Upper Elementary

Computer Science

Game Design

Objective

Design and create a game using multiple programming skills such as loops, conditionals, and variables.

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Vocabulary

Design Thinking: A creative process used to solve a problem based on a user’s needs

There are MANY types of games you can create!

Here are a few types:

• Scrolling.
• Puzzles and Mazes.
• Dodging.
• Role-playing.
• And more!

Scrolling

Puzzles and Mazes

Aim and Throw

Role-playing

To create your game, you may use several skills.

Think about the types of games we just looked at.

• Which type of game was the most interesting to you?
• Why was it the most interesting?
• Do you want your game to have a score?
• Is there a goal of getting to a specific place?
• Is there a goal to gather items?

Do you think you can create the game you have in mind?

• Do you think you have enough time?
• Are you willing to learn new things?
• Are you excited about your game?

Turn and talk.

As you start thinking about the game you want to create, turn and talk to another classmate about your idea.

Get your handout and a pencil ready.

Fill out the plan for your game.

Tips on starting your game.

Start simple.

• Two to four sprites.
• Basic movements or interactions.
• Basic player controls.

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Don’t worry about details, yet. Focus on getting a basic start to your game.

Test and debug often, as you go.

Start by adding the sprites and background for the first part of your game.

Scrolling sprites.

Practice:

Pick a sprite and program it to look like it’s scrolling.

Controlling the sprites with the keyboard.

Practice:

Pick a sprite and program it to move with the keyboard.

Changing scenes (backdrops).

Controlling the sprites with the mouse pointer.

Keeping Score.

Scrolling the background using sprites.

Background sprite #1

Background sprite #2

Using “Lists” to store data.

Don’t worry about all of the detail yet.

Get your game to the point that it has some working parts.

Now it’s time to use your Planning Handout!

Some things to think about:

• What is a basic thing I need to program for a sprite?
• Do the sprites need to communicate or interact?
• Is the player going to control a sprite? How will they do that?

Always keep the GOAL of the game in mind!

You may keep or delete your practice code.

Add extras.

• Create and use variable(s).
• Add extra sprites as obstacles, treasures, etc.

Share your game with a classmate.

Get their feedback.

• Did something not work?
• Was something confusing?

Make changes to your game based on the feedback.

Think about the difficulty of the game.

Is it easy, hard, too hard?

• Can you add the option for the user to choose the difficulty level?
• Choose to make the sprite move slower or faster.
• Choose to make the targets move slower or faster.
• Choose a different difficulty of maze to navigate (different backdrop).

Would a player like to change their character?

• Can you add the option for the player to choose a different look for their sprite?
• Add costumes to the player sprite.
• Add an event (“space key pressed”, or “when this sprite clicked”) to change the way the player’s sprite looks (“next costume”).

Could the game move to other environments?

• Would it make sense to have your game move to different locations?
• Move from the forest to the ocean.
• Move to the moon or in space.
• Move from room to room.

Would a player like to have more feedback as they play the game?

• Can you add more reactions as the game is played?
• Add sound.
• Add “say” blocks.
• Change the look of sprites.
• Add different scores or change how points are gained.

Continue developing your game.

• Is it easy, hard, too hard?
• Can you add the option for the player to choose a different look for their sprite?
• Would it make sense to have your game move to different locations?
• Can you add more reactions as the game is played?

Summary of things to think about...

• Is it easy, hard, too hard?
• Can you add the option for the player to choose a different look for their sprite?
• Would it make sense to have your game move to different locations?
• Can you add more reactions as the game is played?

Ready for more?

• Add more actions, reactions, sounds, etc. to the sprites.
• Add additional scenes.
• Add additional sprites.
• Add additional variables to keep track of scores for different actions/sprites.