Video Game Design

VIDEO GAME DESIGN OVERVIEW 5. A deduction of five (5) points total will be incurred Video game design demands the use of complex for a game that completes under the three intellectual, artistic, and technical skills. Once learned, (3)-minute time minimum. these skills may be applied in many other high 6. The timing of the game segment starts with the technology occupations within the sciences, technology, first image or sound presented. and the arts. SEMIFINAL ROUND Participants develop a video game that focuses on the 1. Semifinalists participate in an onsite interview that subject of their choice. The game must be interesting, lasts approximately five to ten (5-10) minutes. exciting, visually appealing, and intellectually challenging. 2. As part of each semifinalist interview, each team The game must have high artistic, educational, and social will participate in a LEAP interview that will last a value. maximum of five (5) additional minutes. The game and all required documentation must be submitted — and will be evaluated — online, pre- LEAP conference. Semifinalist teams (list posted at the A team LEAP Report is required for this event and must conference) participate in an onsite interview to be submitted at event check-in (see LEAP Program). demonstrate the knowledge and expertise they gained during the development of the game. ATTIRE The theme of the current year’s game will be posted on TSA competition attire is required for this event. the national TSA website under Competition Themes/ Problems. PROCEDURE PRELIMINARY ROUND ELIGIBILITY 1. Participants design, create, provide documentation Three (3) teams per state may participate. for, and submit the game entry and the team LEAP Report by 11:59 p.m. (PDT) on May 15th (see Time TIME LIMITS Limits). The game may be an online based game, PRELIMINARY ROUND or one that is a downloadable *.exe file. 1. All components of the chapter’s entry, including 2. Submission information will be provided on the the website address (URL) for the entry, must be TSA website under Competition/Themes and finished, submitted, and accessible via the Internet Problems. by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) on May 3. All questions pertaining to Video Game Design 15th. should be emailed to the event coordinator or the 2. Entries received, or changes made to submitted event manager. entries after this deadline will not be judged. 4. Entries are reviewed by judges prior to the 3. Email verification of each team’s entry will be made National TSA Conference. by June 10th. 5. A semifinalist list of twelve (12) teams (in random 4. The game submitted for evaluation must be order) will be posted at the conference on the first greater than three (3) minutes in length of play and full day of competition. must be interactive. Technology Student Association (TSA) High School Competitive Events Guide for the 2019 and 2020 National TSA Conferences 309 VIDEO GAME DESIGN SEMIFINAL ROUND H. The required documentation (noted below) must be 1. Semifinalist teams sign up for an interview time submitted with the game URL address in the form of a on the date and time noted in the conference PDF attachment: program. 1. LEAP Report 2. Two (2) team members from each semifinalist team 2. A completed Student Copyright Checklist (see report to the event area. Forms Appendix) 3. Semifinalist teams will have a chance to answer 3. A hand-drawn storyboard, which depicts the questions about their documentation, game, design concept of the video game; pages as the game’s purpose, value, design, rules, and needed development process. 4. Purpose and description of the game, the target 4. The LEAP interview will be conducted as part of audience, and a detailed explanation of how to the semifinalist interview. play the game, including a list of control functions; 5. Judges independently assess the entries, two (2) pages including the team’s LEAP Report. 5. A completed Plan of Work log (see Forms 6. The top ten (10) finalists will be announced during Appendix); pages as needed the awards ceremony. 6. Permission letters for the use of copyrighted material; pages as needed (if applicable) REGULATIONS I. Required documentation becomes the property of PRELIMINARY ROUND TSA. A. The game and required documentation must be located online and accessible for evaluation. The SEMIFINAL ROUND game may be an online based game, or one that is a A. Two (2) team members participate in a semifinal downloadable *.exe file. interview. B. The URL must point to the team’s entry. B. The LEAP Report C. The game must be entertaining, exciting, and 1. Teams document the leadership skills the team challenging and have artistic, social, and educational has developed and demonstrated while working value. on this event, and on a non-competitive event D. Game instructions must be clear and understandable. leadership experience. E. Entries must be a team project. 