about

People have been playing games in some form or another since the ancient civilizations, such as the Sumerians and the Egyptians. There are many different types of games: board games, card games, role-playing games, outdoor games, digital games, etc. But to define a type for your game is just the tip of the iceberg. Let’s learn more about creating games?

learning track
1
Analyze

Analyze

You'll learn the first steps on how to produce your game, from forming a team to analyzing other games. These decisions will help you practice self-knowledge, analytical thinking and teamwork skills.

2
Design

Design

You'll learn about game design, a process that involves defining mechanics, components and the concept of your game. Creativity, decision-making and logical thinking are some of the skills required.

3
Build

Build

It’s time for some hands-on work! You’re going to create a prototype of your game and check if the decisions made were appropriate. The experience will help you develop hand or digital skills, depending on the type of the game.

4
Test

Test

Finally, you’ll test your prototype to find as many mistakes as possible in order to avoid any problems with the final project. During this step you’ll develop critical eye and problem-solving skills, features that will help to ensure the quality of the work.

Step 1Analyze

Usually, more than one person is necessary to make a game. So, you need find out what your role could be in the process and get together with friends that have different skills than yours, in order to form a complete team. Another important step is to decide on the type of game. It can be an outdoor game, a board game, a card game, a digital game, etc. Click on the infographic to get more information.

What will I learn?

The first steps to make a game.

What will I do?

Form a team, decide on the type of game and analyze other games.

Which skills will I develop? 

Self-knowledge, analytical thinking and teamwork skills.

Why should I develop them?  

Because they'll help you pay close attention to details and deal with different points of view.

You've now completed step 1 of 4 to becoming
a GAME MAKER.

Glossary

Attempt: act of trying to achieve something.
Bogged down: slowed down; impeded.
Breakdown: analysis.
Coding: programming.
Enough: sufficient quantity or number.
Flailing: beating.
Harmful: damaging or disadvantageous.
Huge: very big.
In order to: for the purpose of.
Meant: intended.
Overcome: to conquer; to be victorious.
Penalty: cost; punishment.
Reach: to succeed in impressing.
Regardless of: without consideration for.
Rewarded: recompensed.
Roadblocks: an obstruction.
Role: function; position.
Tangible: real; concrete.
Whether: if.
Worry: to be concerned; to fear.
Step 2Design
Test your knowledge about
the previous step and release step 2.
TAKE THE QUIZ

Why is it important to mix people that have different skills on your team?

Because different people have different skills that can be useful in the process of creating a game.

What do you need to take into consideration when creating a game?

The skills required, the target audience and the game's complexity.

What is the difference between playing a game and creating a game?

When you play a game, you focus on the challenge. When you create a game, you see the bigger picture and understand the game as a whole.

CHECK

Now think about the questions below, then share your experience on www.richmondmakers.com:

  • Which decision was the most difficult to make in your opinion? Why?
  • Do you think your team has all the skills required for the type of game you’ve chosen?
  • Did your team have to adapt the original idea to make the game simpler? How?

Use the hashtags: #makeit #game #step1

GO TO STEP 2

Game design is the idea behind a game. It includes space (where the game is played), components (the objects that are used to play the game), rules (how to play the game) and a goal (an aim and a prize for the winner). Click on the infographic to learn more. Then you can make a list with the topics mentioned in steps 1 and 2 and check with your group if you have all the answers.

What will I learn?  

Game design, and that means what to consider when turning a game idea into reality.

What will I do?

Define the objective, space, mechanics, narrative and rules for the game.

Which skills will I develop?

Creativity, decision-making, logical thinking and teamwork skills.

Why should I develop them?  

Because they’ll help you explore your creativity, train your eye for detail and develop an overall view of things in order to make decisions.

You've now completed step 2 of 4 to becoming
a GAME MAKER.

Glossary

Discarded: abandoned.
Main: fundamental; principal.
Measurements: dimensions; size.
Rescuing: save someone from confinement or danger.
Suit: to adjust; to conform.
Survey: a group of questions designed to collect information or find out opinions.
Willing: enthusiastic about doing something.
Step 3Build
Test your knowledge about
the previous step and release step 3.
TAKE THE QUIZ

Which sentence is not an example of an instruction?

“Test your knowledge about music with this fun game.”

In which part of the design do we think about the background story?

Narrative.

