quarantined: the fletcher library game project

LOEX Conference, 2007

Quarantined: The Fletcher Library Game Project

Tammy Allgood, Bee Gallegos, Karen GrondinTammy Allgood, Bee Gallegos, Karen GrondinFletcher LibraryFletcher Library

Arizona State University Arizona State University at the West campusat the West campus


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 campusAaron Rostad, Library Specialist at ASU at the West campusMarisa Duarte, Reference & Instruction Librarian at ASU at the West campus

Developer: Bob Wohl


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


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


Board Game

• Introduced Fall 2005

• Began as prototype to computer game

• Good learning experience


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 Googleb. Books and encyclopediasc. 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 searchedc. Limit your search by date or language etc.

Answer: c. Limit your search by date or language etc.


Much better than just a lecture

“It was fun! I didn’t fall asleep or anything”

“I like the game!! Does Milton Bradley makethat one?”


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.”


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


Documentation

• Project (Business) Plan

• High Concept Document*

• Game Treatment Document*

• Game Script*

* From Andrew Rollings and Ernest Adams on Game Design


High Concept Document

• Premise of the game• Intended audience• Genre• Unique selling points• Target platform• Overall storyline• Example


Game Treatment Document• 10-20 pages• Game overview

– High Concept– Hooks– License– Game play highlights– Technology highlights– Art and Audio highlights– Hardware

• Production details– Budget– Schedule– Competition

• Game world– Back-story– Objective– Characters– Mission


Game Script• Everything from High Concept and Game

Treatment Documents• Game play outline or flowchart• Design details• Game text• Example:

http://www.designersnotebook.com/Wanna-be/ctaylordesign.zip




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


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


URL to Version 1.0

• http://library.west.asu.edu/game/quarantined/login.cfm or

• http://tinyurl.com/34j4mo

• Username: Loex

• Password: 2007

(Good for one week)

http://library.west.asu.edu/game/quarantined/login.cfm

http://library.west.asu.edu/game/quarantined/login.cfm

http://tinyurl.com/34j4mo


Version 1.1• Fix bug• Moveable windows• Copy and paste• Citations in the pda• “Mission screen”• Hot spots• Doorways • Main character indicator


The game was fun... Too complicated

Pretty cool game, I liked it

I had a better time in class today than I thought I would on a "library enlightenment day". Thanks!


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.”


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


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. (1st 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. (c2001). Digital game-based learning. New York : McGraw-Hill.

• Rollings, A., & Adams, E. (2003). Andrew Rollings and Ernest Adams on game design. (1st ed.). Indianapolis : New Riders.

http://www.west.asu.edu/libcontrib/game/website/