2. Teams will respond to questions about the content F. Judges must be able to play the game to the third of the LEAP Report as part of the LEAP interview, (3rd) level. which will be conducted immediately following the event-specific interview. G. The game must include original work of the team. 3. Specific LEAP Report regulations can be found in 1. Game architecture, game engines, graphics, and the LEAP Program section of this guide and on the sounds may be used from other sources. TSA website. 2. Work that is not created by the team must have proper documentation, showing copyright permissions and/or license for usage in the game segment. 310 Technology Student Association (TSA) High School Competitive Events Guide for the 2019 and 2020 National TSA Conferences VIDEO GAME DESIGN EVALUATION PRELIMINARY ROUND 1. The quality of the required documentation 2. The game’s aesthetics, flow, story, content, sound (preferred but not required), and characters 3. The first three (3) levels of the game 4. Up to fifteen (15) bonus points may be added by the judges for exceptional game features, or for content showing exemplary educational and social value. SEMIFINAL ROUND 1. A semifinalist interview 2. The content and quality of the LEAP Report and interview Refer to the official rating form for more information. NOTES The Video Game Design submission procedure noted in this guide applies to entries for the National TSA Conference only, and not TSA state conferences. STEM INTEGRATION This event aligns with the STEM educational standards of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. CAREERS RELATED TO THIS EVENT • Animator • Computer programmer • Electronic game designer • Electronic game technician • Writer Technology Student Association (TSA) High School Competitive Events Guide for the 2019 and 2020 National TSA Conferences 311 Participant/Team ID# �� VIDEO GAME DESIGN Go/No Go Specifications • Before judging the entry, ensure that the items below are 2019 & 2020 OFFICIAL RATING FORM present; indicate presence with a check mark in the box. • If an item is missing, leave the box next to the item blank HIGH SCHOOL and place a check mark in the box labeled ENTRY NOT EVALUATED. Judges: Using minimal (1-4 points), adequate (5-8 points), or exemplary (9-10 • If a check mark is placed in the ENTRY NOT EVALUATED points) performance levels as a guideline in the rating form, record the box, the entry is not to be judged. scores earned for the event criteria in the column spaces to the right. The X1 or X2 notation in the criteria column is a multiplier factor for determining The game is playable. the points earned. (Example: an “adequate” score of 7 for an X1 criterion = Completed LEAP Report is present. 7 points; an “adequate” score of 7 for an X2 criterion = 14 points.) A score of ENTRY NOT EVALUATED zero (0) is acceptable if the minimal performance for any criterion is not met. Record scores Record spaces below. in the column DOCUMENTATION (30 points) Minimal performance Adequate performance Exemplary performance CRITERIA 1-4 points 5-8 points 9-10 points Portfolio Not all portfolio pages are included, Most portfolio elements are included Outstanding organization skills are components and/or the pages are unorganized. and organized. evident in the preparation of the (X1) portfolio, which contains all required elements. Game directions The game explanation is difficult The game directions can be The game explanation is easy to and control function to follow; functions provided are followed, but at times they do not follow, and control functions are (X1) illogical or incorrect. sync with overall workings of the well-matched for the game. game; most control functions are adequate. Plan of Work log Plan of Work log is incomplete and Plan of Work log is included and Plan of Work log is complete and (X1) inaccurate. mostly addresses participation of all shows participation of all members. team members. DOCUMENTATION SUBTOTAL (30 points) 312 Technology Student Association (TSA) High School Competitive Events Guide for the 2019 and 2020 National TSA Conferences VIDEO GAME DESIGN Record scores Record spaces below. GAME DESIGN (70 points) in the column Minimal performance Adequate performance Exemplary performance CRITERIA 1-4 points 5-8 points 9-10 points Creativity and The game lacks creativity; poor The game exhibits adequate The game is highly creative and artisanship artisanship and development are creativity and artisanship. well-crafted. (X2) evident. Technical skill The game lacks originality and The game is original and shows The game is original, highly (X2) shows few technical skills. some evidence of programming artistic, and shows evidence of skills. programming skills. Storyline/flow of the The game follows little or no story The game follows a story line and The game is well-organized and game line; there is limited logical flow to flows adequately from one scene/ flows smoothly from one scene/level (X1) the game.

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