Interactive Text Based Game Design Project: Day 2

Lab:

Interactive Text Based Game Design Project

Please read the instructions on how to use the program: Twine. Go to their website (click on the link) and begin to create your own interactive fiction game. You may wish to download this program to your computer (if working at home) or "use it online" by choosing that option. I recommend using the program online.

Some things to remember:

• Read the tutorial. Really. It has information that will be useful for this project.
• Fiction is a story that is not true. Choose a genre you would like to write. Good stories are specific, detailed, and well written.
• Write your story in 2nd person POV. The reader will be the "main character" or protagonist of this story. 
• Descriptions are key! You will want to write your story with enough specific imagery and good writing skills to immerse your reader into the story. Describe your settings, characters, add dialogue where needed, etc. Just like you would do if you were telling a good fiction story!
• You may wish to plan your story using index cards to represent a map of settings or locations or scenes for your story (like a storyboard). It is harder to write one of these story games if you are making it up on the fly--so a plan is almost a requirement. 
• You may wish to come up with some settings or scenes for your story first. List these settings in your journal, or create settings on an index card or storyboard template. One box or card per location.
• You can do the same thing with characters or events. One card or storyboard panel per event or character.
• To link text boxes in the game based on choices, use the | key (this is on the backslash key just above your ENTER key)--you need to hold down the shift key to get it: | 
• The text to the right of the bar is the name of the passage or text box the player will go to when clicked on. 
• Enclose choices with double brackets! [[write the game in the correct format|classroom]], for example.
• The bracketed text will turn RED if you typed it correctly.
• Make sure your game story has some choices for the player to make.
• Work on your game design. This project is not due yet, but it will be due at some point...use your time in the lab productively.
• Be creative!

For more help, check out: Where Your Stories Are Saved & How to Create Your First Story & How to Create Links & Working with the Story Map & How to Choose a Story Format; All other questions and answers about the TWINE program can be found on the Twine WIKI.

Other game design platforms to try for the advanced student interested in programming:

• Easy RPG
• Ren'Py
• Inform7
• ADRIFT
• Playfic
• Inklewriter
• TADS.org (does not work on our school network...but may work at home...)
• textadventures.co.uk/quest (does not work on our school network...but may work at home...)
• Flowlab Game Creator
• Here's an article with other options as well.

HOMEWORK: Read the article handout (The Media Playground) and answer the questions. Due Friday, Nov. 2. Continue to write your interactive fiction story.

Games (introduction) & Interactive Fiction Project: Day 1

Lab:

Please turn in your homework. Then:
On YOUR blog, please post a comment answering this question:

• Write about your favorite game (this could be a board game, a sport, or a digital/electronic video game, etc.)
• What is it? What's the objective/goal of the game? How do you play? Etc.
• What do you like about the game? 
• What have you learned about yourself, others, or your world from playing the game? What benefit is there to playing? Etc.

After about 10-15 minutes writing, we will watch a short video about games. Answer the following:

• Crash Course Games (introduction)

1. According to the video, what is the difference between a TOY and a GAME? (use the graphic organizer to answer this question)

2. What are some things you learned about games from this video? -- complete your notes on the graphic organizer.

3. How do we use games in our culture? -- Complete your notes on the graphic organizer.

Then, please read the article: Text Based Games (a short history). Add notes on your graphic organizer for this topic.

Choose your own adventure books began to arrive in the late 1970's (particularly from Bantam Books) to entice younger readers. The role-playing industry was just getting started. For more history on fantasy role playing games, check here. More information about Choose Your Own Adventure books can be found here.

Complete your graphic organizer with notes from the role-playing link and the CYOA book link (see hyperlinks above).

Turn in your graphic organizer notes when you have completed the reading & research (due by end of class today).

Ready, Player One?

Interactive Text Based Game Design Project

Please read the instructions on how to use the program: Twine. Go to their website (click on the link) and begin to create your own interactive fiction game. You may wish to download this program to your computer (if working at home) or "use it online" by choosing that option. I recommend using the program online.

