What's included
8 live meetings
6 hrs 40 mins in-class hoursClass Experience
This class is a great entry point into the world of game design and coding for your kids. In this extremely accessible course, students will journey through the entire game development process from concept to design to development to porting & publishing on mobile platforms. This class uses RPG MAKER MV, a PROFESSIONAL game engine that truly lives up to it's tagline that it is SIMPLE ENOUGH FOR A CHILD. POWERFUL ENOUGH FOR A DEVELOPER. RPG Maker was created to fulfill the desire of creating an original RPG (role playing game) without programming knowledge - but MANY types of games such as platformers, maze games, arcade, action games and more. RPG Maker MV uses the well known JavaScript, in combination with HTML5 export. By mastering Javascript, you will be able to change the game to your liking, from Battles to Menu UIs. This feature is oriented to experienced developers. You now have the ability to control all parts of the game. No more hidden classes! With the latest installment, RPG MAKER MV allows the dreams of many of its fans to come true! RPG MAKER is the easiest and fastest way for your child to create their own games - and publish them on PC, iPad, Android a website and more! In this course, students will first learn the basics of using the RPG Maker Engine and begin building a full-fledged 2D Adventure RPG from day 1. Students will be provided with all the necessary tools and resources and guided through the entire game development process. Students will be encouraged to be as creative and original as possible throughout the entire course. What differentiates this course from others is that this course focuses on the digital arts as well: Visual Arts, Graphic Design, Audio & Music Production, Reading and Creative Writing. Intro to Game Design & Coding With RPG Maker is truly a STEAM (Science Technology Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) course. By the end of this class, students will have have not just created their own video game from scratch, but also be able to play it on any desktop computer or mobile device. COURSE OVERVIEW LESSON 1: FUNDAMENTALS Class Introduction Download Course Resources / Technical Assistance RPG Maker MV, GIMP, Visual Studio Code, etc. RPG Maker Engine Fundamentals + Overview Create Your First Project Game “Hello World” LESSON 2: BUILDING A VILLAGE Overworld Mapping & Terrain Expanding “Hello” World Character & Tileset Graphics Design & Build A Village LESSON 3: WORLD BUILDING & MAPPING Teleporting & Map Transitions Parallax Scrolling & Visual Enhancements Overworld Mapping & Terrain Design & Build A Village Village Placement on World Map Parallax Scrolling LESSON 4: VARIABLES, SWITCHES & JAVASCRIPT Variables & Switches Plugins Intro to Javascript & Visual Studio Code Complete Village LESSON 5 DUNGEONS & BATTLE MECHANICS Design a Dungeon Battle Mechanics Place Enemies, Traps and Obstacles Designing A Boss LESSON 6: AUDIO & SOUND Background Music & Sound Effects File Types & MIDI Manipulation Importing Music (Garage Band, Audition, Pro-Tools etc.) LESSON 7: GRAPHIC DESIGN & UI/UX Animations Pre-Rendered Graphics & Parallax Scrolling Title Screen, Menus & UI Finalize Projects LESSON 8: PORTING & PUBLISHING Presentations Porting & Deploying to iOS & Android LESSON 8: PORTING & PUBLISHING Final Presentations A Guide to Porting & Deploying to iOS, Android & More This class is the easiest way to get your child started in the world of app, software and game development!
Learning Goals
Welcome to Intro to Video Game Design: RPG Maker Edition!
ONE OF OUR MOST HIGHLY RATED AND POPULAR CLASSES IS BACK THIS SUMMER!!
This class is a great entry point into the world of game design and coding for your kids and perfect for new - and returning students. In this extremely accessible course, students will journey through the entire game development process from concept to design to development to porting & publishing on mobile platforms.
This class uses RPG MAKER MV, a PROFESSIONAL game engine that truly lives up to it's tagline that it is SIMPLE ENOUGH FOR A CHILD. POWERFUL ENOUGH FOR A DEVELOPER.
RPG Maker was created to fulfill the desire of creating an original RPG (role playing game) without programming knowledge - but MANY types of games such as platformers, maze games, arcade, action games and more. RPG Maker MV uses the well known JavaScript, in combination with HTML5 export. By mastering Javascript, you will be able to change the game to your liking, from Battles to Menu UIs. This feature is oriented to experienced developers. You now have the ability to control all parts of the game. No more hidden classes! With the latest installment, RPG MAKER MV allows the dreams of many of its fans to come true! RPG MAKER is the easiest and fastest way for your child to create their own games - and publish them on PC, iPad, Android a website and more!
