As new electives are on the horizon, some people may want to know what they will be getting into with certain classes. Video Game Design is a unique option for HAHS students.
Mr. King has been teaching Video Game Design for six years. In video game design, students make several different types of video games, with Mr. King making a mobile medieval hack and slash game that used to be available on the Google Play Store. Mr. King has also learned to start coding in the Unity Game engine for his engineering courses. What he likes about this class is watching students, in his words, “get it.” He says that students start the course thinking creating a game is this daunting task, but once they get a hold on it all, they jump right in. He also enjoys seeing students’ creativity. Students should join this elective because if you’re interested in making games or coding in general, this course gives a behind-the-scenes look on how to handle it and what it takes to create games. And even if students are not looking into making games, this course helps express students’ creativity, and introduces new and unique ways of problem solving and making things. Some projects that students take in this elective include learning how to use a website called flowlab.io, which is simple to learn and also a very powerful site. After introductory lessons, they get the opportunity to make some of their own games from scratch and share them with their friends and family. During the second half, he teaches coding fundamentals using Makecode Arcade, giving students a whole new view on game design, which leans more into programming aspects. By the end of the course, students will have made around three to five unique games to share. If students want a semester length, half credit course that helps them be creative in a unique way and try something new, then this elective is for them.
Freshman George Sneddon said he took this elective since he always liked coding, and also enjoyed using the free coding website, Scratch, to make his own games. George enjoyed getting to learn about the many different possible sites that can be used for coding and did not dislike anything about the course. If the opportunity was given, George would take the course again, as he had a really nice experience and group, and everyone was very nice and kind. Finally, the reason George thinks students should take this course is because it gives students something interesting to be involved in.
