You Got
Game?
Designing Visual Games
Project Timeline
• Day 1 - Kickoff
• Day 2 - Research
• Day 3 - Inspiration
• Day 4 – Clay crafting
• Day 5 - Innovation
• Day 6+ - Creation
• Resources
Important Project
• Ceramics basicsINFO
• Formative Assessments
• Summative Assessments (Rubric)
• Resources
DAY 1
PROJECT KICKOFF!!!
What makes a good game?
Make Teams
• Follow the directions to make a team.
• Come up with a name (Basic, fun, and appropriate!)
• Groups of 3 or 4
• Make sure 1 male + 1 female in each team
• Get a good group with different skills (You will be
earning points)
• When done, please sit and make up name
• When the name is done, please write the team name
on your tally sheet.
Games 101
• What is a game?
• Your tables/teams have to find a good BASIC definition. First
table to have it and have it written on a piece of paper and
submitted gets extra points. When done, teacher will read all
the definitions. What was repeated?
• Name as many games as you can that have a very VISUAL
component. Tables get most points for most answers
• After 5 minutes, the students must number the games as they
go.
• Ask each team and then the teacher will give points for the
number of games listed. 1 point per game.
• Collect list for display.
What makes a good
game?
• Look at the website below at your table and make sure
you understand the elements of a good game (a good
way is to think of your own example of how YOUR
favorite game has these elements).
• https://www.makeschool.com/gamernews/298/5basic-elements-of-game-design
• Use the table on the next page to fill out how some
games use the elements of game design (you get
points for this too.
• Be ready to discuss how visual art is used to create
these games
Game ANALYZER
Name of
game
SPACE
GOALS
COMPONENTS
MECHANICS
RULES
What makes
this FUN?
Tic Tac
Toe
Flat small
area
Hand
drawn
Get 3 in
a row
Xs and Os
Characters
assigned
Place X and
O
anywhere
that’s open
Place only
in empty
spot
Any line or
row
Competitive
Simple easy
Accessible
Strategy
Teams Tally
Team
Name
Points for
Name
Pts.
Game
definition
Points for
Participation
Points for
game
examples
Day 2
Research
What are some good examples of
games?
Class Discussion
• Teams finish the GAME ANALYZER SHEET (4
games total minimum)
• Teams must be ready to answer these questions:
– What was the best game and why?
– How was visual art used in the making of the games?
– How do the games ENGAGE the audience? (how do
they appeal to people, keep them playing, create
amusement, etc)
– WHAT MAKES A GOOD GAME?
• Teams report out their findings for points
IN TEAMS • EACH TEAM WILL BE GIVEN A CULTURAL AREA WHERE THEY MUST
FIND A GAME AND ANALYZE IT THEN REPORT OUT ON IT TO THE
CLASS IN WHATEVER WAY THEY CHOOSE.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
AFRICA
ASIA
AUSTRALIA/PACIFIC ISLANDS
EUROPE
MIDDLE EAST
NORTH AMERICA
SOUTH AMERICA
• USE THE BACK OF YOUR GAME ANALYZER SHEET TO DO THE
ANALYSIS
• MAKE SURE THE FULL NAMES OF ALL YOUR TEAM MEMBERS ARE
ON THIS SHEET
• SHARE WHAT YOU FOUND OUT WITH THE CLASS – summarize and
make it sound fun and cool please
• TURN IN YOUR “GAME ANALYZER SHEET”
Day 3
INSPIRATION
What will I use to help me generate a
good idea?
Create a 2 page research layout
must have the following:
Title : Game Design
1 older cultural game (before 1900 CE) with:
– Photo/sketch
– Analysis using the 5 elements of game design
1 game of your choice with
– Photo/sketch
– Analysis using the 5 elements of game design
Bottom – 1 comparison and 1 contrast
Make it look aesthetically pleasing (aka designed
well so it looks good)
Day 4
CLAY CRAFTING
What is possible to do make with
clay?
Clay must dos
NOW
FINISH YOUR 2 page research layout
must have the following:
Title : Game Design
1 older cultural game (before 1900 CE) with:
– Photo/sketch
– Analysis using the 5 elements of game design
1 game of your choice with
– Photo/sketch
– Analysis using the 5 elements of game design
Bottom – 1 comparison and 1 contrast
Make it look aesthetically pleasing (aka designed
well so it looks good)
Day 5
INNOVATION
What game will I create?
