It’s a race to the release party as these small indie game studios pitch, design and build an issue-focused video game in just 5 days!
Beta Masters follows a real-world production process for planning and developing innovative game prototypes just like the pros. With a passion for social entrepreneurship, students develop video game concepts with a Global Goals focus and take them from ideation to completion in 5 days. They will push their computational learning to the next level, creating original graphics with Piskel and bringing them to life using the powerful, cloud-based game engine, Construct 3, all with one goal in mind: securing seed investments from friends and family at Friday’s beta release party!
What you will learn at Beta Masters:
- The core concepts of computer programming and video game design
- How to build a technical game design document
- Strategies for critical thinking and problem-solving
- Best practices for public speaking—ability to pitch and present work
- Exploration of the U.N. Global Goals for Sustainable Development
Beta Masters 2021 Program Schedule
Virtual Camp Requirements:
- Chromebook, Mac or Windows PC
- WebCam
- Stable internet connection with access to Zoom Video Conferencing
- Headphones or headset with microphone (optional, recommended)
Beta Masters 2020 Virtual Camp Daily Schedule
Day 1: “Press Start to Begin” |
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|---|---|
| 8:45-9:00am | Waiting Room |
| 9:00-9:20am | Welcome & Morning Trivia Get the juices flowing with a fun trivia contest. |
| 9:20-9:40am | Intro to Construct 3 |
| 9:40-10:05am | Experimenting with Construct 3 |
| 10:05-10:20am | Intro to Piskel |
| 10:20-10:40am | Experimenting with Piskel |
| 10:40-11:00am | Finishing Touches |
| 11:00-11:05am | How to Publish a Game |
| 11:05-11:20am | Publishing & Posting Projects |
| 11:20-11:50am | Lunch Break Unplug, grab a healthy bite, and go outside for some fresh air! |
| 11:50am-12:00pm | Intro to Global Goals |
| 12:00-12:15pm | Exploring & Selecting Global Goals Topics |
| 12:15-12:35pm | Fundamentals of Game Design |
| 12:35-12:50pm | Developing Initial Game Concepts Build a plan for a Global Goals video game to entertain your family and friends. |
| 12:50-1:20pm | Pitching Concepts & Receiving Feedback |
| 1:20-1:30pm | Debrief & Posting Game Concepts for Feedback |
Day 2: “Planning for Success” |
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|---|---|
| 8:45-9:00am | Waiting Room |
| 9:00-9:15am | Morning Trivia |
| 9:15-9:25am | Intro to Game Design Documents Learn the importance of pre-production and how to develop a detailed game design document to ensure efficiency and success. |
| 9:25-9:50am | Pre-Production – Concept Planning |
| 9:50-10:20am | Sharing Concepts & Receiving Feedback |
| 10:20-10:35am | Plan Refinement & Daily Goal Setting |
| 10:35-10:50am | Building Skills in Development & Design |
| 10:50-11:30am | Self-Directed Game Development |
| 11:30am-12:00pm | Lunch Break |
| 12:00-12:20pm | Building Skills in Development & Design |
| 12:20-12:50pm | Self-Directed Game Development |
| 12:50-1:20pm | Sharing Progress & Receiving Feedback |
| 1:20-1:30pm | Debrief, Posting Progress, Challenges & Tomorrow’s Daily Goals for Feedback |
Day 3: “Eyes on the Prize” |
|
|---|---|
| 8:45-9:00am | Waiting Room |
| 9:00-9:15am | Morning Trivia |
| 9:15-9:20am | Reviewing/Refining Daily Goals |
| 9:20-9:40am | Building Skills in Development & Design Learn to create interaction through object collisions. |
| 9:40-10:40am | Self-Directed Game Development |
| 10:40-11:10am | Help with Obstacles & Challenges |
| 11:10-11:40am | Lunch Break |
| 11:40am-12:00pm | Building Skills in Development & Design Harness the power of variables to create scores, timers, and much more. |
| 12:00-12:50pm | Self-Directed Game Development |
| 12:50-1:20pm | Sharing Progress & Receiving Feedback |
| 1:20-1:30pm | Debrief, Posting Progress, Challenges & Tomorrow’s Daily Goals for Feedback |
Day 4: “Nearing the Finish Line” |
|
|---|---|
| 8:45-9:00am | Waiting Room |
| 9:00-9:15am | Morning Trivia |
| 9:15-9:20am | Reviewing/Refining Daily Goals |
| 9:20-9:40am | Building Skills in Development & Design Create custom tilesets to build unique levels for your game. |
| 9:40-10:40am | Self-Directed Game Development |
| 10:40-11:10am | Help with Obstacles & Challenges |
| 11:10-11:40am | Lunch Break |
| 11:40am-12:00pm | Building Skills in Development & Design Make your game more challenging by randomizing enemies and objects during gameplay. |
| 12:00-12:50pm | Self-Directed Game Development |
| 12:50-1:20pm | Sharing Progress & Receiving Feedback |
| 1:20-1:30pm | Debrief & Posting Game Concepts for Feedback |
Day 5: “The Arcade is Open” |
|
|---|---|
| 8:45-9:00am | Waiting Room |
| 9:00-9:15am | Morning Trivia |
| 9:15-9:20am | Reviewing/Refining Daily Goals with focus on Minimum Viable Product |
| 9:20-9:40am | Building Skills in Development & Design |
| 9:40-10:40am | Self-Directed Game Development |
| 10:40-11:10am | Discussing Obstacles & Challenges |
| 11:10-11:40am | Lunch Break |
| 11:40am-12:30pm | Self-Directed Game Development |
| 12:30-12:40pm | Publishing & Posting Projects |
| 12:40-12:50pm | Preparing for Presentations |
| 12:50-1:20pm | Presenting Prototypes in Small Groups |
| 1:20-1:30pm | Farewell Continue to explore video game development and find ways to be an advocate for the Global Goals! |
“Beta Masters is a great program that covers all aspects of STEM! My students had a great time creating their own video games!”
~ Kristin K., Liberty Junior High, Richardson, TX