CHECK

Now think about the questions below, then share your experience on www.richmondmakers.com:

  • Which part of the game design was more difficult to define? Why?
  • Could your game have a simpler design with fewer elements and colors?
  • What did you learn from writing the rules for your game?

Use the hashtags: #makeit #game #step2

GO TO STEP 3

It’s time to develop the visual identity and the objects of your game. Click on the images gallery to see some items that you might need to provide. Once you have all the elements, you can make a prototype, which will be tested in the next stage. If you are creating a digital game, remember you must build the game in the platform you chose in the previous step.

What will I learn? 

How to build a game prototype.

What will I do?

Develop the elements needed and make the prototype.

Which skills will I develop?  

Hands-on or digital skills, depending on the type of the game.

Why should I develop them?  

Because they’ll help you train the mind and boost creativity.

You've now completed step 3 of 4 to becoming
a GAME MAKER.

Glossary

At once: one single time.
Boost: to increase; to improve.
Instead: as a substitute; in place of.
Prototype: model; example.
Step 4Test
Test your knowledge about
the previous step and release step 4.
TAKE THE QUIZ

What do you have to consider before choosing the visual style for your game?

All of the above.

To build a real scenario, you will need to...

be creative to adapt objects.

What do you have to consider when you select components for a kid's game?

If the components are safe for them to play with.

CHECK

Now think about the questions below, then share your experience on www.richmondmakers.com:

  • Which aspect of the prototype construction was the most difficult for you? Why?
  • Are you happy with the result? Why?
  • Did your teamwork well together? If there was a problem, how did you manage to solve it?

Use the hashtags: #makeit #game #step3

GO TO STEP 4

Testing a game is an important part of its development. It’ll help you detect issues, solve problems and improve your game. You can do the testing with your team, but it is better to have other people playing it as well, so that you can pay attention to their reactions and get their feedback.

What will I learn? 

What to take into consideration when testing a prototype.

What should I do?

Test the prototype with your team, get feedback from other people and improve the game.

Which skills will I develop?  

Critical eye, flexibility of mind, problem-solving skill and patience.

Why should I develop them?  

Because they’ll help you identify adjustments to improve a work, deal with negative feedback and manage problems with objectivity.

You've now completed step 4 of 4. YOU ARE
A GAME MAKER!

Glossary

Durable: able to exist for a long time without becoming damaged.
Mistake: error; failure.
Handled: touched by hands.
Worn: used; deteriorated.
Test your knowledge about the previous step.
TAKE THE FINAL QUIZ

Who aren’t the best options to test your game?

Players that don’t fit into your target audience.

Which of these situations, identified during a testing step, indicates a problem in the development of the scenario?

Three players can't fit in the same house of the board at the same time.

CHECK

Congratulations! You did it!

Now think about the questions below, then share your experience on www.richmondmakers.com:

  • Did the players react to your game exactly how you expected them to? If not, why?
  • Did you feel the need to introduce any new components to your game? Which ones?
  • Which adjustments need to be made for the future? Think of size, number of pieces, clearer instructions, better graphics, etc.

Use the hashtags: #makeit #game #step4

Richmond Make it

credits

Publishing Director: Sandra Possas
Multiplatform Editorial Manager: Adriana Pedro de Almeida
Multiplatform Design Coordinator: Raquel Buim
Content: Mauricio Shiroma
Multiplatform Content Editors: Ana Paula Campos, Gabrielle Navarro (Teacher’s guide)
Multiplatform Content Assistant Editors: Cíntia Nogueira, Thaís Teixeira Tardivo
Proofreaders: Amanda Moura, Flora Manzione, Gislaine Caprioli, Rodney Daniel Cameron
Multiplatform Designer: Daniela Carrete
Multiplatform Assistant Designers: Eloah Cristina, Frodo Almeida, Karina de Sá
Illustrations: Rafa Miqueleto
Photo Researchers: Adriana Neves Correia, Sara Alencar
Audio Production: Spectrum Estúdio
Programming: CPCi Produtora Digital
Educational Portal Content Editor: Sheila Rizzi
Every effort has been made to trace the holders of copyright, but if any omissions
can be rectified, the publishers will be pleased to make the necessary arrangements.
Richmond
Editora Moderna Ltda.
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São Paulo — SP — Brasil — CEP 03303-904
Central de atendimento ao usuário: 0800 771 8181
www.richmond.com.br
2018