Consolarium

Have you got a good idea for a computer game?

Do you have an idea for a computer game that might be the next worldwide smash hit or do you have an idea for a character that could capture the imagination of game players across the globe?

If so, then this year’s LTS does Dragons’ Den competition at The Scottish Learning Festival could be just the opportunity for you to showcase your imagination and ideas to a panel of professional experts from the Scottish computer games industry.

What we are inviting school pupils to do is to devise a concept for a computer game that they will be pitched to the Dragon’s. The time that you will have for your pitch is 10 minutes. The content of your presentation can take any form that you decide but we suggest five areas that you may like you to give consideration to. These are:

• What is the underpinning idea for the game and its game play?
  • Give a clear and concise description of your game
• What is the target audience and appeal of your game?
  • What age range is targeted
  • Who will buy the game and what will motivate them to do so?
• What will the game look like?
  • Design at least two characters and one set to help the Dragons’ visualise your ideas
• What makes your game original?
  • What does your game have that isn’t or hasn’t been on the market
• How would you market your game?
  • Front cover design should be included in your presentation
  • What devices will the game be made for?

* Please note: if you and your team have made a game or have built any associated aspects of your game then please do include this.

Who is the competition open to?
The competition is open to boys and girls from the ages of 3-18

What is the maximum team size?
The maximum numbers of team members is four

Who are the Dragons?
The full and final line-up of Dragons has yet to be confirmed.

What form will the event at SLF’09 take?
The pre-event judging will select four teams to present at SLF’09. At the event each team will be given 10 minutes to make their pitch with 5 minutes questions and feedback from the Dragons. The Dragons will be given a few minutes at the end to decide on which entry they felt proved to be the most innovative and appealing for a games design company.

What presentation facilities are available at SLF ’09
A PC with Powerpoint and a Mac with Keynote will be available to present. We will try, where possible, to accommodate all presentation requirements

Submitting an entry
Entries to the pre-judging aspect of this competition can be sent to consolarium@ltscotland.org.uk. A detailed submission is welcome but contestants must realise that any detailed submissions need to be summarised and delivered in the 10 minute pitch that they have to the Dragons. The closing date for submissions to the competition is Friday 11th September with the successful contestants being notified by Monday 14th September.

We ask that competition entries are submitted by a teacher who has been working with the pupils involved.

Travel arrangements
LTS will cover the cost of travel to and from SLF’09 for all the finalists.

Is there a prize?
Yes, more details to follow…

[ltsflash intranet/Newsround]

Watch the CBBC Newsround report from an Aberdeen school showcasing how its using games-based learing across the curriculum to encourage game designers in the future.

Caspian Learning’s 3D games design package Thinking Worlds is now FREE for schools to access and use. This is one of the applications that we introduced last year as part of our games design project. Teachers initial perceptions and a description of what the game is about can be accessed via this link.

I met a very interesting teacher at the conference who was giving a presentation and running a workshop. Mike Leishman is a computer teacher at Newman College in Perth, Australia and his presentation was about how he is using Web 2.0 applications in his school. His post-conference workshop was about how to programme with Scratch. You may not have been able to make this workshop but Mike has made tutorials available via one of the wikis that he is using. His Kids Programming wiki has tutorials in Scratch and other languages so feel free to dip in and see what’s available. If you can contribute to this wiki then Mike has given me the password to share with you. It is ecawa.

Thanks for this very useful resource Mike.

Wow!! If you have time before the end of the day then you must visit the ‘amazing interactives‘ stand in the education village. I have just seen the future and believe it really is in 3D!

The guys there are showcasing their 3D stereoscopic projection facility that creates the most incredible immersive experience. You have to wear a pair of cool sunglasses that allow you to see the projections in full stereoscopic 3d glory. It really was incredible. A group of children were there at the tim e and they were gasping with delight and attempting to touch what they thought was right before their eyes.

The link with the games world is that this system can be used with Second Life and with other games such as Thinking Worlds from Caspian Learning. In thinking Worlds the learners would create their 3D world and then they could virtually walk about in it.

This is a resource that I can honestly say that I found breathtaking. It really is something else and I urge you to have a look before the end of the day.