For intermediate or advanced students, allows you to make 3D animations, games, and simulations of real-world objects.
Can I use video and computer games in a science fair project?
Storytelling Alice: Once Upon a Time in a Computer-generated Land…
Kid-Friendly Programming Languages and Resources
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I dont know how to program yet. How should I get started?
Kid-friendly programming languages and learning resources.
Showing your parent or teacher the information on this webpage might help. You can also show them theMath and Computer Science Careerssection of our site. Many good, high-paying jobs require programming skills!
Do you want to learn how to program or code? Are you worried that it sounds too hard, too complicated, that it will take you too long to learn, or that your school doesnt offer a programming course? Dont worry! There are lots of free resources online that can help you get started and learn to program. You can try it out just for fun or even use programming for a science fair project. Table 1 lists a variety of online resources for different experience levels. If you are a parent or an educator who wants to teach your kids/students to code, but are worried you dont have the appropriate background knowledge, many of these sites will provide great resources for you as well.
For advanced students who already have some programming experience. Pygame is a game-centric version of Python, a more general-purpose programming language.
The usefulness of simulations in training and experimentation
Can Gaming Help You Score Better in School?
Science Buddies Projects (if applicable)
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*Note:Projects that involve only level design arenotaccepted as science fair projects. (But other types of competitions do accept them.) To be entered in a science or engineering fair, a project must involve either some form of programming, creation of gaming hardware (like building a joystick), or observing/measuring and analyzing how games impact people or society.
For making 2D video games. Easy to learn for beginners, but lots of additional options and complexity for more experienced programmers.
Absolutely! First, check if your science fair has a computer science category and check with your teacher or fair organizer about what types of projects will be accepted. You can use a Science BuddiesVideo & Computer Game Project Idea, or come up with one of your own. There are two basic types of gaming-related science projects: computer science projects and sociology projects. See Table 2 for more details.
It is also important to spend some time thinking about what will make your video gamefun. This is a critical part of designing your game. One entertaining way to learn more about game design and the mechanics used to make different types of games exciting is to explore the free version ofGamestar Mechanic. As part of this website, you can play through their quests and become an apprentice game designer in their game-world before you even start programming.
Can I use video and computer games in a science fair project?
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For intermediate to advanced students. Website with lots of free tutorials and online courses for a variety of real-world, text-based programming languages.
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The Raspberry Pi is a tiny computer that comes with many of the programming languages listed here, including Scratch, Sonic Pi, and Python.
Many of the resources listed in Table 1 have online communities where you can publish games/programs for other people to see, download, and play. Check out the website for the language you are using to see if theres a way for you to share your work.
My parent(s)/teacher(s) do not believe video games can ever be educational. Can you convince them otherwise?
How video and computer games are made
Website with lots of free resources to help you learn to code, with options for beginners and advanced students.
Want To Make a Video Game? Heres How!
Making a video game is just like creating any other piece of art: you need a vision or idea to work from. But the actual creation process requires planning to make sure that all the parts of the game, like graphics, sound, and the actions players can make, work well together. Following the steps ofThe Engineering Design Processwill help make sure you create a well thought-out, successful, and fun product.
I dont know how to program yet. How should I get started?
The effects of social or educational content in games
Do you like music? Then learn to code by creating your own songs!
Different types of science projects can be created using video and computer games.
Beginner-friendly way to make fully functional apps for smartphones and tablets.
Raspberry Pi Projects Kit, available from our partnerHome Science Tools
Type of Gaming-Related Science Project*
Computer Science; occasionally Human Behavior
Where can I publish my video game or program?
The usefulness and impact of video and computer games
A graphical programming language where you snap together blocks of code instead of writing lines of text. Great for beginners and making 2D games and animations.
A simple way to introduce beginners to video-game design. No programming is involved. For an introduction to programming, choose another of the beginner packages.
For intermediate or advanced students, allows you to make 3D animations and simple games.
Power Play: How Does Animation Timing Affect Your Perception of Game Action?