KODU

Learning Goal

- Students will understand basic programming concepts using a visual environment

- Students will be able to use Kodu to create their own games

Understanding Games

Before we dive into using Kodu, we want to get an overview of designing games.

The Understanding Games episode series explains basic video game concepts including rules, motivation, learning, and identification. You may need to use this link.

The Assignment

As you go through the episodes, create a mind map with the main takeaways. You can use Lucidchart or Google Drawings to create the mind map. Here is an example of a mind map.

Kodu

Kodu is a visual programming environment design to create games. Kodu was developed by Microsoft and is available for the PC and Xbox. This page contains a number of resources to help as we learn to program with Kodu.

We'll use this link to discuss Kodu's limits (thermometer), game design process, and testing.

In class we'll look at some of the tools and options of the Kodu program.

Tool hints in upper right corner
Working with land and water
Clearing objects
Using the paths tool
World settings
Adding objects
- Object settings
Programming objects
- When & Do similar to If & Then
- Right click tile for help and examples
- Cut & copy rows and tiles
- Multiple pages
Thermometer
Save and load worlds

How To:

Prototype Your Game

Skim this article for understanding. Use this link to add the three most important things you learned.

Tips:

- Kodu allows you to copy and paste code from other games

- Right click on tiles for help and built in examples

Kodu Tutorials

Complete these built in tutorials:

First tutorial
Add/paint terrain tutorial
Programming Kodu to find apples tutorial
Score tutorial
Glass walls tutorial
Kodu & the Golden Apple I
Kodu & the Golden Apple II
Kodu & the Golden Apple III

Take a screenshot after completing each tutorial.

Kodu Final Project

Use Kodu to program a game that meets the following requirements:

At least one character from the object group
Use of the paths tool
Appropriate, appealing environment
Clear rules
Engaging gameplay
Game objectives and end goals

Debug and test your game (have someone else test it too). Export your game from Kodu and send it to me on Schoology.

*Points awarded/lost based on the Creative Computer Rubric

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