Making Games
There’s only one thing better than learning through games, and that’s learning through MAKING games. Even the simplest 2D platform requires the application of skills like Design, Understanding an Audience, Storytelling, Communication of a Concept through Visual Language…not to mention Creativity and Innovation. But making games is complicated, right? And expensive?
Not really. In fact, with the free, online tools that are out there now, any ten year old can have a shot at making a game.
I’ve hunted down few examples to show you what I mean. The first is 
.
Gamefroot is a fantastic toolbox for making nice-looking platform games.
It’s simple to use. There are numerous art and gameplay assets to choose from…
…and the key advantage with Gamefroot is that you can share your work to the iPhone.
By comparison, 
is less flashy, and not quite as user-friendly. But it’s a LOT more versatile, allowing you to create a much wider range of games. A welcome facility if you’re not a platformer fan.
While also free, Scratch is a downloadable rather than online resource. So you’re going to need a little space on your hard-drive. Not much, though.
This should give you a decent idea of what’s possible in Scratch, at least on the storytelling front.
Next, we’ll have a quick look at 
which offers a free 3D game-making engine. A more advanced option for more ambitious game creators.
And finally, another friendly and simple game maker from 
. It’s not quite as well set up as Gamefroot, or as versatile as Scratch…
…but it’s free, online, and a great introduction into the thriving market of Flash games.
And there we have a dabble in the deep, dark waters of game making. Anyone of the above resources allows you to create games that beat the living snot out of the old Atari 600XL offerings that I enjoyed so much back in the eighties.
Happy game making, all!
6 Responses to “Making Games”
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10x for the information! I am taking a Gamification course right now and these resources are very useful to me! Can’t wait to practice !
Glad to have been of help, Rodica. What’s the Gamification course you’re taking?
hey Edwin,
The insight that the only thing better for learning than playing games is making them is one that resonates with me. In fact I’ve been mulling over an idea that dovetails with that very idea.
I’ve been looking into the possibility of initiating a educational programme that seeks to foster an appreciation of the democratic political process and which investigates innovative and inclusive approaches to social change.
I have concluded that collaborative learning experience where the students would be taught game development would form the core of the programme. Ideally taught by an experienced game developer.
Games are defined as rule based systems with clearly defined goals and for me the beauty of game is that they can be leveraged and directed to expose the implicit rules underlying how our society functions. Once people are aware of the rules, it makes it far easier to change them or at least the terms by which they relate to them and thereby provides a mechanism for people to engage in society in a meaningful way.
I found the site through the Playmaker game development website. I can’t even describe myself as a budding game developer, though its been a fantasy of mine for some time to develop my own video games, I have yet to take the plunge. Reading about the skills and expertise necessary to create games has made the process appear to be an overly daunting prospect.
I too share your belief that games could become crucial mechanisms for fostering social change and improved educational outcomes for young people in our rapidly changing world, many of whom are becoming disaffected and disengaged by an educational paradigm that they feel they can’t relate to.
I would appreciate continued dialogue on the theme if you would be so inclined.
Hi James,
I am indeed inclined towards further discussion on this matter!
Let me begin by saying that the game making process is as daunting or as “walk in the park” as you wish it to be. It’s all about scale. I’ll shortly be posting about a very simple game called “September 12th” which presents an anti-war message more efficiently and eloquently than anything I’ve seen to date. It may allay your fears a little.
Also, have you looked at iCivics? I’ve been really impressed with how they deal with democracy and social responsibility, and they to do it with quite simple yet effective games.
hey Edwin,
Very much appreciate the opportunity to continue the discussion on the topic with you. Would email be a more appropriate venue than the comment thread? I’m happy to reply here for now.
Whilst iCivics seems to be a decent game which conveys its message in a clear and easily understood way, my game will be targeted at a different and more sophisticated audience.
I was stretching the definition of young a little I guess. The “young people” I hope to engage in my educational programme will be closer to my own age (late 20s). I think many people my age, just like today’s adolescents, have a feeling that we don’t have a strong stake in a world dominated by baby boomers which will likely continue for some time to come. At least teenagers have initiatives like the Youth Parliament to engage them in the political process.
What I’d like to investigate, is whether the power of video games can be leveraged to engage in the democratic political process in a meaningful and tangible way, preferably on a local level.
I have many game ideas that could be adopted by the group, but I wish the development process to be a collaborative one and aim to embed the democratic method into its very core, so it will be up to them. All I can do is offer up a few possibilities.
Hi Edwin. I just wanted to thank you for posting about Gamefroot – my project of passion.
I’d like to announce that Gamefroot now support Platform games and Top Down games (like Zelda). Between these two genres and our scripting language Gamefroot is fast becoming as versatile as Scratch.
Edwin it’d be great to connect again soon and talk about how we might be able to collaborate more – one of the things I want to see happen on our website is to see people not just make any old game but to make really GREAT games. And to do that people need to have an understanding of game theory and they need to write great stories. That’s where I think we could help each other.
So please flick me an email and lets explore how we can tackle this