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Looking for ideas on how to teach Game Design in a high school

Started by March 27, 2016 10:54 PM
159 comments, last by gameteacher 8 years, 4 months ago

No way I'm going to break the course up like that.

I'm not clear if you mean that you are now planning on looking at only one type of game. If you are, great. But if you don't put constraints on what type of game your course will be looking at then you will be faced with students making the decision for you and it will likely be broken down something like I described.


I'm still confused IS there a program with 3d ready made stuff kids can plug into backgrounds, collage-style???

No. Not as you're describing or hoping for.


So where do I get them?

That's one of those, "What have you tried," questions. You'll have to search for them on your own. Particularly because the assets that you'll provide will be dependent on what type of game you want the students to do if they're following your example closely.


Nothing I've said has been remotely arrogant. On the contrary, I have repeatedly stated that I am new to this, it's not my field, and I appreciate the support. As for the 2d comments, I already explained that I didn't know that was a touchy subject. I figured since I'd be talking to pros on this forum, you'd all be making things like that playstation madden thing- sorry.

To me, you seemed quite dismissive and arrogant to Tom in that very post to him. He just told you he's an educator himself and your response to him is in effect that he doesn't know how what's involved in putting together a course.

If you believed that we're all AAA professionals here in the first place then you should've approached us with more tact. If you were in an office in a foreign country and started using words considered crude and offensive it wouldn't matter that you've never been there before or are new to the language. It's the difference between referring to a piece of artwork by a master as a nude or as pornography. The onus is on you to know.

There are various professionals here at various levels (Have you taken a look at Tom's website? Particularly his product list?). Some work at AAA studios while others make a living independently. Others, like me, are hobbyists or are generally learning through projects that range from beginner to advanced to experimental. Although, personally, I'm not in the Game Dev industry I work professionally in IT, often with clients that aren't very technical.


I'm not clear if you mean that you are now planning on looking at only one type of game. If you are, great. But if you don't put constraints on what type of game your course will be looking at then you will be faced with students making the decision for you and it will likely be broken down something like I described.
Yes, only one program. No time for more. I would prefer game maker, especially since I already have a workbook that takes students through step by step lessons.

No. Not as you're describing or hoping for.

So the only way I'm going to be able to have students working in 3d (realistically) is in modeling frozen images?

That's one of those, "What have you tried," questions. You'll have to search for them on your own. Particularly because the assets that you'll provide will be dependent on what type of game you want the students to do if they're following your example closely.

Didn't you just write that I can't get 3d assets and plug them in collage-style?

To me, you seemed quite dismissive and arrogant to Tom in that very post to him. He just told you he's an educator himself and your response to him is in effect that he doesn't know how what's involved in putting together a course.

I was neither dismissive nor arrogant. You are reading things into what I wrote. When he said he didn't understand how I would put together a course without trying software first, I stated that there are other considerations. I didn't imply anything about his abilities- that's completely absurd.

The real question is how certain people can get so easily offended. It's actually a bit bizarre. Don't get me started on that.


If you believed that we're all AAA professionals here in the first place then you should've approached us with more tact.

If you can convince me that I actually wrote anything untactful (is that a word?) I'll apologize. So far what you are saying makes no sense. Oh, was THAT untactful?
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*lmao*... mercy.

Before this gets out of hand -- just to clarify:

The suggestion being put forth is 1 type of game.

You'll have to decide whether you want to focus on 2D or 3D.

Game Maker was built for 2D.

If you want to use free game assets, you'll have to search for them.

(I miss the old days when every answer to a question was "Google it.")


Yes, only one program. No time for more. I would prefer game maker, especially since I already have a workbook that takes students through step by step lessons.

That's not what I was talking about. Game Maker is 1 program that can create multiple types of games. I listed 4 different types of games. You need to constrain what type of game the students will be working on.


So the only way I'm going to be able to have students working in 3d (realistically) is in modeling frozen images?

What you just said makes no sense. And you said you're giving up on 3D anyways.


Didn't you just write that I can't get 3d assets and plug them in collage-style?

If you interpret "what you want" as meaning your ideal of working with 3D resources that you can't seem to let go of, then yes. However when I wrote "what you want" originally I was expecting you to interpret as meaning "what you should do".


