space invaders design having struggled with game maker - and worried about enabling students - i decided to rewite the space invadrs v 3 as a design document.
i am thinking about using this as the basis for discussing designing a game.
comments welcome
Initially, I had planned to offer our Y10 gifted and talented students the first opportunity to go through the Games Club experience. Having looked at the software and how easy it is to setup fairly basic games, I have decided to open up the club to anyone who is interested (from KS3 or KS4 only). Given the potential interest, I will be limiting the group to 20 students; though I will look seriously at using the software to teach the control elements of the KS3 NC syllabus - at least I hope to eliminate Flowol from National Strategy Unit 7.6.
For those with Moodle servers, there is a basic course already setup on our servers which I will be extending of the coming weeks. If anyone would like a copy, let me know and I will email you with the source of the original course and, in due time, I will let you know where you can download my adapted course.
Gamemaker seems to be an absoloute gem. I can see this working for us at KS3, 4 & 5.
We currently do some game design work with 6th formers who have experienced programming in A’Level Computing. They have thoroughly enjoyed creating simple games in Flash but the ActionScript was very tricky. With Gamemaker I can see the process being accelerated greatly.
I know that a GameMaker’s Club will be popular at KS3 since we have a number of hard core ‘Flash Animation’ nuts who spend nearly every lunchtime in our computer rooms. Many of these would love to move from animation into games design.
KS4 is an area where we intend to develop the iMedia Level 2 course & clearly GameMaker will fulfill the needs of unit 7 (2D Game Engines)
Finally, I am going to enjoy teaching Game Design much more than ‘Goal Seek’ or Flowol.
Game maker looks good and can see a lot of the DiDA group wanting to use it after they have completed D202. Will be offering after school club to Yr 10 OCR NC and to high ability KS3 group. Some year 9’s have already shown an interest.
To start we intend to run a lunchtime club designed to complement our CC4G sessions. But I can see this replacing FLOWOL as our main control software.
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