FOUNDATIONS IN MEDIA AND DIGITAL DESIGN: ANIMATION & GAME DESIGN TEACHER GUIDE PRINCIPLES OF GAME DESIGN dma.edc.org Education Development Center, Inc. Carissa Baquiran, Kristen Bjork, Jen Clarke, Jennifer Davis-Kay, Maria D’Souza, Eliza Fabillar, Roser Giné, Ilene Kantrov, Nahia Kassas, Patricia Konarski, Emily McLeod, Kate McQuade, Katie Loesel, Cynthia Orrell, Elena Palanzi, Susan Timberlake, Jason Tranchida, Susan Richmond. © Education Development Center, Inc. 2010. All rights reserved. Downloading or photocopying for noncommercial educational use is acceptable. This work may not be reproduced or otherwise disseminated for any other purpose without the express written consent of EDC. Please contact EDC’s associate general counsel to inquire about gaining EDC’s written consent. Contact Education Development Center, Inc. 55 Chapel Street, Newton, MA 02458-1060, USA Phone: 617.969.7100 · Fax: 617.969.5979 · TTY: 617.964.5448 www.edc.org ISBN 978-0-89292-593-3 Web Site dma.edc.org Development Partners The James Irvine Foundation Anne Stanton, Rogéair Purnell, Kathryn Furano, Matt Kelemen ConnectEd: The California Center for College and Career Gary Hoachlander, Paula Hudis, Pier Sun Ho, Khahn Bui, Dave Yanofsky DIGITAL/MEDIA/ARTS: ANIMATION & GAME DESIGN UNIT 2: PRINCIPLES OF GAME DESIGN © Education Development Center, Inc. 2010 Advisors Industry and Community Advisors Deborah Brooks Melissa Malinowsky Brock Ramirez The ACME Network Independent Photo Editor Knowledge Adventure Milton Chen, PhD Erik Mason Chris Runde The George Lucas Educational Foundation Imaginary Forces Bay Area Video Coalition (BAVC) Michael Feldman Dave Master Jessica Sack Independent Sound Editor The ACME Network Yale University Art Gallery Marilyn Friedman Kathleen Milnes John Tarnoff DreamWorks Animation LLC The Entertainment Economy Institute DreamWorks Animation LLC Pete Galindo Dan Norton Moriah Ulinskas Independent Video Consultant and Educator Filament Games Bay Area Video Coalition (BAVC) Patrick Jensen Scot Osterweil Eric Zimmerman DreamWorks Animation LLC The Education Arcade Gamelab Kate Johnson John Perry EZTV The ACME Network Secondary Educators and Pilot Teachers *We are particularly grateful for the suggestions and guidance of the teachers who pilot tested the curriculum. George Burdo* Soma Mei-Sheng Frazier Matt Maurin* Grant Communications Technology Magnet, Oakland School for the Arts, Oakland, CA Edison High School, Stockton, CA Los Angeles, CA Shivohn Garcia Jack Mitchell Joel Buringrud* Paul Cuffee School, Providence, RI California Department of Education Harmony Magnet Academy, Strathmore, CA Lorena Guillen* Frank Poje Pam Carter John Muir High School, Pasadena, CA History-Social Science Educator Santa Susana High School, Simi Valley, CA John Hammelmann* Carlos Robles* Deborah Claesgans Harmony Magnet Academy, Strathmore, CA Media Arts Lead Teacher, Los Angeles, CA Arts Education Branch, Shawn Loescher Nicholas Rogers Los Angeles Unified School District Office of College, Career & Technical Career Development Unit, DACE, Cathee Cohen Education, San Diego Unified School District Los Angeles Unified School District Grover Cleveland High School, Caroline Lorimer* Mark Rosseau* Los Angeles, CA Metropolitan High School, Los Angeles, CA Richmond High School, Richmond, CA Virginia Eves Gail Marshall* Shawn Sullivan Office of College, Career & Technical Van Nuys High School, Los Angeles, CA Sheldon High School, Elk Grove, CA Education, San Diego Unified School District Post-Secondary Educators Kristine Alexander Evarist Giné Casey Reas The California Arts Project, Professor of Mathematics, University of California, Los Angeles California State University University of Connecticut Carl Rosendahl John Avakian Samuel Hoi Carnegie Mellon University- Community College Multi-media Otis College of Art and Design, CA Silicon University Campus and Entertainment Initiative David Javelosa Guy Smith College of San Mateo, CA Santa Monica Community College, CA Santa Barbara City College, CA Brandi Catanese Jack Lew Matt Williams University of California, Berkeley Center for Emerging Media, Institute for Multimedia Literacy, Elizabeth Daley University of Central Florida University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts, Sue Maberry Holly Willis University of Southern California Otis College of Art and Design, CA Institute for Multimedia Literacy, Amy Gantman University of Southern California Tara McPherson Otis College of Art and Design, CA University of Southern California Ellen Winner Project Zero, Carol Murota Harvard Graduate School of Education, MA University of California, Berkeley DIGITAL/MEDIA/ARTS: ANIMATION & GAME DESIGN UNIT 2: PRINCIPLES OF GAME DESIGN © Education Development Center, Inc. 2010 Contents Unit Overview ..............................................................................................................1 Unit Project Description ............................................................................................. 