Video Game Design/Developers

Hey all, trying to get some thoughts on how to help my students and partner teacher for Game Design.

For context, I am in the middle of setting up a three-year elective pathway for Game Development (Game Design -> Game Programming -> Advanced Game Programming). The only non-negotiables that I've gotten from admin is that it has to be a draw for students to apply to our school (we're basically a public magnet) and that it needs to prepare students for the Unity Certified User Programmer test. I know some of you have said you don't like that test, but it's the job I was given.

For the Game Programming classes (juniors and seniors), we'll be using Unity, prepping for the test, and then extending to whatever else they want to do (team/individual projects, VR, etc). I'm not worried about those right now.

For my Design class (sophomores), I'm trying to figure out what would be most helpful. First, most students have no programming background at that point, though some may be in AP CSP at the same time. That course also has a section taught by another teacher with no programming background. This year, they ended by making a project in Microsoft's MakeCode Arcade and I've seen some good projects, but I've heard that it was a rocky start for a lot of them.

I know I want that class to be able to make something, but what are your experiences with entry game engines? I've heard good things about GDevelop and since it's no/low code, I wonder if my partner teacher might be able to get more hands-on with it as well. Maybe keep going with MakeCode's block system. Maybe try to start them in Unity before they see it the next year? Just trying to find something that works for them before they have much programming background and for another teacher who doesn't have that experience either.

Any thoughts? Thanks!

Hey all, trying to get some thoughts on how to help my students and partner teacher for Game Design.

For context, I am in the middle of setting up a three-year elective pathway for Game Development (Game Design -> Game Programming -> Advanced Game Programming). The only non-negotiables that I've gotten from admin is that it has to be a draw for students to apply to our school (we're basically a public magnet) and that it needs to prepare students for the Unity Certified User Programmer test. I know some of you have said you don't like that test, but it's the job I was given.

For the Game Programming classes (juniors and seniors), we'll be using Unity, prepping for the test, and then extending to whatever else they want to do (team/individual projects, VR, etc). I'm not worried about those right now.

For my Design class (sophomores), I'm trying to figure out what would be most helpful. First, most students have no programming background at that point, though some may be in AP CSP at the same time. That course also has a section taught by another teacher with no programming background. This year, they ended by making a project in Microsoft's MakeCode Arcade and I've seen some good projects, but I've heard that it was a rocky start for a lot of them.

I know I want that class to be able to make something, but what are your experiences with entry game engines? I've heard good things about GDevelop and since it's no/low code, I wonder if my partner teacher might be able to get more hands-on with it as well. Maybe keep going with MakeCode's block system. Maybe try to start them in Unity before they see it the next year? Just trying to find something that works for them before they have much programming background and for another teacher who doesn't have that experience either.

Any thoughts? Thanks!

Hey all, trying to get some thoughts on how to help my students and partner teacher for Game Design.

For context, I am in the middle of setting up a three-year elective pathway for Game Development (Game Design -> Game Programming -> Advanced Game Programming). The only non-negotiables that I've gotten from admin is that it has to be a draw for students to apply to our school (we're basically a public magnet) and that it needs to prepare students for the Unity Certified User Programmer test. I know some of you have said you don't like that test, but it's the job I was given.

For the Game Programming classes (juniors and seniors), we'll be using Unity, prepping for the test, and then extending to whatever else they want to do (team/individual projects, VR, etc). I'm not worried about those right now.

For my Design class (sophomores), I'm trying to figure out what would be most helpful. First, most students have no programming background at that point, though some may be in AP CSP at the same time. That course also has a section taught by another teacher with no programming background. This year, they ended by making a project in Microsoft's MakeCode Arcade and I've seen some good projects, but I've heard that it was a rocky start for a lot of them.

I know I want that class to be able to make something, but what are your experiences with entry game engines? I've heard good things about GDevelop and since it's no/low code, I wonder if my partner teacher might be able to get more hands-on with it as well. Maybe keep going with MakeCode's block system. Maybe try to start them in Unity before they see it the next year? Just trying to find something that works for them before they have much programming background and for another teacher who doesn't have that experience either.

Any thoughts? Thanks!

Hey all, trying to get some thoughts on how to help my students and partner teacher for Game Design.

For context, I am in the middle of setting up a three-year elective pathway for Game Development (Game Design -> Game Programming -> Advanced Game Programming). The only non-negotiables that I've gotten from admin is that it has to be a draw for students to apply to our school (we're basically a public magnet) and that it needs to prepare students for the Unity Certified User Programmer test. I know some of you have said you don't like that test, but it's the job I was given.

For the Game Programming classes (juniors and seniors), we'll be using Unity, prepping for the test, and then extending to whatever else they want to do (team/individual projects, VR, etc). I'm not worried about those right now.

For my Design class (sophomores), I'm trying to figure out what would be most helpful. First, most students have no programming background at that point, though some may be in AP CSP at the same time. That course also has a section taught by another teacher with no programming background. This year, they ended by making a project in Microsoft's MakeCode Arcade and I've seen some good projects, but I've heard that it was a rocky start for a lot of them.

I know I want that class to be able to make something, but what are your experiences with entry game engines? I've heard good things about GDevelop and since it's no/low code, I wonder if my partner teacher might be able to get more hands-on with it as well. Maybe keep going with MakeCode's block system. Maybe try to start them in Unity before they see it the next year? Just trying to find something that works for them before they have much programming background and for another teacher who doesn't have that experience either.

Any thoughts? Thanks!