Feedback mobile games

[mozfest-bot]

[ UUID ] 6f29b825-21f5-41a1-bb52-16cb654ef1a6

[ Session Name ] Feedback mobile games [ Primary Space ] Digital Inclusion [ Secondary Space ] Youth Zone

[ Submitter's Name ] Baranaba Mugabane [ Submitter's Affiliated Organisation ] I am a 16 year old Kenyan citizen [ Submitter's GitHub ] @bashybaranaba

What will happen in your session?

Being visually impaired makes playing video games quite difficult.This session is a game development workshop for making mobile games that can be easily played (without straining) by the visually impaired.Participants will be required to install the Unity game engine for the game development. Pre-requisite: participants need to come with the Unity game engine already installed. For those who haven’t, they can do so while we discuss the basics of game development.The participants are encouraged to develop along and modify their games.

What is the goal or outcome of your session?

Together with our participants, we will have created an all-inclusive and fun to play mobile game.We hope the participants will, at the least, have made a mobile game that is easily played by the visually impaired or gained some knowledge on game development.

If your session requires additional materials or electronic equipment, please outline your needs.

A projector or a big screen will be ideal for this session;It will be used to help give instructions to participants and show code as the participants develop along.We will need an area with a strong internet (Wifi) connection and at least three power sockets and three extension cables, so that participants are able recharge their laptops.

Time needed

All weekend, as an installation, exhibit or drop-in session

[bashybaranaba]

[ Submitter's Affiliated Organisation ] Strathmore School

[chadsansing]

Is there a way to bring even a small number of devices with Unity preinstalled? Is there a game development tool or language that can teach about designing for accessibility that isn't such a high bar as Unity?

[bashybaranaba]

Yes, there are other game development tools that are easily accessible via the web ;some that I am exploring are, Flowlab and Game Froot web based editors.I chose Unity at first, because it is consistent and has features that Intend to use and I also intended to teach about game design and code ;though the Flowlab Game Froot editors seem quite promising. In case these game web editors do not work out, I can organize to bring 3 to 5 laptops with Unity preinstalled.

[chadsansing]

Okay - thank you, @bashybaranaba. I wonder how to balance the time needed to teach a platform with the other goals of the session.

[bashybaranaba]

I will only teach parts of the platform that are fundamental and important for this project.I will have prepared the sprites ,audio and most of the code needed.The session will be mainly, putting it all together in such a way that the game made can be easily played by the visually impaired, giving them a great experience.

[chadsansing]

Thank you for the further explanation, @bashybaranaba!

[bashybaranaba]

Welcome!

[bashybaranaba]

I am thinking of doing demo sessions to estimate teaching time with friends back at home; what would you suggest?

[chadsansing]

Try the session the way it is in your mind and time each part of it. Afterwards, ask which parts worked well, which didn't, and what participants might change. Update your proposal with any new ideas or insights you have.

[bashybaranaba]

Thanks

[jontutcher]

Hey @bashybaranaba! This session looks really interesting. It'd be great if you could provide a bit more detail on what you might do in the workshop - we're keen to make the sessions interactive.

I notice you've said you think your session would work well as an 'all weekend / drop in' session. This might reduce the technology requirement a bit, as I guess you could teach people one at a time? Otherwise, do you think you could host your workshop as a one hour session?

Thanks! Jon

[bashybaranaba]

I am planning to do a trial session back at home this weekend.I will try to make the session last for 60 to 90 mins and give you a detailed feedback on this.

[bashybaranaba]

Hi,I tried out the session and it took roughly 2 hours and some minutes, but I still think I can trim it down to 90 mins or less.I decided I will be using the Game froot editor instead of Unity.Game froot is easily accessible via the web and is relatively simple to use ;it uses scratch code blocks and one can easily animate.

I'll start with a short introduction to the session and show the participants the finished version of the game the participants will be making (and can modify).The game is a simple ,one-tap-action, endless 2D game. We will do some little animation using sprites I have prepared, then do some coding using scratch blocks.We will add some audio which will add intuition and predictability to the game. Finally, we will test the games and try to play them with our eyes closed to see how far we can get in the game .Instead of uploading the games to the Play store, we will take the learning activity forward by prototyping the games made with visually impaired back in our communities.

From what I saw while testing this session, I noticed that uploading sprites to the Game froot editor and coding the all game logic, took a lot of time .What I think I will do, is to open several Game Froot accounts for the participant before the beginning of the festival where I can prepare sprites (and graphics), audio and some the code blocks.

[bashybaranaba]

I intend to do the session in a group setting rather than to teach people one at a time.

[bashybaranaba]

This is my first time proposing a session at Mozilla Festival; what would you suggest to make the session better?

[jontutcher]

@bashybaranaba Thanks for the extra detail!

From my experience of sessions like this, there will be people of very mixed abilities in the room. You could consider:

• How do you explain concepts to folk who've not designed games or programmed before?
• How do you keep things interesting for both the 'newbies', and for experienced software developers? Your idea of pre-prepared accounts sounds great to help with this.
• What do you do if the internet connection goes down? Do you have a fallback (e.g. you could steer the session into a discussion or something!)
• What happens if only 2 people turn up to your session? What happens if 200 people turn up? ;)

Great work so far anyway - and don't feel you need to answer these questions specifically, they're just ideas!

[bashybaranaba]

Thanks! I will look into these .

[zee-moz]

Hi @bashybaranaba, I’m writing on behalf of the Digital Inclusion wrangler team for MozFest 2018. Thank so much for your proposal— your session looks really great! I’m following up on your request for a stipend. We reserve stipends for those who would not be able to attend MozFest without a stipend (no support from employers, schools, or other institutions, and no other resources to get them to the festival). I’m reaching out to confirm that this is your situation-- that you will require the stipend to attend MozFest 2018. Please reply and let us know! Many thanks. 😸

[bashybaranaba]

Yes, I do require the stipend to attend MozFest 2018.

[zee-moz]

@bashybaranaba I'm not sure if others from our team reached out to you about this yet. If they have, and you've answered this question, just let me know. As you're 16 years old, Mozilla would prefer that you travel to the festival with an adult guardian, for legal/ liability reasons. We can also pay for this person to travel to the Festival. Do you have someone who can come to the Festival with you? Please let us know. Thanks 😸

[chadsansing]

cc @emrysgreen - potential for cross-space connections.

[emrysgreen]

Thanks @chadsansing - And if you would like any support in supporting @zee-moz then just let me know.

[bashybaranaba]

@zee-moz Yes I have an adult who can come to Mozfest with me. My uncle, Alex Wafula, is willing to come with me.

[zee-moz]

@bashybaranaba you should have received an email from Mozilla about your travel stipend award, can you check your inbox and please reply with your info, and that of your guardian? looking forward to welcoming you at the festival! cc @Saallen