GCSE ICT – Unit 2 Multimedia and Games Technology GCSE ICT Games Technology Gerard Duffy Principal Moderator Geoff Ewart Anita McGinn Peter Mitchell Assistant Principal Moderator

Introduction Generic software applications are extremely versatile. A range of software is available to develop games (to name a few). –MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint.. ) –Matchware Mediator. –GameMaker, Scratch.

Scenario (Reviewed annually) Tom is the owner of the multimedia authoring company, ‘Reboot’. Reboot produces a wide genre of games, including role play, action, adventure and puzzle games. Tom has asked you to work on Reboot’s latest gaming project. The game you have been asked to develop can be on a topic of your choice. As the main multimedia developer, it is your responsibility to ensure the game fulfils the aims of the intended audience. You must develop the game proposal, create the actual game, develop a user guide and evaluate the newly designed game.

Part A - Game Proposal The design for the computer game should include:

Part A - Game Proposal target audience.A statement describing your target audience. –ICT experience and age range of the target audience.

Part A - Game Proposal rulesThe rules of the game. –The proposal can be in bullet point format or short paragraph. –It should be evident how a player can win or loose and how scores can be increased or decreased.

Part A - Game Proposal game genreThe game genre. –Types of genre: Role play games, action, adventures and puzzles. –Brief summary of game genre selected. –Why is this game genre appropriate?

Part A - Game Proposal StoryboardStoryboard to include details of the game design. –Candidates are not expected to produce highly detailed plans at this level. –Consider needs of target audience – provide wire-frames and possible pathways. –Hand-drawn plans acceptable – scanned in pdf format.

Storyboard Exemplar

Part B - Game Creation The candidate will develop the computer game identified in the proposal. The game should include:

Part B - Game Creation Electronic instructions/helpElectronic instructions/help facility. –Must be user friendly. –Access the link from any point in the game. –Candidates can create the help files in Word documents or the package they used to create the game.

Part B - Game Creation A score counter.A score counter. –Must be accurate and display score/result. –Increments and decreases the score based on the rules – if candidates increase or decrease scores by one – this is sufficient and appropriate marks allocated. –Score could take account of questions answered correctly, accuracy of meeting the target, etc.

Part B - Game Creation AppropriatefeedbackAppropriate feedback. –Two examples of feedback. –Need not be written: text, graphic or audio. –Possibly either present the user with a ‘Well done’ text message and a ‘clap’. –Error messages, where the user is in the game/level or if the rules are broken. –Timer (displaying time limit)/Colour change. –Follow up action, e.g. door opening.

Part B - Game Creation User interaction.User interaction. –Via button click or roll-over events.

Part B - Game Creation Two alternative pathways.Two alternative pathways. –Can be achieved using menus, where users can make selections. –Or users can select their pathway through the game at the outset.

Part B - Game Creation An original animation.An original animation. –Suitable graphic created. –Use image editing software (Photoshop, Image Ready) or image manipulation websites, for example, –Record on candidate sheets where exactly the animation is positioned.

Part B - Game Creation Graphics in an appropriate format.Graphics in an appropriate format. –Any suitable compressed format. –Optimised to ensure game runs at an appropriate speed.

Part C - User Guide User GuideThe User Guide should include step by step instructions about how to use the game. –Use of screenshots. –Annotation. –Is the guide suitable for the intended audience? –Non-technical language.

An effective user guide needs to consider the intended audience. Possible areas: How to open the game, navigation, explanation of every core function, scoring, help. User Guide

Part D - Game Evaluation Evaluate the gameEvaluate the game by commenting on: –The suitability of the user interface. –The accuracy of the score counter. –The effectiveness of the help facility/instructions. –Suitability of language and graphics. –Areas of improvement.

Part D - Game Evaluation Self and peer-evaluation to suggest improvements. Good use of specialist language. Game Evaluation GridComplete the Game Evaluation Grid (GEG) and include it in the evaluation document.

GEG Exemplar Game Evaluation GridGame Evaluation Grid (GEG) focussed on the game Interface, Graphics, Use of Colour, Help Facilities, Scoring and Feedback.

Submission All documentation should be available as a pdf link from the game.All documentation should be available as a pdf link from the game. – Part A: Game Proposal. – Part B: Game Creation (actual game). – Part C: User Guide – Part D: Evaluation.