January 12th, 2011

Competition Winners - AnEmaSha

Brian Clark

Comments: 1 Comment Tags: Tags: #dgd, Competitions, games design, Scratch
 : Categories SLF10, games design

In February last year we launched the first LTS Consolarium Games Design Competition and the level of interest from teachers and learners across Scotland was fantastic. When the competition closed on September 3rd 2010, we were very impressed by the quality of the entries and the professional manner in which entrants had prepared their games. We’ve now made arrangements for these games to be hosted online and for you to download them so lets have a little look at what made these games so good and what they are all about in this series of three blogs posts.

AnEmSha

Uh-oh! AnEmSha has crash landed on Earth on her way home! Can you help her gather all the parts of her spaceship from different environments around the world, avoid the dangers that lurk in the forests and oceans of the Earth and keep her energy up by eating the right sort of food? If you are up for the challenge, then this Scratch game is for you. AnEmSha is the product of three pupils from Shapinsay Primary School in Orkney. It was submitted as a group entry for our Game Design Competition and was judged the best in its category.

Learn more about this project

The reasons we liked this game

All three pupils had specific and detailed roles during the project – project manager, programmer and designer. The project was started in school, but most of the communication was done via Glow and email in the learners own time at home with the girls sending each other sprites, ideas, versions of the game and feedback.

The game itself has elements that are found in the most popular and successful adventure games today such as

• Clearly defined user instructions
• Introduction animation to set the scene
• All original artwork and sprite animations
• Ability to ‘skip’ levels if you have the correct code
• 5 levels to work your way though – each with appropriate backgrounds and enemies.
• Cut scenes between levels 3 and 4
• A winning state (AnEmSha gets to fly home) or a losing state (if you get caught by one of the creatures)
• Instructions for animation, scoring, energy, movement and level progression all coded in the Scratch environment.

This type of activity really engages pupils with Game Design. This project has demonstrated that the 3 gilrs are TOPCODERs!

• Target Setting set their own objectives / defining the project
• Organisation people and time management skills
• Peer / Self Assessment what did we do well? How could we make it better? What do we need to do next?
• Collaborative Working communicate using variety of media
• Ongoing Evaluation develop quality control mechanisms for the game eg repeat[create,share, feedback, improve ]
• Develop / Share Skills learn new or improve existing skills in IT, art and design and teamwork
• Encourage investigation “I wonder how I would do ….”

All the Winners

Primary Group Winner - AnEmSha
Secondary Group Winners - Islands of Elemental Evil
Secondary Individual Winner - T. Greep and Co.

September 16th, 2010

Consolarium at SLF10: Seminars and on the LTS Stand

Derek Robertson

Comments: 2 Comments » Tags: Tags: Consolarium, game based learning, games based learning, games design, SLF10
 : Categories Consolarium, SLF10

This year at the Scottish Learning Festival LTS’ Consolarium team offerings in the game based learning field are quite extensive. We have been busily working away with local authority partners over the course of the past year and have many interesting and valuable experiences and ideas to share with our delegates at SLF10.

The LTS Consolarium team are delivering three seminars and they also have a programme of events on the LTS stand. We hope that you may find the time to attend a seminar or even come along to one of our inputs at the LTS stand.

Seminars:

Using Computer Games to Support Literacy and Numeracy

Wednesday 22^nd September, 15:45-16:30

Ollie Bray will share examples of how Consolarium game based learning initiatives have been used to support the development of Numeracy and Literacy within Curriculum for Excellence. His presentation will draw on a range of examples from Primary and Secondary schools. He will also explore how applications such as Google Earth can support the cross cutting themes of CfE.

Using Computer Games to Support Learning in the Early Years

Thursday 23^rd September, 10:30-11:15

Derek Robertson will share some examples of how computer games have been used to engage young learners and support their development within the context of Curriculum for Excellence. He will also show how young learners can raise to meet the demand and challenge presented to them when asked to make their own computer games.

