User talk:EricMallon

Math Blaster for the XO/Sugar

Project Description

A Math blaster inspired game aimed at the 4th grade level (although preferably with varying difficulty levels), for the XO laptop. Math blaster is a game that combined conventional gameplay of several disciplines (platformer, shoot 'em up, etc) in very basic settings with math, to make an educational game that was actually fun to play, not just educational. I found, when playing Math Blaster when I was younger, that even if it only delivers 50%-75% of the educational value of a full 'educational game', the increased playability leads to greatly increased playtime which negates that drawback, as well as instilling a general liking for math that lasted me several years.

Math Blaster review/description http://mathequity.terc.edu/gw/html/MathBlasterReview.html

Math Blaster Screenshots:

Goals

• At least 5 different levels, with varying difficulty. Each level will utilize a different gameplay genre, such as platformer, puzzle, etc.
• Picture-based storyline to tie levels together without relying on large amounts of text
• Ability to save and load progress
• Balance gameplay based on testing with 8-11 year olds
• Integrate at least 10 different Mass 4th grade standards into the gameplay.

Levels

The game includes a variety of levels of different sizes, each covering different math standards.

Bridge Building Level

• 4.N.18 - Use concrete objects and visual models to add and subtract common fractions.

Tentative Milestones

Week 1:

1. Learn capabilities of XO laptop, Pygame
2. Storyboard basic game design/story
3. Begin planning architecture of game

Week 2:

1. Prototype and start implementing game architecture
2. Continue design of game
3. Begin selecting 4th grade math standards to fit into levels

Week 3:

1. Finish general game architecture
2. Finalize first pass on game story/design
3. Begin prototyping first level code
4. Start general UI graphics

Week 4:

1. Tie in basic UI graphics
2. Implement first level code
3. Begin prototyping second level

Week 5:

1. Finalize first level code
2. Code second level
3. Prototype 3rd level
4. Implement graphics for first level

Week 6

1. Implement graphics for second level
2. Code 3rd level
3. Prototype 4th and 5th levels

Week 7

1. Implement graphics for 3rd and 4th levels
2. Code 4th level
3. Balance/testing with 8-11 year olds for initial levels

Week 8

1. Code and graphics for 5th level
2. Second pass on UI design/graphics
3. Bug fixes on first four levels

Week 9

1. Second pass on all level graphics
2. Bug fixes on all levels and UI
3. Balance/testing with 8-11 year olds

Week 10

1. General polish pass on all elements of the game
2. Final bug fixes
3. Final balance/gameplay changes
4. Teacher documentation
5. Gameplay FAQ

Contacts

Eric Mallon (Team Lead):

ericmallon@sugarlabs.org

Tyler Bragdon:

tylerb@sugarlabs.org