You don't have to be grown up or very brainy to make computer games that other people can enjoy playing. Plenty of primary school students around the world are making games that others enjoy playing and they are learning new skills that will help them throughout their education.

Before you can make your own game, you need to learn how to use some computer software to create games.  There are a number of packages available, but I would recommend that you start with Scratch or Game Maker.  Both are free for use in education.  Scratch is suitable for students from about 6 years old and up, while Game Maker is more suited to older or high school students.

If you have made it this far and you have learned to use some game making software, you are ready to design your masterpiece! Plan carefully and keep your games simple at first.  You need to think carefully about your game genre.  The best ones to make with Scratch or Game Maker are arcade or puzzle games.  Once you have a simple game working, you can add to it as you want. 

 
activity
Before your start to design your game, work with your teacher to design an assessment rubric for it.

Game Idea

Choose what challenges your game will have:

  • finding hidden objects
  • solve puzzles or problems
  • shoot at targets
  • escape from or rescue something
  • coordination

 
  • fast reactions
  • mazes
  • word game
  • memory challenge
  • something else ...

 

  

 

Decide the environment in which your game will be played:

  • underwater
  • cave system
  • space
  • castle
  • land of monsters
  • moonscape
  • village or town

 
  • school
  • fairground
  • factory
  • city
  • forest
  • ancient city
  • somewhere else....

 

 

Choose the characters you will have:

  • pilot
  • alien
  • monsters
  • dragons
  • spaceships
  • fantasy creatures
  • knights

 
  • animals
  • ghost
  • witches and wizards
  • knights
  • mythical creatures
  • someone else....

 

 
hint
Think about:
  • How will your game begin?
  • What do you want to happen?
  • What are the main goals or rewards of the game?
  • What will cause the game to end (or move to the next frame)?

Once you have got a simple game working, then spend some time adding in features to make it look more professional and more fun to play.

Game Story

In your diary or journal write down your game story:

  • What will it be called? 

  • What will happen in the beginning, middle and end?

  • What will the player have to do?

  • Will there be puzzles to solve?  What will they involve?

  • What will the player have to do to finish or win the game?

Spend some time creating a life for your main character. 

  • What will he/she/it be called?

  • What is it and what does it look like?

  • How does it move?

  • What else does your character do?

Write/draw a script for your game. 

  • Create rough sketches for what each level will look like. 

  • Use diagrams with arrows and branches to show every possible choice the player could make and what will happen next.  For example Player chooses door A then go to Fairy Garden Level, if player chooses door B then fight the dragon on level 2 before getting to Fairy Garden.

 
When creating your own games, it is vital that you give the player information about what the goals of the game are and how to play the game (eg how to move characters).  You can do this by creating an opening frame for your game or adding the information into the game help screen. 

Write down the set of instructions you will give to the player about the game and how to play.

Game Sounds

Sound is very important to a computer game.  Sound effects can add atmosphere and help to build tension and excitement. 

Describe in your journal what sounds you will use.

Many sounds come already built into the game programming package, but you can also find free sound effects on the web.  Try some of these sites:

Game Design Guide

The Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) has a great game design guide at http://www.acmi.net.au/joystick_competition_questions_guide.htm