Some things to remember:

• Read the tutorial. Really. It has information that will be useful for this project.
• Fiction is a story that is not true. Feel free to choose any genre you would like to write (see articles above for some ideas for CYOA games)
• Descriptions are key! You will want to write your story with enough specific imagery and good writing skills to immerse your reader into the story. Describe your settings, characters, add dialogue where needed, etc. Just like you would do if you were telling a good fiction story!
• You may wish to plan your story using index cards to represent a map of locations or scenes for your story (like a storyboard). It is harder to write one of these story games if you are making it up on the fly--so a plan is almost a requirement. 
• Be creative!

This project is not due yet. But you should start brainstorming and getting an idea about what kind of story you are going to tell (genre, situation, characters, inciting incident, setting, theme, etc.) by the end of class or by next class.

HOMEWORK: None. Play an interactive fiction game to see how it works.
Zork (text based game)
Adventure (text based game)
Jigsaw (text based game)
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (text based game)
Various Infocom online games

Prezi Projects (conclusion); Introduction to Gaming

We will continue presenting our Prezi projects on Social Media & the Internet.

• For 10 of the 12 remaining presentations, please complete the peer feedback form(s) and turn in afterward. We are looking for the following skills:
• Is the information interesting? (did the presentation hold interest?)
• Is the information accurate? (does the presenter attribute his/her sources?)
• Is the information well presented? (slides organized; clear transitions; legible, artistic, etc.)
• Does the presenter know his/her topic well?
• Any comments about the delivery of the presentation, or suggestions how to improve?

Student Prezis:

• Akhiyar
• Pahz
• Kordae
• Victoria
• Raeona
• Jenna
• Javant
• Turon
• Joshua
• Ja'Miah
• Karina
• Jesziah

When we are done, please view and answer the following:

• Crash Course Games (introduction)

1. According to the video, what is the difference between a TOY and a GAME? (use the graphic organizer to answer this question)

2. What are some things you learned about games from this video? -- complete your notes on the graphic organizer.

3. How do we use games in our culture? -- Complete your notes on the graphic organizer.

Then, please read the article: Text Based Games (a short history). Add notes on your graphic organizer for this topic.

Choose your own adventure books began to arrive in the late 1970's (particularly from Bantam Books) to entice younger readers. The role-playing industry was just getting started. For more history on fantasy role playing games, check here. More information about Choose Your Own Adventure books can be found here.

Complete your graphic organizer with notes from the role-playing link and the CYOA book link (see hyperlinks above).

Turn in your graphic organizer notes when you have completed the reading & research.

HOMEWORK: Please read the article "Digital Gaming & The Media Playground" and answer the ?'s. Hand in Oct. 26 (next class) for participation credit. 

Student Reviews, Blogs, & Prezis

During 7th period, please complete and upload your film reviews (to your blog--if you are not linked below) and complete and send me your URL link for your Prezi in the COMMENT section of this post (if you are not hyperlinked....)

Student Hidden Figures Reviews:

• Pahz
• Kordae
• Alquasia
• Javant
• Turon
• Britney
• Karina
• Kemani or Kemani
• Isobel
• Ja'Miah
• Raeona
• Jesziah
• Victoria
• Jenna
• Akhiyar
• Joshua

Student Prezis:

• Akhiyar
• Pahz
• Kordae
• Victoria
• Raeona
• Jenna
• Alquasia
• Javant
• Turon
• Joshua
• Britney
• Ja'Miah
• Karina
• Jesziah
• Kemani
• Isobel

8th period: we will present our presentations using VISION.

If you are done before the end of 7th period (or if we have time after presentations (unlikely) please check out the video game post below this post: Text Based Games. Read, learn, and enjoy! Happy gaming!

HOMEWORK: None.

