5.3 Game Choices
OBJECTIVES:
OBJECTIVES: By the end of this lesson, students will:
feel empowered to make game design choices that best suit game needs, eg Score, Timer, Speed.
practice using variables in authentic gaming situations
Game Choice Board
TEACHER RESOURCES:
Standards
CSTA 2-AP-10: Use flowcharts and/or pseudocode to address complex problems as algorithms.
CSTA 2-AP-11: Create clearly named variables that represent different data types and perform operations on their values.
DO NOW:
Students watch the video Job shadowing a video game designer (2:57) , then discuss:
What does Karli say is involved in the game buiding process, besides coding?
Do game designers get feedback on their games?
Can anyone start making their own games?
Mini-Lesson (5-10 minutes)
Preview Pong Game. Slides / Student page. As a game designer, how would you make the game more fun? Why would that improve the game play?
Show the students how to add a variable, name it and increment it. Handout
Project (20-30 minutes)
Day 1: Add a variable to make a game more fun Handout Page 1-2
Students use their game designing skills to enhance a game by adding a variable that makes the game fun and competitive.
General ideas:
Jump : Add 3 lives, when it gets to zero, game stops.
Pong: First reduce speed so that it is is playable. Increase score each time you hit the paddle. When it hits the red line either end game or reduce lives.
Catch: Add apple counter. End game when you basket is full - apple count) or time is up.
Whack-a-Gobo: Add fish counter. End game when you reach fish limit or time is up.
As designers. students can choose to add more than one variable, eg a countdown variable. They could also add visual and audio feedback for their game.
Day 2 : Enhance your game. Handout Page 3
Your students are the game designer. Let them add bells and whistles to their game.
eg. Display a text sprite to say the game is over. This sprite is initially hidden, when "end game"message is broadcast, the sprite is revealed.
Examples of enhancements made to starter games projects: Jump Pong PongSpeed Catch. Whack-a-Gobo. Maze
Close-Out (5 minutes)
Close-Out (5 minutes)
Discuss the following questions:
What is one improvement you wanted to add, but couldn't figure out how to?
How would you improve one of the games you didn't pick.