Computer Science
Grade 3
20 min
Game Characters: Designing Your Hero
Students will learn about character design and create their own game characters.
What you'll learn
- Identify at least three different characteristics that make a video game character unique, such as appearance, special abilities, or personality.
- Explain why a well-designed character is important for making a video game fun and engaging.
- Apply the design process to create a drawing and description of a unique hero character, including at least one special ability and a short backstory.
- Evaluate the hero designs of two classmates and provide constructive feedback, focusing on the character's uniqueness and potential to be a good game character.
Tutorial Preview
1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify the key parts of a game character, like their look and abilities.
Define a character's attributes using simple data (e.g., speed = 10, color = 'blue').
Explain how an 'event' (like a key press) can make a character act.
Create a simple 'If...Then...' rule (a conditional) for a character's special power.
Design a unique game hero on paper by listing their attributes and rules.
Describe how changing an attribute (data) can change how the character plays.
If you could create your very own video game hero, what would they look like and what would be their super-special power? 🦸♂️🚀
Today, we are going to be game designers! We will learn how to invent our own game characters by choosing their looks, setting t...
2
Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
CharacterThe hero, villain, or creature that you control or see in a game.Mario in Super Mario, or a custom-made 'Space Cat' in a game you create.
SpriteThe picture or image of your character on the screen.A drawing of a smiling robot is the sprite for your robot character.
AttributeA piece of information that describes your character. It's like a label with a value.A hero might have an attribute called 'speed' with a value of 5, or 'color' with a value of 'red'.
EventAn action that happens in the game that the computer can notice.Pressing the spacebar, clicking the mouse, or your character touching a coin are all events.
ConditionalA special rule that tells the computer 'IF' something is true, 'THEN' d...
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Core Syntax & Patterns
The Event-Action Rule
WHEN [Event] happens, DO [Action]
Use this to make your character do something when the player acts. This is how you make characters controllable.
The If-Then Power-Up Rule
IF [Condition is true], THEN [Do a special action]
Use this to give your character special powers or reactions. The action only happens if the condition is met.
The Attribute Setter Rule
SET [Attribute] TO [Value]
Use this at the start of the game to decide your character's starting information, like their health, speed, or score.
4 more steps in this tutorial
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Challenging
You're designing a hero for a puzzle game where the hero must move blocks onto switches. Which character design is the most effective and creative?
A.super-strong hero who can smash blocks instead of moving them.
B.hero with a 'push' ability and a special 'tractor beam' to pull blocks from a distance.
C.super-fast hero who can run around the blocks very quickly.
D.hero who can fly high above the blocks and switches.
Challenging
A hero can be either 'Fast but Weak' or 'Slow but Strong'. What is the main reason a designer would make a player choose between these two options?
A.To force the player to find a secret third option that is both fast and strong.
B.To make the game unfair for players who choose the 'wrong' hero.
C.Because it is easier to code a hero with a weakness.
D.To create a meaningful choice where the player trades one advantage for another, suiting different playstyles.
Challenging
Design a conditional rule for a 'water hero' who gets stronger in rain and weaker in the desert. The hero has a 'power_level' data value.
A.IF the hero is near a cactus, THEN power_level increases.
B.IF the game weather is 'rain', THEN power_level doubles; ELSE IF the level is 'desert', THEN power_level is cut in half.
C.IF the hero jumps, THEN the weather changes to rain.
D.The hero's power_level is always 100, no matter what.
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Frequently asked questions
What grade level is "Game Characters: Designing Your Hero"?
Game Characters: Designing Your Hero is a Grade 3 Computer Science lesson on ExcelOS.
What will I learn in Game Characters: Designing Your Hero?
You'll be able to: Identify at least three different characteristics that make a video game character unique, such as appearance, special abilities, or personality; Explain why a well-designed character is important for making a video game fun and….
Is "Game Characters: Designing Your Hero" free to practice?
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How many practice questions are included with Game Characters: Designing Your Hero?
This lesson includes 27 practice questions across multiple difficulty levels, each with instant feedback and explanations.