Lecturing Game Maker

[Terak]

Hey guys, I just posted this to makegamessa, but I was hoping to get your input on it as well:

I had a small idea this morning that seems to be snowballing.

Yoyogames' Game maker is a widely used tool, not so much for full on projects but many studios use it for its awesome ability for rapid prototyping. After spending most of my morning digging researching more about it, they do not physically have a set syllabus nor an "official" teaching license for the software.

I myself have been using Game Maker for a number of years, and I am fairly confident in my knowledge of the software package. I feel that it would be beneficial to teenagers/students who are interested in making games, but do not have the required knowledge to make a decision if its a career path they would be interested in. The course could focus on the process of building games, more than the theory behind it.

Although Game Maker has fallen behind technologically, its still gives a better breakdown of the process involved in creating a game than Unity does (in my opinion). Students would make the shift from drag and drop code to writing your own code much easier.

Do you guys think that a part time course would be beneficial to these teenagers/students, as a quick and easy crash course into game design? Or do you think something like this would have no place since Universities have started full time courses?

 

[OmegaFenix]

Hey guys, I just posted this to makegamessa, but I was hoping to get your input on it as well:

I had a small idea this morning that seems to be snowballing.

Yoyogames' Game maker is a widely used tool, not so much for full on projects but many studios use it for its awesome ability for rapid prototyping. After spending most of my morning digging researching more about it, they do not physically have a set syllabus nor an "official" teaching license for the software.

I myself have been using Game Maker for a number of years, and I am fairly confident in my knowledge of the software package. I feel that it would be beneficial to teenagers/students who are interested in making games, but do not have the required knowledge to make a decision if its a career path they would be interested in. The course could focus on the process of building games, more than the theory behind it.

Although Game Maker has fallen behind technologically, its still gives a better breakdown of the process involved in creating a game than Unity does (in my opinion). Students would make the shift from drag and drop code to writing your own code much easier.

Do you guys think that a part time course would be beneficial to these teenagers/students, as a quick and easy crash course into game design? Or do you think something like this would have no place since Universities have started full time courses?

I got Game Maker pro with my Game Design Course did some of the basic stuff but haven't used it in a while since I hit the theory side of my course. I personally found while it was quick and easy to mock something up with Game Maker I often wanted more, especially to do 3D type stuff so I prefer Unity.

Not sure if I would pay money just to learn Game Maker, but thats just me.

 

[MOnk]

Seems like a pretty weird place to be asking these questions, surely you would want to go and speak to places that offer game design courses and see if they would consider introducing such a course?

 

[DCWarhound]

It's fun for making indie games,i uploaded a few games last year but haven't used it since.

Much more into 3d modeling now (thank god i have a gaming PC,Blender's Cycles render uses the GPU for faster rendering times)

 

[zero-g]

Hey Terak

That's a good idea, sharing your expertise. Maybe you could do something like Blender Guru

Start a blog, publicize it and see if anyone bites. Worry about making money later, first get your name out there and some people following you.

 

[Terak]

Not sure if I would pay money just to learn Game Maker, but thats just me.

I know it doesn't really apply to the other crowd, but just in terms of fundamentals and how everything works together, I thought Game Maker describes this best visually. Unity is great, don't get me wrong, but it can be a bit overbearing the first time you are introduced to it.

 

[czc]

What about getting onto Lynda.com with Game Maker tuts?

 

[matchstick]

Thinking back to the first few weeks of learning Java without any prior knowledge of anything relating to actual programming... *shudders*

 

[Terak]

Hey guys, quick update.
At the end of the month I will be instructing a 5 week long course on game design. If you guys know of anyone who would be keen please forward this flyer to them.

Thanks

 

[DCWarhound]

UNITY is also pretty good if you want to make a 3D game.

http://cgcookie.com/unity/

 

[bradbear117]

Any chance you are going to hold this course again and can it be done correspondence?
I am quite interested but theres no way I can do a course through December. Its my busiest time at work.

 

[Terak]

Hey bradbear, we didn't run it as we didn't get enough applicants.

Most of the guys were writing exams so it was a no no. We thinking of running it again during school holidays next year, but unfortunately there is n o correspondence. Each class is a hands on lesson at the Learn3D campus.

 

[bradbear117]

Hey bradbear, we didn't run it as we didn't get enough applicants.

Most of the guys were writing exams so it was a no no. We thinking of running it again during school holidays next year, but unfortunately there is n o correspondence. Each class is a hands on lesson at the Learn3D campus.

Cool thanks, hope it goes well next year. I think courses like this are serioulsly a great idea. The more opportunities for people to learn the more the industry can grow in South Africa.