Quarantined: The Fletcher Library Game Project

1. Quarantined: The Fletcher Library Game Project Tammy Allgood, Bee Gallegos, Karen Grondin Fletcher Library Arizona State University at the West campus LOEX Conference, 2007

2. 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 campus Aaron Rostad, Library Specialist at ASU at the West campus Marisa Duarte, Reference & Instruction Librarian at ASU at the West campus Developer: Bob Wohl LOEX Conference, 2007

3. 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 LOEX Conference, 2007

4. 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 LOEX Conference, 2007

5. Board Game • Introduced Fall 2005 • Began as prototype to computer game • Good learning experience LOEX Conference, 2007

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7. 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 Google b. Books and encyclopedias c. 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 searched c. Limit your search by date or language etc. Answer: c. Limit your search by date or language etc. LOEX Conference, 2007

8. Much better than just a lecture “It was fun! I didn’t fall asleep or anything” “I like the game!! Does Milton Bradley make that one?” LOEX Conference, 2007

9. 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.” LOEX Conference, 2007

10. 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 LOEX Conference, 2007

11. Documentation • Project (Business) Plan • High Concept Document* • Game Treatment Document* • Game Script* * From Andrew Rollings and Ernest Adams on Game Design LOEX Conference, 2007

12. High Concept Document • Premise of the game • Intended audience • Genre • Unique selling points • Target platform • Overall storyline • Example LOEX Conference, 2007

13. 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 LOEX Conference, 2007

14. 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 LOEX Conference, 2007

15. 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 LOEX Conference, 2007

16. 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 LOEX Conference, 2007

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20. 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) LOEX Conference, 2007

21. Version 1.1 • Fix bug • Moveable windows • Copy and paste • Citations in the pda • “Mission screen” • Hot spots • Doorways • Main character indicator LOEX Conference, 2007

22. I had a better time in class today than I thought I would on a "library enlightenment day". Thanks! Too complicated The game was fun... Pretty cool game, I liked it LOEX Conference, 2007

23. 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.” LOEX Conference, 2007

24. 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 LOEX Conference, 2007

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26. 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. LOEX Conference, 2007