Quarantined The Fletcher Library Game Project Tammy Allgood

Quarantined: The Fletcher Library Game Project Tammy Allgood, Bee Gallegos, Karen Grondin Fletcher Library Arizona State University at the West campus LOEX Conference, 2007

Game Project Team Project Sponsor: Bee Gallegos, Coordinator of Lower Division Program Project Manager: Tammy Allgood, Digital Delivery and Design Librarian Game Design Team: Karen Grondin, Library Specialist at ASU at the West campus Aaron Rostad, Library Specialist at ASU at the West campus Marisa Duarte, Reference & Instruction Librarian at ASU at the West campus Developer: Bob Wohl LOEX Conference, 2007

Why Games? • Prevalence of video games, particularly among teenagers (2003 Gallop poll reported 69% of teenagers play video games each week) • Evidence suggests games can enhance problem solving skills LOEX Conference, 2007

Learning Objectives Introduce first year students to: • Library as a physical and virtual place • Library services • Types of resources • Basics of the online catalog • Differences between types of sources • Reading, understanding, and using citations to retrieve information LOEX Conference, 2007

Board Game • Introduced Fall 2005 • Began as prototype to computer game • Good learning experience LOEX Conference, 2007

LOEX Conference, 2007

You need to find articles and background information in order to make a presentation. Which resources are best to use? a. Web sites you find using Google b. Books and encyclopedias c. A combination of library resources including journal and newspaper articles and books Answer: c. A combination of library resources including journal and newspaper articles and books To refine and narrow a search you should a. Summarize what you are searching b. Start over and change the keywords searched c. Limit your search by date or language etc. Answer: c. Limit your search by date or language etc. LOEX Conference, 2007

“It was fun! I didn’t fall asleep or anything” Much better than just a lecture “I like the game!! Does Milton Bradley make that one? ” LOEX Conference, 2007

Student Comments: Board Game • “This was a great way to learn about the library!” • “Thanks for the great time and the game although I lost. ” • “The game was intense, a fun way to learn about my ASU West Library. ” • “I learned things about the library that I didn’t know before. ” • “The workshop was very informative and was also fun with the addition of the game. I feel like I know the library services and layout better. ” LOEX Conference, 2007

Computer Game • Development - Began Spring 2006 • Team – 5 people • Skills - Web development, Flash development, database design, lower division instruction expertise, extensive research in gaming as an educational tool • Funding - Financial support from Library Director, Marilyn Myers, to hire an outside programmer • Platform - Flash LOEX Conference, 2007

Documentation • • Project (Business) Plan High Concept Document* Game Treatment Document* Game Script* * From Andrew Rollings and Ernest Adams on Game Design LOEX Conference, 2007

High Concept Document • • Premise of the game Intended audience Genre Unique selling points Target platform Overall storyline Example LOEX Conference, 2007

Game Treatment Document • • 10 -20 pages Game overview – – – – • Production details – – – • High Concept Hooks License Game play highlights Technology highlights Art and Audio highlights Hardware Budget Schedule Competition Game world – – Back-story Objective Characters Mission LOEX Conference, 2007

Game Script • Everything from High Concept and Game Treatment Documents • Game play outline or flowchart • Design details • Game text • Example: http: //www. designersnotebook. com/Wannabe/ctaylordesign. zip LOEX Conference, 2007

Timeline Approximations • Storyline decisions, mission, and documentation - Seven months • Design (game logo, map, isometric tiles, building interiors, characters, icons) - Two months • Character interactions - One month • Animations and character walking paths - Two weeks • Information retrieval (game catalog and database)- Two weeks • Sound creation - Two weeks • Bug tracking and documentation – One month LOEX Conference, 2007

Hiring a Programmer • Finding Programmers – Consulted with Game Design Instructor at the Art Institute International in Phoenix - possible student project? – Posted on local Tech listservs, wikis and web sites • Hiring Programmers – Asked for portfolios from top three candidates – Chose candidate with the most edugaming experience – Top candidate subcontracted game designer LOEX Conference, 2007

LOEX Conference, 2007

URL to Version 1. 0 • http: //library. west. asu. edu/game/quaran tined/login. cfm or • http: //tinyurl. com/34 j 4 mo • Username: Loex • Password: 2007 (Good for one week) LOEX Conference, 2007

Version 1. 1 • • Fix bug Moveable windows Copy and paste Citations in the pda “Mission screen” Hot spots Doorways Main character indicator LOEX Conference, 2007

I had a better time in class today than I thought I would on a "library enlightenment day". Thanks! Too complicated The game was fun. . . Pretty cool game, I liked it LOEX Conference, 2007

Student Comments - Online Game • • • “It was ok” “I found this very helpful. Last semester in another course I had people from the library come in and teach the class about this stuff. But I feel I learned more this time because of the step by step instructions and the game was fun and helpful as well. ” “I did not get the point of the game. I did not learn anything from it. The instructor explaining everything was better. That is where I learned everything. ” “I would have found the game more helpful if I knew what I was doing. But overall it was fun. I don't know if I learned anything but it was better then being sitting in class for 45 minutes while the librarians talk. The game needs some improving but it was fun. ” “Over all the game was interesting. At some point it did get a bit confusing…” “The game would have been easier if there was a copy and paste action. I know I had to keep checking my backpack which slowed me down from saving the Wolf guy. ” LOEX Conference, 2007

Words of Wisdom for Library Game Developers • • • Do your research Think about starting small Don’t underestimate time needed for design Keep the development team small Project manager should have some understanding of game development Follow document requirements found in Rollings and Adams on Game Design Don’t underestimate time needed for design Hire a professional programmer with a educational gaming portfolio Don’t underestimate time needed for design LOEX Conference, 2007

LOEX Conference, 2007

Essential Sources • Branston, C. (2006). From game studies to bibliographic gaming: Libraries tap into the video game culture. Bulletin of the American Society for Information Science & Technology, 32(4), 24 -29. • Fletcher Library Game Project Web Site: http: //www. west. asu. edu/libcontrib/game/website/ • Have You Ever Played Any Of The Following Types Of Video Games? (2003, Sept. ). Gallup Poll Tuesday Briefing (Print Ed. ). Washington, D. C. : The Gallup Organization. • Gee, J. P. (2003). What video games have to teach us about learning and literacy. (1 st ed. ). New York: Palgrave Macmillan. • Got game? (2006). PC Magazine, 25(18), 21 -21. • Makar, J. , & Winiarczyk, B. (2004). Macromedia flash MX 2004 game design demystified. Berkeley, CA: Macromedia Press. • Prensky, M. (c 2001). Digital game-based learning. New York : Mc. Graw-Hill. • Rollings, A. , & Adams, E. (2003). Andrew Rollings and Ernest Adams on game design. (1 st ed. ). Indianapolis : New Riders. LOEX Conference, 2007