Creation and not just Consumption: Games Design in Scottish School

Thursday 23^rd September, 14:00-14:45

Charlie Love and Brian Clark will share the work that they have been leading on in relation to helping build the capacity within schools to help nurture and grow a culture of creation and not just consumption of digital content. They will discuss the position of games design within Curriculum for Excellence and in so doing will share their experiences in leading computer game design in Scottish schools. They will also showcase the resources available in Glow to support schools as they take this forward.

LTS Stand Programme

Wednesday 22^nd September

10:30-11:30 Game design using Kodu

Come along to see how the Kodu application can be used to make games that can be played on the Xbox or PC. A demonstration will be given as well as the chance for you to begin making your own game.

12:30-13:30 Just Dance/Dance on Broadway

Bring your dancing shoes and feel free to join in as the Consolarium team demonstrate just how games such as Just Dance or Dance on Broadway can make you move! Open discussion about the place of such resources in schools will also take place as well as the opportunity for you to get up on the stand with us and get down!

13:30-14:30 Wedo Lego Scratch

Come along to see how the Lego Wedo kit can be used to enhance the Scratch computer game building experience. You will see how you can build an input device (joypad) that will control the games that you make! A demonstration will be given as well as the chance for you to use this reource.

15:30-16:30 Meet the Eyepet

Come along and meet our Eyepets. You may think that something strange is afoot when you see us stroking and speaking to, what might be appear to be, an imaginary pet….it’s there, but virtually! Come and meet this amazing augmented reality creature and give some thought to how it might find a home in an early years setting near you. (Good news, you don’t need to clean its cage!)

Thursday 23rd September

10:30-11:30 UDK/Unity

The Consolarium team will give a demonstration of how freely available software such as UDK or Unity can raise the bar of expectation and demand of learners by enabling them to build 3D computer games that look and feel almost as good as those that are available commercially.

12:30-13:30 Little Big Planet

Little Big Planet is the hugely successful PS3 game has taken the game experience to a new level. Not only can you play the game but you can also build your own dynamic and complex levels that others can play. Come and see what you can build and engage with the discussion about how this might play a part in offering challenge and demand to your pupils.

14:30-15-30 Endless Ocean

Many games now offer immersive worlds that the player/learner can get lost in without any desire for high score attainment or skill development. Games such as Endless Ocean present low cost immersive worlds that a teacher can use to create the most engaging and beautiful learning experiences. Come along, dive in, splash around and see if you could make this idea float in your class!

Looking forward to seeing you there!

April 26th, 2010

Mario Kart Leaderboards

bmclaren

Comments: 1 Comment Tags:  : Categories Added Value, Consolarium, Games we have, Multi-player games, Nintendo, SLF10, cross-curricular, game based learning

Dum! dumdumdum! dumdum!

dumdumdumdum!

<cue Murray Walker voice>

………….and there goes Mario!

………………and there goes Luigi!

F1 season is well underway and all over Scotland schools are taking up the SLF10 Mario Challenge.

Would you like to race head to head, in front of a live audience and win the title of

SLF10 MarioKarter Champion ?

This year at SLF10 there will be a Mario Kart Grand Prix for Primary and Secondary pupils. In order to qualify you must be in the top 4 verified time trial times.

Teachers must submit a photo of a pupil’s verified Time Trial time. These times will be logged on a leader board held on the Consolarium Glow Group and blog so you can track your position against the whole of Scotland.

At the moment these leaderboards are empty (apart from my rubbish time!) - submit your time now!

The four fastest primary pupils and four fastest secondary pupils will be invited, with school representatives, to compete in a live race final at SLF10. In order to submit a qualifying time you must run your time trial according to the criteria below.

A picture of the complete time trial showing character, kart and time should be forwarded to[email protected]

The four fastest pupils from each sector will then race head to head in the

50cc Mushroom Cup Grand Prix

in front of a live audience at SLF10.

The driver with the most amount of points at the end of the Grand Prix will be the winner and crowned Mario Kart Champion SLF10 and win a Wii and copy of Mario Kart for their school.

Check out the glow group where schools involved will be posting plans, pictures and joining discussions about the game and the work they are undertaking within their class using Mario Kart as a contextual hub or as a subject specific theme.