Introduction to Text Based & Story Games

Take a look at these text-based games. Please play with any of the games on this website:

Text Based Games (a short history)

Choose your own adventure books began to arrive in the late 1970's (particularly from Bantam Books) to entice younger readers. The role-playing industry was just getting started. For more history on fantasy role playing games, check here. More information about Choose Your Own Adventure books can be found here.

Before you create one, it's a good idea to read what these games are like to get the hang of it. If you haven't yet tried one, please do. You can usually get clues and hints by typing "help" in the text box.

Most CYOA books took place in exotic locations, in fantasy worlds, outer space, or somewhere appropriate for the genre in question. Popular genres are usually fantasy, science fiction, horror, adventure, and similar styles, but any literary genre can be used. For a list of genre options, check here.

Once you've settled on a genre, you should start your story by creating a setting and a starting situation. Remember that you are writing in 2nd Person POV (so use the pronoun 'you') for full effect.

The hardest part (apart from organizing, planning, and writing your story) is learning the software. You can choose either twine or quest software. Both are linked below. Instructions are found online or as copied handouts given to you in class.

Twine (& take a look at Twine - Help)
Quest Program (a little more advanced than twine...this program is blocked by our district but you can access it at home if you wish to use it.)
ADRIFT

You may work alone or with one other writer for your text based story. Spend your time reading the sample CYOA texts (see links below) or the games.

• Storygames
• Game design (online game engines)
• 3 Tools to Create Your Own Text Based Games

Finally, if you missed it a few days ago:

Zork (text based game): Zork is one of the first text-based games from the early 80's. It was widely popular at the time. If you're new to the experience, read this first. It will explain how to get the most out of your adventure.
Adventure (text based game)
Jigsaw (text based game)

Online/Social Media Prezi Project

READ: The synthesis packet about Google & Facebook. Then:

COMMENT: in the comment section of this blog (see below) please write a thoughtful post on the following question:

• Google's corporate motto is "Don't be evil." Which of the major digital corporations (Microsoft, Apple, Google, Amazon, Facebook, Twitter...) seems to have the greatest tendency for evil? Why?
• In contrast, which of those digital corporations (or other digital corporations you are aware of) seems to do the most good. Why might you think this?

After your reading and posting, please continue working on your internet/online Prezi project. See below for details. 

Your Prezi should include:

• A title slide that grabs our attention, with your name and the title of your presentation.
• A slide that explains: WHAT is the media source/subject? (no more than 12 words in length!) You can add more detail in your speech/presentation to the class.
• A video clip (no longer than 3 minutes in length) of your subject matter.
• A slide that summarizes a review on the subject/topic (with attribution), in fewer than 12 words. What do people say about the subject? (You can add more detail in your speech/presentation to the class.)
• A slide or two that visually explains how the media subject/topic has influenced American culture (you will fill in the details during your presentation to the class!)

REMEMBER: Prezi's are VISUAL presentations that allow media. Keep text (writing) short and to the point (concise). Use your own words (don't paste and copy other people's words...unless you attribute the quote to the source), and include JPG's or graphics, film clips, etc. to help you present your topic adequately. Know your topic! You will be expected to share this presentation to the rest of the class.

Aim to complete your Prezi today in the lab.

If you have missing work (or revisions), please attend to that as well, AFTER you have completed your Prezi. We'll view presentations next class.

HOMEWORK: Complete Chapter 2 and answer the ?'s as posted. Prepare your Prezi presentation for viewing.

Hidden Figures: Online Film Review by You!

These are the projects I received:

• Ja'Miah
• Raeona
• Jesziah
• Victoria
• Jenna
• Akhiyar
• Joshua

If your name is not one of these, please upload your film review and send me the URL. Remember to post your film on your own blog. Better late than never!

Please view 3 of the above video reviews. Evaluate your 3 peers. Do not evaluate your own video please. Let others do that. Leave a comment in your peer's comment section for the video post or on Youtube--if the link goes to a Youtube page.