This session will give you a hands on start to making your own online video game and learning coding at the same time. The workshop will be a 60 minute stepping stone which you can use to complete your own platform game in your own time.
We will use two tools in this workshop to make our games. Firstly the code playground glitch.com (using the javascript tool phaser). Secondly arcade.makecode.com a block based approach to making games with some game mechanics blocks baked in.
Whatever tool you use - the principle is the same. Jump in - remix a game make it your own, then add different game design patterns. In the process we develop our own knowledge of coding concepts and completing a design project.
Free materials will be available for you to complete the game projectin your own time with your family or with a coding club.
I have done this kind of workshop with a wide variety of numbers.
If there are 30 I'll be able to draw on support facilitators.
A super fun and interactive session.
There are now resources available freely as follow up course material. So if participants like the session they can continue to be supported in making games.
https://mickfuzz.github.io/makecode-platformer-101/
https://en.flossmanuals.net/phaser-game-making-in-glitch/_full/
The resources are open to being improved and I am doing PhD research on the subject too, so if people do adopt and use them I'd be interested to follow that up.
I'm a Free Software fan who loves helping people create fun, creative and socially active projects. My latest passion is game making with families and young people.
He/Him