Video Game Challenge Part 2

How to design a video game

Gamestar Mechanic

Gamestar Mechanic allows students to learn about how systems work and how they can be modified or changed. Students learn to think analytically and holistically, to experiment and test theories, and to consider other people as part of the systems they create and inhabit.

More information about Gamestar Mechanic

Through the game design process, students cultivate skills involving:• system-based thinking• creative problem solving• art and aesthetics• writing and storytelling• STEM (science, technology, engineering,

mathematics)

STEM Video Game Challenge• Example 1: Sustainability GameYou control a dinosaur that has to eat plants If you eat the plants too quickly, you won't have anything left, but if you don't eat them fast enough, you'll starve.

This game teaches Sustainability and Energy Efficiency.

STEM Video Game Challenge• Example 2: You Make Me SickPlayers design custom viruses and bacteria to try to infect different in-game characters.

This game teaches you about different bacteria and viruses and about the symptoms, treatments, and preventions.

Your Task

• Create 2 video games that are related to STEM concept.

ScienceTechnologyEngineeringMath• Choose a concept (your choice) and create a

third video game

Introduction to Kodu Game LabSTEM Education Through Xbox Game Development

Introduction to Kudo Game LabBoosting STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education has become a priority for the government, for schools, and for tech companies. In emphasizing the importance of doing so, many point to statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor that note that while there will be more than 2 million job openings in STEM-related fields by 2014, fewer than 15% of U.S. college undergraduates now pursue degrees in science or Engineering.

Kodu Game Lab

Even though it doesn't require knowledge of a programming language, Kodu does help develop important programming skills, in part by getting children to think about "if/then" statements and the idea of actions and conditions.

Kodu Game Lab

• Kodu teaches more than programming:• Kodu is a rich tool for narrative creation and

storytelling• Kodu demonstrates that programming is a

creative medium• Kodu helps children with critical thinking,

breaking a complex goal into manageable steps, and iterate on the design process – an approach applicable to all academic subjects, business and personal relationships

More about Kodu Game Lab

• Kodu introduces the logic and problem solving of programming

• Kodu introduces conditions and sequences, which teaches cause and effect

• Students learn about cooperation, logic and creativity in addition to programming

Your Task

• Learn how to operate Kodu Game Lab by going to Load World and exploring the tutorials.

• After exploring tutorials, go to Existing World and choose 3 other games to play.

• Your assignment is to go to Load World then go to Empty World to create 1 STEM game and 1 game using a concept of your choice.