2 Assessment ....................................................................................................................... 2 Framing Questions ....................................................................................................... 3 Understandings .............................................................................................................. 3 Technical Skills Taught and Practiced ................................................................. 3 Where the Unit Fits In ................................................................................................. 4 Connection to Integrated Academic Units ...................................................... 6 Career Connections ...................................................................................................... 7 Table of Activities .......................................................................................................... 8 Advance Preparation ................................................................................................. 12 Part 1: Introduction to Games ................................................................... 14 Activity 1A: Elements and Features of Games ............................................ 14 Activity 1B: Exploring Game Development Software ............................. 43 Part 2: Reverse Design ....................................................................................... 48 Activity 2A: Introduction to Reverse Design ................................................ 48 Activity 2B: User Interface ..................................................................................... 55 Part 3: Video Game Design and Development ......................... 64 Activity 3A: Concept Development ................................................................... 64 Activity 3B: Preliminary Game Design ............................................................. 76 Activity 3C: Interface Design ................................................................................. 85 Activity 3D: Art Design ............................................................................................. 89 Activity 3E: Creating the Game ......................................................................... 104 Part 4: Presenting the Game ..................................................................... 119 Activity 4A: The Career Profile Project .......................................................... 119 Activity 4B: Preparing and Delivering the Presentation ...................... 126 DIGITAL/MEDIA/ARTS: ANIMATION & GAME DESIGN UNIT 2: PRINCIPLES OF GAME DESIGN © Education Development Center, Inc. 2010 Appendix A: Game Development Software................................................... 130 Appendix B: Video Game Genres ......................................................................... 134 Appendix C: Game Design Challenges .............................................................. 137 Appendix D: Physical Prototyping Activity ..................................................... 141 Appendix E: The Career Profile Project ............................................................. 156 Materials Needed ......................................................................................................... 158 Media & Resources ...................................................................................................... 158 Standards .......................................................................................................................... 170 Bibliography .................................................................................................................... 174 DIGITAL/MEDIA/ARTS: ANIMATION & GAME DESIGN UNIT 2: PRINCIPLES OF GAME DESIGN © Education Development Center, Inc. 2010 Unit Overview Why do people play games? How are games structured? How can you Unit Length design a video game that creates an engaging experience for a player? 40 50-minute sessions In this unit, students learn principles and strategies for designing games. Students play and analyze a variety of games, exploring both game structure and how the games are played. Students create a “reverse- design document” of an existing game. They unpack the design elements of the game and identify components and features—such as game play, level of challenge, and the game’s visual environment—that make the game engaging. For their unit project, students work in teams to design and create a simple video game using