Code: CMP003
Title: Games & Animations
Pre-requisites: Nil
Outcome levels: Level 5/6
Coordinator: Ms M Murray

Game playing might be fun for a while, but how about creating your own game?? A lot of thought, planning, and coding sits behind those things that fly across your screen - it doesn’t just magically happen!

This unit will offer students the opportunity to create their very own games and animations. Sitting behind each game is countless hours of work (fun), starting with a basic design concept, and working towards a finished product.

Students will develop logical thinking skills, problem solving capabilities and determination, as they use their creativity to plan and develop their very own on-line computer game.

Desktop Publishing will also feature in this unit, as students develop a board game, maze, and role-playing games.

Fun activities designed to develop advanced IT skills!

Topics

• Game Creation
  • Planning the Game - where do I begin?
  • Developing the Game - coding
  • Evaluating the Game - did I win?
• Animation
  • Designing the frames
  • Sequencing the frames
  • Creating the flic
  • Eg - leaping frog, bouncing ball, PacMan
• Desktop Publishing
  • Create a Board Game with Virtual Dice and pop-ups
  • Designing a Maze
  • Interactive Powerpoint

Assessment

• Project - Interactive Powerpoint game (mid term)
• Project – Publisher boardgame (end of term)
• Project - GIF Animator or Flash Animation games (end of sem)

At completion students should know

• Design, develop and evaluate process, and its purpose.
• Steps involved in designing an on-line computer game.
• Terminology specific to the process of design.
• Features and capabilities of the software used.
• Procedure for the creation of an animation (cartoon).

At completion students should be able to

• Design a game concept.
• Use software to implement the design.
• Evaluate the game critically and constructively.
• Manipulate images and text.
• Embed objects, including sound.
• Create an animation (cartoon).
• Present a folio of work.
• Access the vast array of internet-based resources.
• Work independently and as part of a team.
• Apply problem-solving skills.
• Analyse and interpret complex information.
• Make comparisons and draw contrasts.
• Draw conclusions and justify these conclusions with evidence.

Literacy elements

• Oral, print and multimedia literacy.
• Focus on subject specific words and their definitions.
• Focus on subject specific spelling.
• Concept mapping.
• Paralinguistic features (spatial arrangements, tables, illustrations).
• Use of generic task sheets.

Integrated technology

• ‘Game Maker’ Software - game making.
• Microsoft Publisher – board game making.
• Flash or GIF Animator Software – animation games.
• Internet for research purposes.

Assignment guidelines

Please refer to the Assignment Guidelines on how to set out bibliographies and references.  

Resources

TBA

Related Links

TBA