Lesson Objectives Understand the fundamentals of creating computer games. Introduce the ‘When and Do’ programming rules Experiment with Kodu’s capabilities

You can download Kodu at home for free or find it on the school computers under ICT on the start menu.

3 Easy Steps to Kodu - 1 Firstly you need to build your world/ environment. You can do this by planting trees, moulding mountains, planting grass, carving rivers and even constructing buildings.

3 Easy Steps to Kodu - 2 Secondly you need to create life. You can populate your newly created world with characters, vehicles and opponents.

What different methods can you think of to move your character? 3 Easy Steps to Kodu - 3 Finally you need to program the rules. This sounds scary but its actually quite easy. You need to decide how players move, score points and win/lose the game. What different methods can you think of to move your character?

Programming the rules Kodu programming involves selecting visual tiles for a condition (WHEN) and an action (DO) You can learn about cooperation, logic and creativity, not just about programming

Programming the rules For example the first game you are going to create will require your character (Kodu) to move around your world collecting apples. Each apple it collects will gain you 10 points. Using the WHEN and DO programming method we can set up these rules easily. Remember we need to consider the following; You need to decide how players move, score points and win/lose the game.

WHEN & DO We will make this game next lesson Move Score Points WHEN the user presses the arrow keys, DO move in the appropriate direction. (You can also use the mouse and an Xbox controller.) Score Points See if you can do the next 2 scoring and win/lose? Win/Lose WHEN Kodu moves over an apple DO pick it up and score 10 points WHEN Kodu collects all apples DO win the game We will make this game next lesson

Experiment For the remainder of the lesson load some of the games other people have already made in Kodu to see what the software is capable of.

Games to try Technique – Drive + Shoot V02 Hurtels V05 Firefly Midnight V10 Fractions V11 Gawlf – Classic Links V02 Pandemica V12 Beet Box V08 Xevon V07 Roadkill Bonk – Out V18