The Game Makers Toolshed – Tools for Creating Serious Games
Abstract
While a wide variety of ready-to-play games can be found online, seldom is a game a perfect fit for the concept the instructor would like students to master. When a good fit is not readily available, there are tools instructors can use to create their own digital games. Different tools can be used at different stages of the design process from concept to completion. We will look at some of the tools through the spectrum of price and required programming skills, starting with QuizGame Master, eToys, and Scratch to GameMaker, Unity and Flash.
Additional Resources
| Program/App | Website |
| eToys | squeakland.org/ |
| Scratch | scratch.mit.edu/ |
| Unity | unity3d.com/ |
| Kodu Game Lab | www.KoduGameLab.com |
| QuizGame Master | cybertrain.info/quizman/qmhome.html |
| ProProfs Games | www.proprofs.com/games/create-game/ |
| Gamestar Mechanic | GameStarMechanic.com |
| GameMaker | www.yoyogames.com/make |
| Flash | www.adobe.com/products/flash.html |
| Flash Game Developer Tools | gaming.adobe.com/getstarted/ |
| Starling | gamua.com/starling/ |
References
Griffith, C. (2009). Real-World Flash Game Development: How to Follow Best Practices AND Keep Your Sanity. Amsterdam: Focal Press.
Whitton, N. (2009). Learning with Digital Games: A Practical Guide to Engage Students in Higher Education (The Open and Flexible Learning Series). New York: Routledge.
Presented
April 2014 @ Kaplan University Center for Teaching and Learning, online
January 2014 @ Joint Mathematics Meeting, Baltimore, MD