3. Game Overview

Activities

Introduction (25 mins)

1. Explain to the class what a storyboard is and how it is used.
   • Does anyone know what a storyboard is?
   • A storyboard is a graphic organiser to help develop a story using visual panels.
   • Storyboards originated in film and are commonly used in television and theatre. More recently, some authors use storyboards to help them plan and lay out novels, and game developers are increasingly using storyboards in game design.
2. Show the class an example of a storyboard for television.
   
   

   Teacher tip: Emphasise throughout this lesson that creating storyboards doesn’t require highly developed artistic skills. While storyboard construction can be a great outlet for those students that do have artistic skills and talents, every student can create useful and informative storyboards.

3. Explain to the class that there are different storyboard formats and show generic examples of each format. These could be drawn on a whiteboard or you could use the prepared Storyboard formats document to display to the class.
   Linear storyboards

• Storyboards used in filmmaking are usually linear – each panel is followed by another panel in order – to help tell the story in sequence.
• For games, linear storyboards are best used when focusing on narrative parts of the game, like introductory scenes.
  
  Branching and looping storyboards

• Games involve choices that the player must make. Branching or looping storyboards are best used to help show the player’s choices in a game, and to show the way that gameplay might work in the game.

• A game storyboard will most likely combine these different formats.
  

1. Explain that there are many things that could be included in each panel of a game storyboard
   These include:

• Features of the game interface
  • Indicate what the player can do
  • Describe user interface features

• Game characters
  •  Organise and describe game characters
  • Show a character’s actions

• Gameplay
  • Explain gameplay mechanics
  • Explain puzzles or challenges in the game
  • Show possible action sequences
  • Show possible paths
  • Show levels or worlds

1. Show students two examples of how action can be shown in a panel using the Storyboard panel document.
   Here is an example that shows each part of an action sequence in a different panel.
   

Here is the same example showing the action sequence using just one panel.

1. Ask each team to develop a storyboard panel (or a small number of panels) for an existing game.
   • Teams can develop their storyboards on paper or use a suitable online tool (e.g. Canva, Boords)
   • Give students a small number of well-known games to choose from (e.g. Chess, Monopoly, Battleship, Jenga, Uno)
   • Ask each team to create a panel (or a few panels) that would be part of the storyboard for their chosen game.
   • They can focus on one or more of the points above (4) or come up with their own.
     Teacher tip: An example storyboard panel for chess might show the possible movements of one of the pieces, or an example of a sequence of moves.
2. Ask teams to display their panel(s) on a display board or interactive whiteboard (or even on their own notebook, computer or tablet). Give them some time to look at, and discuss, other team’s panels.

Main Activity (30 mins)

1. Ask teams to prepare a storyboard for their game.
   • Teams can choose a format that suits their game.
   • Teams should decide what the important features of the game are and what to include in their panels.
2. Encourage teams to focus on one or more of the points discussed in the Storyboard panel document.

Reflection/Sharing Tasks (5 mins)

1. Show the GDD and ask teams to add relevant information from the lesson.

Teacher tip: Emphasise the importance of completing the GDD throughout their STEM VGC journey rather than leaving it until the end of the challenge.