I was neither dismissive nor arrogant. You are reading things into what I wrote. When he said he didn't understand how I would put together a course without trying software first, I stated that there are other considerations. I didn't imply anything about his abilities- that's completely absurd.

No, you dismissed his questions entirely and provided no additional info on what you think you need to focus on and why it's more important than looking at the software that you were advised by the professional most qualified here to do so (unless Frob also has some teaching experience I missed). You have acted as though you are not interested in his help otherwise you would have provided additional comments for discussion.


The real question is how certain people can get so easily offended. It's actually a bit bizarre. Don't get me started on that.

You have suggested that you are approximately my age. In that case I can say I understand where you're coming from. The answer is that society changes (whether we think for the better or not) and we are often slow to accept.


If you can convince me that I actually wrote anything untactful (is that a word?) I'll apologize. So far what you are saying makes no sense. Oh, was THAT untactful?

I don't find that statement particularly untactful. Somewhat disdainful perhaps but since I'm challenging you in a similar manner, not exactly inappropriate. I could look for examples and maybe re-evaluate my perceptions of your words in the process but I'm outta time here and there's no need to derail this thread further in this manner since I do think what you're striving for has merit and it should be focused on that.

*lmao*... mercy.

Before this gets out of hand -- just to clarify:

The suggestion being put forth is 1 type of game.

You'll have to decide whether you want to focus on 2D or 3D.

Game Maker was built for 2D.

If you want to use free game assets, you'll have to search for them.

(I miss the old days when every answer to a question was "Google it.")

Thanks


That's not what I was talking about. Game Maker is 1 program that can create multiple types of games. I listed 4 different types of games. You need to constrain what type of game the students will be working on.
Ok I get you now. Makes sense.


What you just said makes no sense. And you said you're giving up on 3D anyways.
I meant 3d in the sense of modeling AND animating. Just making models is easy- at least with Autodesk. Don't know about mudbox.


If you interpret "what you want" as meaning your ideal of working with 3D resources that you can't seem to let go of, then yes. However when I wrote "what you want" originally I was expecting you to interpret as meaning "what you should do".
Uhhhh....what?


No, you dismissed his questions entirely and provided no additional info on what you think you need to focus on and why it's more important than looking at the software that you were advised by the professional most qualified here to do so (unless Frob also has some teaching experience I missed). You have acted as though you are not interested in his help otherwise you would have provided additional comments for discussion.
Ok I see where you are getting confused now. Not responding to every question by every poster would just be an oversight- not a slight. As far as providing "additional comments for discussion" I am looking for specific answers and trying to drive towards resolutions to my questions and to get a handle on what one has to work with in my situation. None of that has anything to do with tact. You made it sound like we were standing around at a party and I ignored the guy and walked away from him while he was talking to me.


You have suggested that you are approximately my age. In that case I can say I understand where you're coming from. The answer is that society changes (whether we think for the better or not) and we are often slow to accept.
You put that under a quote that didn't match your comment. Are you referring back to my 2d vs 3d comments?


I don't find that statement particularly untactful.
Which statement?


no need to derail this thread further in this manner since I do think what you're striving for has merit and it should be focused on that.
I agree- thanks.

I do have to add that several people have been very snippy with me for no reason but you don't hear me complaining. Anyway...

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I'm confident GameTeacher has plenty of enthusiasm.


Sorry. Didn't realize that was a touchy subject in your field. Please be patient and remember that I am an art educator, not a computer programmer. If you walked into my world you would be just as clueless.

...

I figured since I'd be talking to pros on this forum, you'd all be making things like that playstation madden thing- sorry.

Ouch.

Well, in my spare time I make things like that playstation madden thing.

Actually, I was thinking of teaching Art next year, but I gots no experience - could help me with that?

Here's what I got so far:

Lesson plan 1:

Do roll call. Think of nicknames.

Introduce myself.

Instruct students to draw/paint/paper-mache something.

Wait for bell/siren to sound for class to be over.

Any advice you could give me to improve my methods would be greatly appreciated.

That isn't the same thing. I'm not asking you how to teach- that's my area of expertise. I'm asking you technical questions. Tiny compared to asking how to teach.

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