MiniGame Games

Ah, the joys of the mini-game project.

In my game design course, one of the projects  we undertake is the development of a mini-game—a one level game where you are a rabbit chasing a carrot and a wolf chases you. If you get the carrot before the wolf gets you, you score points. If the wolf gets you first, you lose points.

It's a simple concept, but it teaches many of the concepts used in almost all games: A character controlled by the player; an antagonist using artificial intelligence to stalk the protagonist; dynamic scoring, scrolling objects, and hit or collision tests to register the game play.

The students are provided with the game pieces and then are lead through the various steps  in Flash necessary to code the game. It really is a great way to introduce the students to the concept of using a scripting program such as Flash to construct a game.

Of course, with any "language" on a computer, accuracy in writing code is always paramount. Because computer languages are limited to the keys on the keyboard, each keystroke is jealously guarded. There are simply no throw away keystrokes. This strict attention to detail, and obsessive judiciousness in accounting for the effect of each and every keystroke applied, is usually quite a shock for young students, who are used to operating in the modern society where close enough is good enough.

That world comes to a screeching halt when it comes to writing code. It's a fun process to observe in your students, as they are forced to pay attention to each and every keystroke. It requires discipline, and logic to adhere to coding constructs. If there is one thing that American education could benefit from it is certainly  the introduction of material that requires students to exhibit a thoughtful, disciplined approach to the subject at hand.