Playing to Learn

From MySLife DAS Wiki

1 Topic Assignments

Topic summary: In this topic you will learn about game and sim design by playing with lots of games, sims and animations, and thinking about how they are made. It’s like learning how to write novels by reading books or learning how to write a script by watching films; the first step is recognizing what makes the best ones stand out.

Topic Assignments

Play with Science Games and Sims on the Web

Play with these professionally developed games and sims about scientific topics and Global Climate issues. Which do you like best? Which are most successful in getting you to think and learn new information about the scientific topic?

3rd World Farmer This Flash game lets players manage a small farm in a developing country, and thus experience the hardships and dilemmas faced by the poor.

Climate Change A Flash game where you are president of the European Nations. You must tackle climate change and stay popular enough with the voters to remain in office.

Consumer Consequences asks you for a little info about how you live your life, and tells you how many planet Earth's we would need if everyone lived the same way you did.

Katrina: Tempest in Crescent City is a Flash game that puts you in the position of a young girl who's mom is trapped in New Orleans after hurricane Katrina struck.

Medical Mysteries MedMyst, short for "Medical Mysteries," is an Internet-based, Flash adventure in which you are on a mission to discover the causes of diseases. As you follow clues to solve the mystery, you also are given the opportunity to explore -- chemistry, pharmacology, neuroscience, medicine, public policy, history, and more.

Stop Disasters is a Flash-based disaster simulation in which you choose a scenario (which disaster and difficulty), and try to reach certain goals to stop the disasters' impacts.

Explore Animations, Sims and Games on the MySLife Global Climate website

These examples were donated by Globaloria students and professional developers, and they are all made with Flash.

Animated Illustrations - Animated drawings that are designed to bring scientific illustrations alive

Interactive Simulations - Simulations that allow you to manipulate variables to observe different outcomes

Sim Games - Games based on scientific principles that explore and help to bring attention to Global Climate issues

Try something from each category. Explore each activity like a Scientist and a Game Designer: What does it do? How is it made? Read the 'Producer Notes' for insights. Tackle the 'Try This' challenges to learn key programming and design techniques. Download the .FLA file and explore the source code!

Review Two Games

Pick two games you played before and write a review about each of them. Choose one game or sim from Assignment 1. Choose one game, sim or animation from Assignment 2.

Make sure you include the following points in your review:

Name and purpose of the game
Describe it from a learner's point of view and a developer’s point of view
Design Analysis (Does it look good? Does it clearly illustrate the scientific the concept?)
Usability Analysis (Is it clear what you need to do as a user? Does it work well?)
Suggestions for improvement
2-3 things that you would like to learn how to do (in terms of functionality, design or content)