video game design foundations software design guide

Book Cover

Video Game Design Foundations

Product Description

Video Game Design Foundations provides students with a complete understanding of the technological and creative aspects of video game design in an easy-to-follow format. This �curriculum in a box� is the complete guide to immersion in the field, from beginning each game build project through completion, integration, and marketing. Simulated design teams will have the opportunity to learn all aspects of team building, including the creative, business, and technological components required to launch a new video game system. Students will participate in a simulation of a real video game design team, seeing each project from origination to fruition. For more information, click here.

About the Author

Mike Ploor is a business technology education teacher in Hillsborough County Public Schools (Tampa, FL). He has been teaching video game design for several years. This teaching package was developed based on his classroom experiences. Mike has private-sector experience in business and computer programming. He is a National Board Certified Teacher and holds a B.S. in Marketing and an M.B.A.

Authored Video Game Design competitive event for FBLA as adopted nationwide in 2009.
Authored Game and Simulation 2D Animation MAP (Merit Award Program) exams in 2009.
Authored Scope and Sequence for Game and Simulation 2D Animation curriculum framework in 2009.
Authored Scope and Sequence for Game and Simulation 3D Animation curriculum framework in 2009.
MAP performance achieved in 2009 ranking teaching performance in the 99th percentile.
MAP performance achieved in 2008 ranking teaching performance in the 97th percentile.
STAR performance achieved in 2007 ranking teaching performance in the 93rd percentile.
HTCAA Outstanding Business Technology Middle School Teacher Award for 2006
Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Middle Level Advisor of the Year 2006

The Games Factory 2

The SDG includes The Games Factory 2 game engine software. This software provides all of the tools needed to create fully functional arcade, platform, adventure, and many other types of games. It combines a drag-and-drop interface with an easy-to-use method of programming logic statements. A library of assets is provided with the software. This is a fully-functional version (not a demo) with a two-install license. One install is intended for school use and the other install is intended for student home use.
To download a demo of The Games Factory 2, click here.

Student Game Builds

The Software Design Guide should be considered an integral part of the curriculum. It is in the Software Design Guide that students are provided with hands-on application of the theory presented in the textbook. Below are examples of student-generated work based on the activities in the Software Design Guide. Click on a link to display the sample.

Chapter 1 Attribute Avatar (PPT, 282 KB)

Chapter 2 Cut Scene Animation (PPS, 1.68 MB)

Chapter 3 Physical Dexterity Maze (PPS, 143 KB)

Chapter 3 Quiz Show Template (PPT, 124 KB)

Chapter 4 Anything Can Happen (GIF, 699 KB)

Chapter 4 Soccer Example (GIF, 107 KB)

Chapter 4 Soccer Overhead (GIF, 1.94 MB)

Chapter 5 Driving Course Game (EXE, 1.01 MB)

Chapter 5 Eat and Run (EXE, 3.38 MB)

Chapter 6 Balloon Pop (EXE, 1.32 MB)

Chapter 6 Castle Adventure (EXE, 2.13 MB)

Chapter 7 Candy Racer (EXE, 976 KB)

Chapter 8 Spiko (EXE, 5.61 MB)

Chapter 9 Nuggets of Knowledge (EXE, 978 KB)

Chapter 10 Keytar Hero (EXE, 4.20 MB)

FETC Presentation Notes

This is the presentation Mike Ploor gave at FETC 2010. Click here to view the presentation.