Thursday Game Development Lab Fall 2024

Game Builder Garage: Switch Game Making Lab

Nintendo Switch's Game Builder Garage is a software tool designed for accessibility, featuring an intuitive visual programming interface that allows users of all ages and skill levels to delve into game development without prior coding experience. Offering a diverse range of pre-made assets, characters, and environments, alongside the ability to customize and create your own, it presents limitless possibilities for game creation. Whether one's interests lie in designing platformers, puzzles, action games, or something entirely unique, Game Builder Garage equips users with the tools and flexibility to realize their ideas. With interactive tutorials, step-by-step guidance, and real-time testing, users can learn and iterate as they develop their games, facilitating a dynamic and engaging learning process. By the end of the course, participants will have the skills to share their creations with friends and family and explore collaborative game development within the Game Builder Garage community. No prior experience in game design or programming is necessary.

Class Objectives:

1. Introduction to Game Builder Garage Interface and Tools: Familiarize students with the user interface of Game Builder Garage and introduce them to the various tools available for game development, enabling them to navigate through the interface and identify key tools necessary for game creation.
2. Understanding Visual Programming Concepts: Introduce students to visual programming concepts such as nodes, connections, and logic gates within Game Builder Garage's intuitive programming interface, helping them grasp fundamental visual programming concepts and understand how to use them to create game mechanics and logic.
3. Exploring Pre-made Assets and Customization Options: Explore the diverse range of pre-made assets, characters, environments, and customization options available in Game Builder Garage, enabling students to gain proficiency in utilizing pre-made assets and customizing them to suit their game ideas and themes.
4. Game Design Fundamentals: Introduce students to fundamental principles of game design including level design, game mechanics, player feedback, and pacing, ensuring they understand the core principles of effective game design and can apply them to their own game projects.
5. Creating and Testing Game Prototypes: Guide students through the process of creating and testing game prototypes using interactive tutorials, step-by-step guidance, and real-time testing features, equipping them with the skills to prototype and iterate upon their game ideas, incorporating feedback and refining gameplay mechanics.
6. Sharing and Collaborative Development: Teach students how to share their creations with friends and family, and explore collaborative game development within the Game Builder Garage community, helping them learn how to share their games online, collaborate with others, and engage in constructive feedback to further enhance their projects.
7. Project Showcase and Reflection: Provide students with the opportunity to showcase their completed game projects and reflect on their learning journey throughout the course, enabling them to present their game creations, discuss their design choices, and reflect on their growth as game developers.

Class Stats:
Digital (Device Time): 95%
Analog (Hands on): 5%
Difficulty Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Type of Device Provided: Alienware PC Computer
Application: Game Builder Garage
Coding: This is an intuitive interface with no coding involved.

Details:
Educator: TBD
Times: 3-5:30pm, late stay available till 6pm
Dates: 9/12 - 1/23
No Classes: 10/3, 11/28, 12/26
Ages: 6+
Available Seats: 5