Category: Games

Game Maker

Game Maker

go to Making Games page

GameMaker is a development tool for making 2D games, used by indie developers, professional studios, and educators worldwide. Users can create games for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, HTML5, Xbox, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch.

Remember to check with your local authority data security team/officer before registering any learners as users.

Explore tutorials using this link – Learn How To Develop Games 

Find out more about the Game Maker Education license with this link – Teaching Using Game Design 

restore by glitchers - land use game

Restore by Glitchers – a game about land use

Restore by GLITCHERS

 

Restore is part of an academic research project called RestoreID (HORIZON-CL6-2023-BIODIV-01-17). This research project investigates the relationship between nature restoration, biodiversity, and disease prevention. The restore game is led by Dr Brad Duthie and Prof Nils Bunnefeld at the University of Stirling.

The game will take between 5-20 minutes to play, depending on the level that you select. Only your in-game decisions will be recorded for research purposes, and no personal identifiable data will be recorded.

No download or signup required — Restore is compatible with modern browsers like Chrome, Safari and can be played on desktop or mobile. Just visit the itch page to start playing.

Play the game by using this link – Restore by GLITCHERS

playing games

Playing games

go to the Games in Education page

This section aims to support educators to provide opportunities to play games in education. Games are valuable, meaningful and engaging to people of all ages, including children and young people. Play is a valuable and recognised aspect of learning and child development.

Below are links to information, ideas and resources to help educators implement playing games in their setting.

restore by glitchers - land use game
Restore by Glitchers – a game about land use

Restore by GLITCHERS   Restore is part of an academic research project called RestoreID (HORIZON-CL6-2023-BIODIV-01-17). This research project investigates the relationship between nature restoration, biodiversity, and disease prevention. The restore game is led by Dr Brad Duthie and Prof Nils Bunnefeld at the University of Stirling. The game will take… Read more

Tinderbox games club
Tinderbox Games Collective

Tinderbox is a collective of young people, musicians, artists and youth workers in Scotland. Their work uses music and the arts to bring people together and strengthen communities, providing exciting opportunities that support young people to build their confidence, skills, self-esteem, and professional experience.  Find out more about Tinderbox here… Read more

Tinderbox games club

Tinderbox Games Collective

Tinderbox is a collective of young people, musicians, artists and youth workers in Scotland. Their work uses music and the arts to bring people together and strengthen communities, providing exciting opportunities that support young people to build their confidence, skills, self-esteem, and professional experience. 

Find out more about Tinderbox here – tinderboxcollective.org

Tinderbox Games Clubs currently run in Edinburgh for young people aged 10-18.

At the Games Clubs people get together to play, research and make games, as well as design their own artwork, audio & code needed for them. Tinderbox use different forms of technology to make them, but they also use traditional methods such as hand-drawn art, board game making, clay-sculpting, crafting with recycled objects, and more.

Find out more using this link – Tinderbox Games Clubs

 

These are some games to try to get started:

You can play all the games published by Tinderbox using this link – Tinderbox Lab

making games

Making games

go to the Games in Education page

This section contains information and resources to support educators make games with learners. As valuable as playing games is the opportunity to make them. 

Below are some free-to-use game making platforms. Registering learners as users will require your local authority’s guidance on data security – please check before registering.

glasgow children's hospital charity

 

Do you work with children or young people who enjoy making games?

The Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity has launched a summer games jam to raise funds to buy adapted gaming equipment, consoles and video games for the boys and girls at the children’s hospital in Glasgow. Fundraising will also support the hospital’s Gamer-in-Residence – so that children in hospital always have someone to play with.

Find out more about the project with this link to the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity page

Or go straight to the Weans Game Jam page with this link to itch.io

 

Game Maker

GameMaker is a development tool for making 2D games, used by indie developers, professional studios, and educators worldwide. Users can create games for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, HTML5, Xbox, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch.

Remember to check with your local authority data security team/officer before registering any learners as users.

Explore tutorials using this link – Learn How To Develop Games 

Find out more about the Game Maker Education license with this link – Teaching Using Game Design 

microsoft make code arcade

Microsoft MakeCode Arcade is a free online learn-to-code platform where anyone can build games.

Remember to check with your local authority data security team/officer before registering any learners as users.

Find out more about MakeCode Educator guides using this link – MakeCode Arcade Educator Page

games based learning

Learning with games

go to the Games in Education page

This section aims to support educators to provide opportunities to use games for learning, often known as game-based learning. In Curriculum for Excellence, games are identified as texts in the Literacy and English principles and practice paper on page 4.

View the literacy and English: principles and practice paper by clicking this link

 

Below are links to information, ideas and resources to help educators implement playing games in their setting.

checkpoint

Checkpoint research

Checkpoint and Brunel University have released findings on a research project to evaluate the effectiveness of game-based lesson content in enhancing children’s engagement with education. 

The findings of the study revealed that both teachers and children had positive experiences with Checkpoint Learning. Teachers praised the engagement of students, particularly those who struggle to follow traditional lessons, and the connection to game culture that facilitated inclusivity for marginalised groups. The children reported enjoying the lessons and found them engaging, with over 90% stating that the focus on video game content helped them learn better.

Find out more by visiting the Checkpoint research page with this link

Read the full report with this link

Checkpoint teaching resources

Checkpoint have a set of resources that can be used to engage learners with different areas of the curriculum using games as a context. 

Visit the Checkpoint site and view the resources using this link

esports

Esports

go to the Games in Education page

This section is home to information, resources and links to esports in Scottish education.

Esports is competitive video-gaming. There are now huge competitions and events organised around these games and this is often spoken about as much as the actual game playing in the esports industry. There is a growing number of countries that recognise, and treat, esports as a sport. 

 

YouTube player

Mark McCready of Scottish Esports recently provided this update on esports in education, covering:

  • Scottish Esports Education landscape
  • What are the pathways and organisations they can work with locally for engagement
  • The new HNC ESports being developed

Esports organisations and competitions

Scottish Esports

Digital Playhouse (UKIE) esports

Esports learning resources and courses

The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) offers esports qualificaitons at level 4, level 5 and level 6.

The YMCA delivers the HP Gaming Garage programme