Making Games: developing games authoring software for educational and creative use Funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, 2003-2006

Directors: David Buckingham, Andrew Burn.

This project set out to develop a prototype software environment for the authoring of computer games by young people, and research its design, uses and benefits. The project was a partnership between the Centre for the Study of Children, Youth and Media, and Immersive Education Ltd. We worked with other 100 students and a dozen teachers, mainly at two comprehensive schools: a girls’ school in Lambeth and a mixed schools in Cambridge. The partnership has developed a piece of software called ‘Mission Maker’. It allows for the creation of 3D adventure and puzzle games, without need for prior experience of programming. The software is easy enough to use at primary school level, as well as adaptable and therefore complex enough for use at A level and on undergraduate game design and multimedia courses.

"Game Literacy in Theory and Practice" by David Buckingham and Andrew Burn (Journal of Educational Media and Hypermedia, 2007) "Making Games: game design and media literacy", (English, Drama, Media, 2007: teachers’ publication)