E-Games for mobile/pocket devices How to develop E-Games Empowering Youth Work

Mobile Game Development limitations Screen-size limited Memory limited CPU limited Other limitations Mobility equals limited performance ;) But it has some pluses, too…

Mobile Game Development pluses More than 350 million Java- enabled cell phones are in the hands of users Because of limitations, games are simple and the developing team dont need to be large (in general 3 or 4 people will be enough)

What expects a mobile game player? A few years ago, the Interactive Digital Software Association conducted a survey in which people were asked to identify why they played games 87% played for fun 71% wanted to be challenged 42% liked the social aspects of playing games

What do the results mean? We have to make our e-Games funny, first at all There should be challenging (or at least with scoring system) We have to implement education in funny games, which is very hard, but not impossible

What types of platforms could we use? FlashLite – very heavy Java - the most popular!!! BREW – fastest of all.NET Windows Mobile, Symbian OS, Palm OS or other operating systems Other

Technologies 3G WiFi BlueTooth GPS GPRS Wap And many more

How to turn an idea into a game? You have an idea for very good educational game on some topic Ask Uncle Google for similar games to the game in your head Think of interaction between player and game (input/output) Think of the main goals of the game, what has to be done to win, etc.

How to turn an idea into a game? Think of the world you are creating, characters, objects, etc. You should know everything about your world and have some drawings Determine abilities, actions, properties, quests... These will be corrected many times Play your game in your mind when you are asleep or you have free time

How to turn an idea into a game? Develop the game using your mind mostly Write down everything! Generated ideas often are being forgotten ;) Dont complicate too much your game, remember it is for mobile devices!!! Think of basic programming structure of the game These steps are called Game Design and are well paid at Gameloft :P

How to program the game? After the game design is finished and the platform is chosen, its time to program ;) If the game design is bad, the programming will take more time Program for clean, fast and low memory eating code!!! Dont forget mobile devices have limitations!

Graphix Graphix They should be drawn while programmers are coding the game Designers and programmers must be a good team, because coordination here is very important Graphics are low resolution raster graphics - easy to draw, hard to manipulate

Testing? Does anyone need it? After the game is ready, its time for gaming… Its time for testing ;) Testing is needed by the game designer to be ensured that the programmers and artist made HIS game with HIS idea Testing is needed by the programmers to be ensured that the game is free of bugs

Testing? Does anyone need it? Testing is needed by all envolved to be ensured that the game is funny, educational and nice to play Testing is made by the programmers, artists, game designer and a small group of other people Testing is very important process, but often is omitted because of lack of time

Why mobile games? Games for mobile devices are getting more popular than ever They are mobile!!! They are simple and funny They are easy to play They are accessible to many people

A good example "Be cool" Topic: Human rights, racism Description: This is a game for mobile phones. It is about a star in the universe that passes by different objects, aiming at evading dark ones and touching the bright ones. On the way, you can meet smaller stars and give them some of your light. The brighter your star is at the end of the game, the more stereotypes you have overcome and more tolerant you have become. Educational goals: :: To promote respect and understanding towards people with disabilities. :: To fight stereotypes in the society :: To oppose to fear of being different and showing your personality.

The End Any questions?