View source for GameMaker Camp at Jardine Middle School June 2014

''short url for this page: http://tinyurl.com/Gamemaker2014''

= Overview =
The GameMaker camp was a Middle School summer day camp taught by [[User:John Harrison|John Harrison]]. The camp was organized such that there were 5 groups of students each day, up to 20 in each group, and each group had 1 hour of GameMaker Camp per day. Camp was 4 days, total. Doing the math, each student had 4 hours of Gamemaker instruction and workshop, total.

''Students should feel free to [[User:John Harrison|contact John]] after the camp is over for any questions or help they want with Gamemaker.''

= Resources =
As of Summer 2014 the older Gamemaker 8.1 is more powerful, less limited and easier to use than the newer Gamemaker Studio. Below is a zip file of Gamemaker 8.1, some excellent tutorials, additional sprites, backgrounds, and music for games. This zip file includes all the materials used in the Gamemaker camp as well as an installer and instructions for installing:

[https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B373EJKafYovaGsxcHFaWmVoSms/edit?usp=sharing Gamemaker 8.1 with additional resources and installer]
= Day 1 =
== Materials and Setup ==
* Sharpies and masking tape for labeling flash drives
* copies of Day 1 handout
== As students come in ==
* Turn on computers, log in, stick in flash drive
* Play game on projected computer
== Introductions and Logistics ==
* Sean, Mr. Milne
=== Rules of the Game ===
* Class is divided into:
** Lecture: introduction of new ideas
** Workshop
* During lecture:
** Computers are closed
** No talking
** Raise your hand if you have a question
* During workshop:
** Help each other, but don't type on each others' computers.
** If you need help, stay in your seat and raise your hand
=== Flash Drives ===
* put your name on them
* save everything there
* There's an installer for Gamemaker and a bunch of extra resources
* if you have a computer at home, you can work at home! (no Internet required)
* Copy the installer to the flash drive

== First Game ==
''close computers''
=== Elements of a Game ===
''brainstorm what elements we find in a game''
==== Essential ====
* image (sprite)
* rules for image (object)
** event -> action
* room

==== Optional ====
* score
* sound
** events (bullet sounds)
** background music
=== Catch the Clown ===
==== Description ====
* sprite moves around in a room on the screen
* if we click on the sprite, we get a point
==== Files ====
* [[File:GamemakerJardineMiddleSchool2014Day1.odt]]
* [[File:GamemakerJardineMiddleSchool2014Day1.pdf]]

= Day 2 =
== Review ==
=== Overall ===
# Sprite
## Name
## Image
# Object
## Name
## Sprite
## Rules
### if Event -> Action
# Room
## Contains all of the objects
=== Specific ===
* 2 Sprites:
** Main Character
** Wall
* 2 Objects
** Rules for main character
== Workshop ==
Recreate the "Catch the Clown" game from yesterday
== Bells and Whistles ==
* Alarm
** Gamemaker Steps
* Sound Effects
* Background music
* Multiple sprites
* Penalties
* Changing the sprite show we got it, delay, reset position
== Moving your own character ==
* Make our main sprite a bad guy (eventually)
* Setting up the arrow keys to make the character move
* Avoiding collisions with walls
** Questions and blocks
* What happens when we hit a bad guy?
* Are there good guys?
* Shooting
** Using variables

= Day 3 =
== Maze Games ==
* Use attached sheet as a guide
* Introduce the "check condition" (if) statement
* Show how to draw your own sprites
* Show animation
== Attached Files ==
* [[File:GamemakerJardineMiddleSchool2014MazeGames.odt]]
* [[File:GamemakerJardineMiddleSchool2014MazeGames.pdf]]
= Day 4 =
== Brainstorm of Things to Cover ==
* Lives
* Enemies
* Coins
* Timer
* Treasure Chest
* Control object
== Going on with Gamemaker ==
* Website for the class
* Gamemaker Tutorials
* Example games
* The [http://sandbox.yoyogames.com/make Yoyogames Sandbox]
** Tutorials
** More resources
== Winning, Losing, and Scoring ==
=== Attached Files ===
* [[File:GamemakerJardineMiddleSchool2014WinLoseScore.odt]]
* [[File:GamemakerJardineMiddleSchool2014WinLoseScore.pdf]]
= Reflection =
* Perhaps make handouts instead of trying to lecture?
* Use the screenshots from the tutorials for the handouts
* Understanding x,y coordinates is challenging --- perhaps a handout can help with this?
* Absolute vs. relative is confusing for score as well as coordinates