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ON TIME WEDNESDAY DISCUSSION - Curriculum and ideas (share one, get one)

  • 1.  ON TIME WEDNESDAY DISCUSSION - Curriculum and ideas (share one, get one)

    Posted 04-24-2024 10:08 AM
    Edited by Brian Bautista 04-24-2024 10:21 AM

    We tried this a while ago, but it didn't get a lot of traction, Mel pitched it as an idea, so let's try it again.

    Post a cool assignment idea. Something that hopefully other people could adapt to their needs.

    Right now we are working on our Narrative Design Project, so it is the one time in my intro class that we don't make a game. Instead we are making a narrative treatment of a game. The project is basically in 3 parts:

    1. Character
    2. Setting
    3. Plot

    If it looks like a lot... it kinda is, this is usually the point in the class people get tired of carrying people.

    Narrative Design.pptx

    Google Docs remove preview
    Narrative Design.pptx
    Making a Game to Tell a Story The point in this class that you wish that you stayed awake in English.
    View this on Google Docs >

    Note the page numbers are referencing the textbook I use Challenges for Game Designers, but this is probably the unit I use the book the least.

    I use this rubric to grade the presentation, the written work is basically graded for completion.

    Narrative Design Project Sheet.docx

    Google Docs remove preview
    Narrative Design Project Sheet.docx
    View this on Google Docs >



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    Brian Bautista k12teacher
    Citrus Heights CA
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  • 2.  RE: ON TIME WEDNESDAY DISCUSSION - Curriculum and ideas (share one, get one)

    Posted 04-25-2024 08:11 AM

    After a unit on Strings/text-processing, I had my middle schoolers spend a period playing the original Zork. Then we spent several weeks working on this project. I also wrote my own that they could play at any time as a reference.

    https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tXFtKDNLX1Xt-Xft9LDJFqM_WqbPlwD_UIgC4ahusiU/edit?usp=sharing



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    Zach Huffman
    Computer Science Teacher
    John P Stevens High School
    Edison, NJ
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  • 3.  RE: ON TIME WEDNESDAY DISCUSSION - Curriculum and ideas (share one, get one)

    Posted 04-25-2024 01:36 PM

    I love this. Is this something they do in teams or solo?



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    Brian Bautista k12teacher
    Citrus Heights CA
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: ON TIME WEDNESDAY DISCUSSION - Curriculum and ideas (share one, get one)

    Posted 04-25-2024 01:43 PM

    They choose. At various points throughout the year I had them working solo on some stuff, groups on others, but this was basically the last thing we did so I let them choose. The size of the game has to scale with the group size though--so you have to have more locations, actions, etc if you have more people.



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    Zach Huffman
    Computer Science Teacher
    John P Stevens High School
    Edison, NJ
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: ON TIME WEDNESDAY DISCUSSION - Curriculum and ideas (share one, get one)

    Posted 04-25-2024 03:15 PM
    A couple short lessons I like:

    1. Create an idea for a game when given two random verbs. I usually do this in partners so there is conversation happening.
    Here is a replit link to my random verb generator.

    2. Randomly generated game idea, student develops an elevator pitch for the game idea in a single class period, then presents it to the class.
    Link to random generator:

    3. I bought a bunch of Nintendo Switches and Mario Maker 2. We do a few lessons on Game Design and focus on Nintendo's level design for Mario. GMTK does a great video "Super Mario 3D World's 4 Step Level Design" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBmIkEvEBtA.
    I have students develop a quick level in partners, just to figure out how to use Mario Maker 2 and publish to the web. Then I have them develop a level that introduces a mechanic and levels up the difficulty, with a little twist at the end.

    4. Not a project, but first day of school I play board games with the class. One year my class was small and we played Pictionary together. This year we started with the game "Medium" in groups. Just to focus on play early.

    5. I work on game-modding and iterating at the start of the year with simple game - tic tac toe, go fish, cornhole, etc. The class discusses the rule set being really specific, then discusses what we could tweak. Then go, playtest, iterate, repeat.




    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: ON TIME WEDNESDAY DISCUSSION - Curriculum and ideas (share one, get one)

    Posted 04-29-2024 01:17 PM

    Love your ideas. Saw this recently and your units reminded me of this talk. The speaker was talking about replicating an experience in the design of a game. Loved the idea. Wanted to make sure you had also seen this one.



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    Melanie Honeycutt k12teacher
    Lompoc CA
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: ON TIME WEDNESDAY DISCUSSION - Curriculum and ideas (share one, get one)

    Posted 04-29-2024 01:22 PM
    Loved that talk, something I kinda want to kick around.

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    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: ON TIME WEDNESDAY DISCUSSION - Curriculum and ideas (share one, get one)

    Posted 04-28-2024 01:22 AM

    Not an assignment either, though it could easily be, and the colleague I got it from (Nathan Walker at Riverside USD) does a whole unit on creating interactive fiction (text adventures). In any case, first day of school, we play a whole group (I play the role of the computer and kids take turns as the player) text adventure on this book: https://memento-mori.com/books/parsely-book



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    David Malpica k12teacher
    Cupertino CA
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  • 9.  RE: ON TIME WEDNESDAY DISCUSSION - Curriculum and ideas (share one, get one)

    Posted 04-29-2024 10:24 AM

    Cool to see people using the ideas from a previous presentation in the wild.  I have a bit more detail if anyone would like me to share.  It's a bit rough draft form for outside folks but is malleable.

    Very Rough Draft Unit : Parsely Unit



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    Nate Walker k12teacher
    Riverside CA
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    Original Message


  • 10.  RE: ON TIME WEDNESDAY DISCUSSION - Curriculum and ideas (share one, get one)

    Posted 04-29-2024 01:05 PM

    Thanks, I'm looking at this to see how I might use in my classes. Awesome share!



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    Melanie Honeycutt k12teacher
    Lompoc CA
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    Original Message


  • 11.  RE: ON TIME WEDNESDAY DISCUSSION - Curriculum and ideas (share one, get one)

    Posted 05-15-2024 11:58 AM
    I don't have access to the GDC vault - can you give me a quick summary of the talk? Sounds interesting






  • 12.  RE: ON TIME WEDNESDAY DISCUSSION - Curriculum and ideas (share one, get one)

    Posted 05-15-2024 01:33 PM

    The basics are that the professor used a series of "cover games" as projects for teaching a game engine.

    He had a few examples like PacMan, Mario, Mario Kart and a few others that laid different concepts and learning targets onto each other.

    The idea being that similar to a guitar player learning a solo of their favorite song, by separating the need to design an original concept from the actual process of development, his students could focus on their engine and programing fundamentals.



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    Brian Bautista k12teacher
    Citrus Heights CA
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    Original Message


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