Game Design Resources
Designing Your Game
Videos
Start with this Extra Credits YouTube playlist Links to an external site.. Note that each video has a related required assignment - look on the Home page in the Stencyl module.
Documenting your game
You will be documenting your game design (eventually) in a format like the one described here Links to an external site. and like this example Links to an external site.. The earlier you start thinking about game design, the better your game will be in the end.
What will you make?
Here are some things to think about.
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What kind of game will you make? Here are some possibilities and examples. Don't limit yourself - your game might be better if it takes ideas from a few categories!
- simulation (Guitar Hero, NBA2K, Sims 2, Tamagotchi, dice, cards, flying an airplane)
- adventure/strategy (Legend of Zelda, Terraria, Minecraft, Civilization, Clash Royale, Plants vs. Zombies, chess)
- puzzle (Tetris, Candy Crush, Minesweeper, Rubik's cube, Snake, Q*bert, Candy Crush?)
- role-playing (World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy, Fallout)
- educational (topics could include business/money, training, health/medical, environment, engineering/how things work)
- platformer (Flappy Bird, Super Mario Bros., Space Invaders, Sonic, Donkey Kong, Frogger, Pac-Man?, Pong?)
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What theme will your game have?
- Will it be a game for change Links to an external site.? Take a look at the 3 suggested themes.
- Will it follow the Oregon Game Project Challenge Links to an external site. theme (will be announced Nov 11)?
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What story will your game tell?
- Here are some rules of thumb for storytelling Links to an external site. to help you make your game more fun to play.
- Here is a just-for-fun game namer Links to an external site. -- if you are having trouble coming up with an idea, this might get you started! (Note: not all of these names will be school appropriate, so use your judgement to make sure the name you choose is rated G.)
- Here are some setting ideas Links to an external site. to help inspire you.
Making your game
Resources
When you find a downloadable resource, be sure to save its information for later. You will need to credit all your sources for sounds, music, etc.
Game art
Make pixel art in Piskel!
- make a Piskel account: https://www.piskelapp.com/ Links to an external site.
- Piskel quickstart video: https://youtu.be/tlpCU871Xyg Links to an external site.
- Piskel how-to doc Links to an external site.
- borrow Ms. O'Malley's pixel art Links to an external site.
But wait - how do I make pixel art?
- how-to for games - video playlist - choose what you want to learn about: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLG0tvJ_jRDIVqRSjelh_uyuZpREN-T4ZF Links to an external site.
- how-to for games - text: http://blog.studiominiboss.com/pixelart Links to an external site. or http://gas13.ru/v3/tutorials/sywtbapa_almighty_grass_tile.php Links to an external site.
- pixel art techniques: http://pixeljoint.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11299 Links to an external site.
- some interesting info about optimization of art for memory and performance: https://www.codeandweb.com/texturepacker/tutorials Links to an external site. - let me know if you're interested in trying out Texture Packer
Sound effects
Make your own
- JSFXR (http://github.grumdrig.com/jsfxr Links to an external site.)
- Garage Band (on our class iPad)
- Sonic Pi (coded music, already downloaded on our class computers)
- Audacity (https://sourceforge.net/projects/audacity Links to an external site. - let me know if you want to download this)
Downloadable (you will need to credit the source in your game)
- Free Sound (http://freesound.org/ Links to an external site.)
- YouTube Audio Library: go to Creator Studio (under your account icon on the right) → Create (in the menu on the left)
Music
Make your own
- Audio Tool (https://www.audiotool.com/ Links to an external site.)
- Garage Band (on our class iPad)
- Sonic Pi (coded music, already downloaded on our class computers)
- Audacity (https://sourceforge.net/projects/audacity Links to an external site. - let me know if you want to download this)
Downloadable (you will need to credit the source in your game)
- Free Sound (http://freesound.org/ Links to an external site.)
- CC mixter (http://ccmixter.org/ Links to an external site.)
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YouTube
- search "creative commons music"
- Audio Library: go to Creator Studio (under your account icon on the right) → Create (in the menu on the left)