Intro to Game Design and Coding With RPG Maker & Javascript

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!

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+). 

Learners will be asked to continue working on their projects in between classes. 

Students will have their own original video game at the end of this class.

50 minutes per week in class, and an estimated 1 - 2 hours per week outside of class.