Texturing & Scripting• Integration – external resources

– Multimedia, Bots, Databases

• Operational Test• Usability & Play Test• Learning Assessment• User Documentation - informal

Badges and Gamification

• Transforming a course into a game– Points and grades become gold and rewards– Reputation, titles and badges– Incentivizes learning– Minimizes game development– Uses a similar assessment strategy– If competitive, requires anonymity, seeding the population

with NPCs

Benefits of Games

Games can stimulate

• Problem solving• Critical thinking• Digital literacy• Strategy & tactics• Motor skill development• Collaboration• Leadership & courage• Socialization

Game-based learning

• Vision & creativity• Sustainability• Immersion • Learning retention• Heutagogy• Knowledge networks• Socio-technical skills• Entrepreneurship

Game Papers by Our Speakers

• Guimaraes, M. & Murray, M. (2008). An exploratory overview of teaching computer game development. Retrieved from http://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/facpubs/1375/

• Hoganson, K. (2010). Teaching Programming Concepts with GameMaker. Retrieved from http://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/facpubs/2245/

• Wang, T., Guo, L., Li, G., Li, J., Wang, R., Ren, M., & He, J.S. (2012). Implementing the Jacobi Algorithm for Solving Eigenvalues of Symmetric Matrices with CUDA, NAS 2012, XiaMen, China, June 28-30, 2012.

• Calongne, C., Stricker, A., Truman, B., Murray, J., Lavieri Jr., E., Martini, D. (2014). Slippery Rocks and ALGAE: A Multiplayer Educational Roleplaying Game and a Model for Adaptive Learning Game Design. 19th Annual TCC Worldwide Online Conference Proceedings, April 22, 2014.

A Few Game Creation ResourcesTorque3D - open source http://www.garagegames.com/products/torque-3d

Unity3D Game Engine – Multiplatform http://unity3d.com/

GameMaker Studio by YoYo Games http://www.yoyogames.com/gamemaker/

SL Game Kit – no programming https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/16732?id=16732

Games in Education - Game Creation Tools http://gamesined.wikispaces.com/Game+Creation+Tools

Class Tools.net: Create Interactive flash games for education http://www.classtools.net/

Create & Play PurposeGames http://www.purposegames.com/

Artificial Intelligence Resources:

Pandorabots – Chatbot Creation http://www.pandorabots.com/botmaster/en/home

Games and ResearchWright, W. (2010). Games as Tools for Science and Society. GameTech.

Slides: http://www.slideshare.net/guesta79ddf9/orando2010-5

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fulyfB0c_CQ

McGonigal (2010). Reality is Broken. http://janemcgonigal.com/

McCrea, B. (2012). WoWing Language Arts. The Journal, Sept. 2012. http://online.qmags.com/TJL0912/default.aspx?pg=24&mode=1#pg24&mode1

Boyle, A. (2011). Gamers solve molecular puzzle that baffled scientists

http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2011/09/18/7802623-gamers-solve-molecular-puzzle-that-baffled-scientists?lite

Steinkuehler, C. 2010. MMOs, Learning & The New Pop Cosmopolitanhttp://archive.nmc.org/2010-nml-symposium/steinkuehler-keynote

NMC Horizon Report http://www.nmc.org/horizon-project/horizon-reports

Re-Mission 2: Fight cancer and WIN! Games for cancer based on scientific research http://www.re-mission2.org/

Game Videos

Jane McGonigal (2010). : Gaming can make a better world. Ted Talks. http://www.ted.com/talks/jane_mcgonigal_gaming_can_make_a_better_world.html

CNN. (2010). Gaming to save the world. Jane McGonigal on Evoke. http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/tech/2010/03/09/am.game.solves.problems.cnn#/video/tech/2010/03/09/am.game.solves.problems.cnn

Schell, J. (2010). When games invade real life. http://www.ted.com/talks/jesse_schell_when_games_invade_real_life.html

Novak, Kae. (2012). Massively Minecraft’s Open House Tour. Abacus from GAMESMOOC narrating. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZez0EZKL6U

Five-Minute Film Festival: Game-Based Learninghttp://www.edutopia.org/blog/film-festival-video-game-based-learning

Edu Games and Game Design Labs

3D Game Lab http://3dgamelab.com/

Massively Minecraft – Jokaydia Minecraft Servers http://massivelyminecraft.org/

Quest Atlantis ARX http://www.questatlantis.org/

WoW in School http://wowinschool.pbworks.com/w/page/5268731/FrontPage

Games Based Learning MOOC http://gamesmooc.shivtr.com/

Virtual Harmony, Mars Geothermal Game http://harmonyestate.dyndns-ip.com/?q=node/11

Mars Expedition Strategy Challenge Trailerhttps://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=1399395902637&set=vb.124529564864&type=3&permPage=1

Mars Expedition Strategy Challenge Video: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=1404251944035&set=vb.124529564864&type=3&permPage=1

Presentations on Designing GamesFliesen, D. and Calongne, C. (2012). Virtual guides: a hybrid approach to immersive

learning. http://www.slideshare.net/lyrlobo/game-tech-virtual-guides-fliesen-calongne

Stricker, A. and Calongne, C. (2011). Games and simulation design: from a hostage rescue game to geothermal energy on Mars in Virtual Harmony http://www.slideshare.net/lyrlobo/gordon-research-conference-2011

Calongne, C. (2011). Designing simulations and games: design tips and tricks http://www.slideshare.net/lyrlobo/designing-simulations-and-gamesdesign-tips-and-tricks

Calongne, C. (2010). Mars Expedition GameTech 2010 http://www.slideshare.net/lyrlobo/mars-expedition-game-tech-2010

Calongne C. and Stricker, A. (2009). Evaluating a Game Simulation Kit in Second Life. http://www.slideshare.net/lyrlobo/evaluating-a-game-simulation-kit-in-second-life

Calongne, C. (2009). Designing Games & Learning Activities in Second Life http://www.slideshare.net/lyrlobo/designing-games-and-learning-activities-in-second-life

Calongne, C. (2012). Highlights from 33 Classes with Lyr Lobo in an Animoto Video http://ctusoftware.blogspot.com/2012/08/highlights-from-33-classes-with-lyr.html

Tools and Templates for Teaching Video Game Development Ken Hoganson

Cynthia CalongneMario Guimaraes

Jing Selena HeBarbara Truman

Foundations of Digital Games 2014April 3-7, 2014