While focusing on the purpose behind our games I considered what game designer, Anna Anthropy, once said in an interview with Games for Change. She stated that "video games are not worthwhile unless we're doing something worthwhile with them" which holds true when considering lessons learned or expressions shown. A game would not hold the player's interest if the tasks that they are doing do not have a purpose.
Research shows that our brains release in abundance neurochemicals related to reward processing—for example, dopamine—when individuals play video games. In my video game, the object is to herd sheep into Stonehenge by directing a Shepard around the sheep in order to guide them into the ancient marvel. For each sheep that is successfully herded, a point is given and a "baa" noise is played.
Creation of these graphics were done on Microsoft Paint, a very basic program that allows the user to draw pixelated images. For accuracy, I used the program on an extremely zoomed in setting. When zoomed out to actual size, the images appeared much smaller, but could be adjusted. In order to have the Shepard walk and change directions, I created a sprite sheet that showed him from four angles: front, left side, back, and right side. When the construction of the video game was underway, these different viewpoints of the Shepard were plugged in as various "costumes" that changed according to which key was being pressed to move specific directions. When a student considers making a video game, they are able to redefine the way that they are drawing and apply their skills on the computer in a variety of drawing programs to make their graphics. While applying their prior knowledge, they are able to troubleshoot and problem solve as they work through this new medium.
Research shows that our brains release in abundance neurochemicals related to reward processing—for example, dopamine—when individuals play video games. In my video game, the object is to herd sheep into Stonehenge by directing a Shepard around the sheep in order to guide them into the ancient marvel. For each sheep that is successfully herded, a point is given and a "baa" noise is played.
Creation of these graphics were done on Microsoft Paint, a very basic program that allows the user to draw pixelated images. For accuracy, I used the program on an extremely zoomed in setting. When zoomed out to actual size, the images appeared much smaller, but could be adjusted. In order to have the Shepard walk and change directions, I created a sprite sheet that showed him from four angles: front, left side, back, and right side. When the construction of the video game was underway, these different viewpoints of the Shepard were plugged in as various "costumes" that changed according to which key was being pressed to move specific directions. When a student considers making a video game, they are able to redefine the way that they are drawing and apply their skills on the computer in a variety of drawing programs to make their graphics. While applying their prior knowledge, they are able to troubleshoot and problem solve as they work through this new medium.