Game design considerations
• SIZE – less than 12” in any direction
• CONSTRUCTION – Mainly made of clay with both
additive and subtractive techniques
• DESIGN – must use the elements of design
(especially Form, Texture, Space, and Color)
• IDEA – must be your own idea or variation of a
game and use all elements of game design
• AUDIENCE – must be for a chosen target market
audience and be appealing
• CREATIVE PROCESS – must be documented in some
way
USE Your INSPIRATION!
• Now it is time to use all of these ideas to create
your own idea!!!
• You must create thumbnail sketches of your idea
AND a basic idea answering the basic questions:
– Who will play this? (what is your target market
audience?)
– What is the basic goal and components?
– Where is your inspiration coming from?
– When can you have it completed by? (how many
hours will it take to make?)
– How will it be played?
– Why is it a mainly VISUAL game?
Day 6
CRITICISM to CREATION
MAKE your vision a reality!
Rubric Installation
Instructions
1. Read the rubrics for each project area
2. Write your name and class on the spaces provided
at the top of each rubric (6total)
3. Cut out each square tightly (with very little extra
paper on the edges so it will fit in your visual
journal)
4. Using a glue stick, glue the 5 squares into your
visual journal. Each page should be on its own
page with a blank page skipped next to it so you
can write on it later to explain your grade.
5. Make sure it is dry before closing the book so pages
don’t get glued together.
NOW TIME TO “PITCH
YOUR IDEAS” to your
kickoff team
Tell them your idea, show sketches and what you are
thinking of making.
They must each give you positive feedback AND a
suggestion to improve your design. This must be written in
your visual journal with their initials by their comments.
You Got
Game:
Project
INFO
Fun stuff you need at some point!
Ceramic Basics
Review
Ceramics
1. An object, such as
earthenware, porcelain, or
tile, made from clay
2. The art or technique of
making objects from clay
Score
The process of roughing the
surface of two pieces of clay
that will be joined together. A
fork or toothpick is used to
score clay.
Slip (Slurry)
Clay that is thinned with
water to form a thick liquid.
Slip is used on scored areas
(like glue) to join two pieces
of clay.
Wedging
A process used to prepare clay for
working. Why do you need to
wedge your clay?
a) Relieve clay of air bubbles
b) Creates consistency in the clay
c) Detect foreign objects
Incising/Subtractive Sculpture
A process in which a tool
carves away parts of the clay
to create textures, spaces,
and forms
Applique/
Additive
A process in which a
sculptural forms are
added to a ceramic
piece
Stages of Clay
Greenware
moldable, “fresh” clay
Leatherhard
rigid, dry clay, no longer
moldable, still carvable,
partially dry
Bone Dry
completely dry, free of water,
fragile, ready to be bisquefired
Bisqueware
Clay objects that have
completed the first firing,
ready to be glazed or
painted
Glazeware
Objects that have been
glazed and fired a second
time
Handbuilding
Techniques
Pinch
using your fingers to
form the clay
Coil
Rolling out ropes of clay. Building
up by laying coils on top of each
other.
Slab
Using flat pieces
of clay.
Flattened by a
rolling pin or
slab roller
Glaze
A mixture of water and chemicals
applied to bisqueware and fired to
create a “glass-like” coating.
Glaze adds color, makes ceramics
waterproof and food-safe.
Uh-Oh!!
Why do things blow-up in the
bisque firing?
A. Clay is still wet
B. Clay has an air bubble
C. Clay is too thick
Why does applique or an
additive piece fall off?
A. Both pieces of clay were not
slipped (slurried) and scored
B. The two pieces were not in the
same “stage”
C. The two pieces were not smeared
together
Formative
Assessments
Game analyzer chart
In teams sheet – researched
ancient game
2 page layout
Sketches
Summative
Assessments
Other resources
• http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/13147
2/game_design__theory_and_practice_.php
• http://www.acagamic.com/courses/infr13302014/the-formal-systems-of-games-and-gamedesign-atoms/
• https://gamedesignconcepts.wordpress.com/200
9/07/06/level-3-formal-elements-of-games/
• http://mrwalters.wikispaces.com/Core+Game+De
sign+Elements