Oregon Game Project Challenge Coach Workshop Revised Nov 2015

OGPC Mission Season Overview Forming Your Team Equipping Your Team Workshop Agenda Managing Your Team Registering Your Team Prepare for Main Event OGPC Main Event

OGPC is not just about programming a game and competing in tournaments: Teamwork - Roles and Responsibilities Life Skills Technical Skills Technical careers and opportunities OGPC Mission

Project Planning Time Management Teamwork Cooperation Communication Responsibility Public Speaking Learn General Life Skills

OGPC Mission Planning Game Design Coding and Debugging Testing Digital Art, Assets SDLC Revision Control Documentation Learn Specific Technical Skills

Season Overview November: Theme Announcement / Game Jam March : Registration Opens Late April: Main Event in Salem, OR OGPC registration, events: Registration closes 1 week prior to Main Event 2016 Main Event is Saturday, April 23

Forming Your Team High initial interest may fade Commitment required to succeed Most teams stabilize at 3-6 students Programmers Artists / Creatives Mixed MS/HS teams must register as HS teams Members can work on subtasks in parallel

Forming Your Team Adult members: Coaches and Mentors Coach – The person in charge Manager - team and project Does not need to be a techie Mentors – The technical gurus Provides technical advice May be temporary guest One person can play both roles

Forming Your Team Coach – the person in charge Single point of contact Management expertise > technical expertise Project manager - keep team on track Arranges for equipment, transportation to Main Event Finds a place for regular meetings Schedules meetings Good role model

Forming Your Team Mentors: The Technical Gurus Technical Advisor Helps with language structure, design, algorithms Helps set achievable goals Encourages structured problem solving Doesn’t solve problems - guides student solutions Who: you, a colleague, parent, older student, student, occasional visitor

Forming Your Team General Advice to all Adults This is the students’ project, not yours Encourage teamwork and mutual respect Don't over emphasize “winning” Demonstrating at the Main Event is success! Encourage the process Teams should attend even if game is not finished. Beware of scope creep - Game Jam docs will help

Team Ethics We are a team We do the work Coaches and mentors provide guidance We honor the spirit of friendly competition What we learn is more important than winning We share our experiences with others We are gracious and professional We have fun Forming Your Team

Equipping Your Team Resources to get you started Scratch - Free introductory programming - good for M.S. URL: Easy to learn, graphical language, free tutorials. Other languages/IDE’s (most are free): Langs: JavaScript, HTML 5, Stencyl, C#, Java, Swift IDE’s: Notepad, Eclipse, Aptana, Unity, Unreal, xCode

Equipping Your Team Software Warnings School security may not allow game development tools to be installed or run on school equipment Consider using personal laptops Backups, version control, and file sharing: Flash drives, , Google docs, DropBox Teach students to save versions as they go Teach copyright laws regarding art, photos, music

Equipping Your Team Example Team Budget Main Event Registration Fee: $50 / TEAM Other possible expenses: Software Team shirts, hats, etc. Transportation to Salem Lunch at Main Event

Managing Your Team Parent Involvement Explain program/philosophy Discuss participation commitment for team members Review costs and funding sources Communicate about tournament Solicit help – Roles for parents Car Pooling Snacks T-shirts or buttons End of season party

Managing Your Team Project Management Know the Timeline Set weekly deadlines / deliverables Beware Scope Creep Celebrate milestones Design, build, test, redesign, rebuild, … Team Management System (tms.ogpc.info)

Managing Your Team Parent Involvement Set expectations with both parents and students: Goals Season Milestones Time Commitment- increases in April Team Commitment

Managing Your Team Getting Started with Team Members Set Team Goals – be realistic!! Decide roles and responsibilities Can rotate, especially near beginning Need backup roles due to absences Set milestones – use project management analogy Set dates for each phase of project to keep on track Encourage participation in a team environment

Managing Your Team Organize Your Team Meetings How often and how long to meet Most teams meet 2-3 times per week More time needed as they get closer to end At least 2 adults during meetings, take turns Set ground rules Rides after dark, turn off phones, etc.

Managing Your Team Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) Analyze Design Implement Test Modify

Registering Your Team All registration and support documents will be posted at $50 registration fee per team for Main Event -- help offset expenses for prizes Please register as soon as you have a stable team Need to know how many students to accommodate PLEASE REGISTER EARLY

Prepare Your Team For Main Event Presentation Teams are required to present 5 minute overview ALL members should participate Practice speaking in front of a group Focus: How the game meets the challenge Personalize the presentation Team member responsibilities

Prepare Your Team For Main Event Achievement based scoring KEEP GAME JAM DOCS - Display at Main Event Game Jam documents earn points: Spec doc, elevator pitch, paper prototype Can be created offline without attending Game Jam Most achievements announced ahead of time Bring an enthusiastic team that can speak about what they have learned, and above all, HAVE FUN!

OGPC Main Event

**PLEASE NOTE: We anticipate LOTS of Changes for format, location, exhibit space, prizes, etc. Important for coaches to join the list to stay informed of changes Encourage students to connect on reddit, facebook, and bookmark OGPC.info OGPC Main Event UPDATE:

OGPC Main Event ●Salem, OR (Chemeketa CC or convention space) ●Arrive early 7:30 - 8:30 - check in, set up ●Given schedule, pod assignment ●Judging begins at 9:00 ●Scheduled Lunch - Bring your own if possible. Cafeteria may be overwhelmed ●Visit other teams during open times ●Industry speakers will hold sessions ●Keynote speaker in auditorium

OGPC Main Event Judges will evaluate: Team Presentations Programming and Technical Details Gameplay Use of art and assets Team Professionalism Adherence to theme and bonus achievements

OGPC Main Event Team Project Presentation 5 minute presentation to judges Google slides, PowerPoint, HTML, or similar All members should participate Team member roles and responsibilities Connection to theme Describe the journey and challenges of the team Include demo or screenshots from game

OGPC Main Event Technical Judging minute dialog with a panel of technical judges Primarily coders - not all team members need be present Technical judges are experienced developers Discuss programming, choices, specification Techniques and best practices: Version control, backups, development methods Algorithms, functions, code examples

OGPC Main Event Industry Professional Judging Playability “The play’s the thing” - W. Shakespeare Level design Overall “look and feel” They just want to play the game!

OGPC Main Event Peer Award Each team votes for top 3 favorites Dedicated times to visit other teams Open time to visit other teams Coordinate / discuss good games with team members

Award Categories Separate Awards for MS, HS: Overall Champion based on achievements Students Choice – best game Professionals Choice – best game Category Awards based on achievements: Technical, Professionalism, etc

Online help, feedback Web: Reddit: Facebook: /OregonGameProjectChallenge/OregonGameProjectChallenge OGPC Contact