In this course, students will first learn the basics of using the RPG Maker Engine and begin building a full-fledged 2D Adventure RPG from day 1. Students will be provided with all the necessary tools and resources and guided through the entire game development process. Students will be encouraged to be as creative and original as possible throughout the entire course. What differentiates this course from others is that this course focuses on the digital arts as well: Visual Arts, Graphic Design, Audio & Music Production, Reading and Creative Writing. Intro to Game Design & Coding With RPG Maker is truly a STEAM (Science Technology Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) course. By the end of this class, students will have have not just created their own video game from scratch, but also be able to play it on any desktop computer or mobile device.
COURSE OVERVIEW
LESSON 1: FUNDAMENTALS
Class Introduction
Download Course Resources / Technical Assistance
RPG Maker MV, GIMP, Visual Studio Code, etc.
RPG Maker Engine Fundamentals + Overview
Create Your First Project Game “Hello World”
LESSON 2: BUILDING A "SCARY" VILLAGE
Overworld Mapping & Terrain
Expanding “Hello” World
Character & Tileset Graphics
Design & Build A Village
LESSON 3: "HAUNTED" WORLD BUILDING & MAPPING
Teleporting & Map Transitions
Parallax Scrolling & Visual Enhancements
Overworld Mapping & Terrain
Design & Build A Village
Village Placement on World Map
Parallax Scrolling
LESSON 4: VARIABLES, SWITCHES & JAVASCRIPT
Variables & Switches
Plugins
Intro to Javascript & Visual Studio Code
Complete Village
LESSON 5 SPOOKY DUNGEONS & BATTLE MECHANICS
Design a Dungeon
Battle Mechanics
Place Enemies, Traps and Obstacles
Designing A Boss
LESSON 6: AUDIO & SOUND
Background Music & Sound Effects
File Types & MIDI Manipulation
Importing Music (Garage Band, Audition, Pro-Tools etc.)
LESSON 7: GRAPHICs DESIGN & UI/UX
Animations
Pre-Rendered Graphics & Parallax Scrolling
Title Screen, Menus & UI
Finalize Projects
LESSON 8: PORTING, PUBLISHING & SHARING
Presentations
A Guide to Porting & Deploying to Web, Mobile and More!
This class is the easiest way to get your child started in the world of app, software and game development!
Other Details
Parental Guidance
This course takes a nonviolent, inclusive, Nintendo-like approach to video game design.
Supply List
SOFTWARE NEEDED FOR CLASS (IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ) ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ "RPG MAKER MV" OR "RPG MAKER MZ" IS REQUIRED FOR THIS CLASS. This is a fantastic piece of software that is the easiest way for your child to learn how to create, develop and publish games for modern platforms. For Windows 10 users, you can use the 20 day free trial for this class (see link above) UNFORTUNATELY There is no free trial for Apple. Apple Mac users must pay for the software. RPG Maker MV or RPG Maker MZ COSTS $79.99 and must be purchased and run through STEAM. It often goes on Windows Users can download the software here (you only need one or the other): RPG Maker MV: https://www.rpgmakerweb.com/products/rpg-maker-mv RPG Maker MZ: https://www.rpgmakerweb.com/products/rpg-maker-mz RPG MAKER MZ is the newest (recommended version) but MV goes on sale often. Both are generally the same. Once license key for either Windows or MacOS will allow you access to both versions (one required). Please test running RPG Maker MV (and STEAM if you’re on macOS or Linux) prior to signing up for the class. RPG Maker MV will be used in followup courses. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ HARDWARE REQUIRED FOR THIS COURSE: Windows 10 PC (Preferred because of free trial) or Mac (2012 or newer). Chrome Books and iPads are NOT supported by RPG Maker MV.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Teacher expertise and credentials
I am a certified K-12 Educator, College Professor and Software Developer. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in History from Rutgers University, two Masters Degrees from The College of New Jersey: Teaching English as a Second Language and Educational Leadership. I also have a Masters Degree in Education Technology from Northcentral University.
I am the Founder of Wiz Arts Digital where I create mobile and desktop apps; and teach online coding classes. My most recent accomplishment was the completion of Romeo + Juliet RPG, an eLearning video game adaptation of the Shakespeare classic for Mobile (iOS, Android, iPadOS and ChromeOS) and Desktop (Windows and macOS). The game was created with RPG Maker MV, making use of some pretty advanced techniques insides and outside the engine.
This beginner level game design and coding class introduces students to basic 2D game design fundamentals, coding vocabulary and logic. I have been teaching these classes (specifically with RPG Maker) since 2001!!! I have taught this class in every possible age group: from Kindergarten (Age 5) all the way to Adult Learners (ages 60+).
Reviews
Live Group Class
$19
weekly or $148 for 8 classes1x per week, 8 weeks
50 min
Completed by 25 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 11-16
4-8 learners per class