The closing date for verified Time Trial times is September 3^rd 2010. Qualifiers will be contacted after this date

February 26th, 2010

Digital Games Design Competition @ SLF10

Brian Clark

Comments: 5 Comments » Tags: Tags: cfe, Consolarium, cross-curricular, games design, SLF10
 : Categories Consolarium, Glow, SLF10, cross-curricular, games design

Fancy yourself as a Games Designer?

Do you think Sonic is super?

Do you marvel at Mario?

Are you crazy about Crash?

Love Lara?

Fancy yourself as a games designer? Now is your chance to design, create and market your own computer game with great characters and compelling storylines. Your game only has to meet two criteria for your chance to win some great prizes.

1. It should be an adventure/platform/puzzle game with a story behind it.
2. The player should be able to control a character and solve a puzzle or collect items to progress to the next level / complete the game.

If you are a pupil at a school in Scotland then you can enter your game in one of four categories:

1. Primary Individual
2. Primary Group
3. Secondary Individual
4. Secondary Group

Check out some examples and find out more by watching this video.

You can download the high quality mp4 here, or an iPod mp4 here.

When designing and creating your game, and think about

• characters and background that will be used in the game
• music and sound effects to be used in the game
• levels / progression through the game

Use any game creation tool to build your game. For example 2DIY, Scratch, Kodu, Game Maker, SimsCarnival, Greenfoot, Flash, Net Radiant, Unreal Development Kit, Microsoft XNA or any other appropriate platform

Send us the complete game in an email, or a link or on CD/DVD. Make sure you let us know what software you used.

Need some help to get started?

Consolarium Development Officers, Charlie Love and Brian Clark, are available to offer you some assistance. They can be contacted via email ([email protected] and [email protected] ).

The Final

Successful finalists will be invited to attend the Scottish Learning Festival on the 22^nd/23^rd September to present their game to a panel of Game Developers and Industry Specialists. A number of great prizes will also be on offer including a tour of the studio at game developers, Denki.

The closing date for all entries is Friday 3^rd September 2010

February 21st, 2010

SLF10 MarioKart Challenge

bmclaren

Comments: none Tags: Tags: cross-curricular, Mario Kart, mathematics, SLF10
 : Categories Added Value, Consolarium, Games we have, Glow, Multi-player games, SLF10, cross-curricular, game based learning

Mario Kart Competition @ SLF10

Calling all Jenson Button and Lewis Hamiltons of the future.

Would you like to race head to head, in front of a live audience and win the title of

SLF10 MarioKarter Champion ?

This year at SLF10 there will be a Mario Kart Grand Prix for Primary and Secondary pupils. In order to qualify you must be in the top 4 verified time trial times.

Teachers must submit a photo of a pupil’s verified Time Trial time. These times will be logged on a leader board held on the Consolarium Glow Group and blog so you can track your position against the whole of Scotland. The four fastest primary pupils and four fastest secondary pupils will be invited, with school representatives, to compete in a live race final at SLF10. In order to submit a qualifying time you must run your time trial according to the criteria below.

A picture of the complete time trial showing character, kart and time should be forwarded to [email protected]

The four fastest pupils from each sector will then race head to head in the

50cc Mushroom Cup Grand Prix

in front of a live audience at SLF10.

The driver with the most amount of points at the end of the Grand Prix will be the winner and crowned Mario Kart Champion SLF10 and win a Wii and copy of Mario Kart for their school.

The closing date for verified Time Trial times is September 3^rd 2010. Qualifiers will be contacted after this date.

Have you thought about using MarioKart in your class as a contextual hub or topic? Check out the Consolarium Glow Group for ideas on how you might do this. You might also want to think about how you might use MarioKart in subject specific lessons also. Share your thoughts on the Discussion Board at the Wii, Mario Kart section of the Consolarium Glow Group.

We also have a small number of MarioKart kits (console, software and controllers) available on loan until SLF10. If you are interested in receiving one on loan send us a summary of how you would use it and what you feel the impact would be upon your pupils. Our team will get together and examine all bids and decide upon the lucky applicants. Please send bids to [email protected] and ensure all bids are with us by Monday March 8th.