Career & Technical Education
CB35 – Video Game Development
Course #: CB35
Course Name: Video Game Development
Prerequisites: CB09 Intro to Information Technology
Grade Level: 10-12
Level of Difficulty: Average
# of Credits: 2 semesters–1Credit
I
Video Game Development Technology Units and Understanding Statement
Unit 1: Computing Basics
 Students will examine various issues in Information Technology work environments.
Unit 2: Introduction to Visual Programming

Students will construct video games using correct GUI objects for input and output of data.
Unit 3: Introduction to Scripting

Unit 4:

Unit 5:

Students will create and produce a video game using Game Maker Language (GML)
Intermediate Game Design Features
Students will create video games using appropriate functions to input and output information.
Basics of Object Oriented Programming
Students will construct video games by devising appropriate method of programming based on a hierarchy of
classes, and well-defined and cooperating objects.
Unit 6: Advanced Object Oriented Programming Techniques

Students will program identical video games using GML, JAVA and Visual Basic and assess the attributes of each
language.
Unit 7: Final Project Design
 Students will form a development team, design and program an educational video game.
1
CB35 – Video Game Development
Career & Technical Education
COMMON CORE STANDARDS
The following Reading and Writing performance objectives are integrated throughout the entire course:
Reading:
 9-10.RST.4 Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in
a specific scientific or technical context relevant to grades 9-10 texts and topics.
 9-10.RST.9 Compare and contrast findings presented in a text to those from other sources (including their own experiments),
noting when the findings support or contradict previous explanations or accounts.
Writing:
 9-10.WHST.8 Gather relevant information from multiple authoritative print and digital sources, using advanced searches effectively;
assess the usefulness of each source in answering the research question; integrate information into the text selectively to maintain
the flow of ideas, avoiding plagiarism and following a standard format for citation.
 9-10.WHST.9 Draw evidence from informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research
Speaking and Listening:
 11-12.SL.4 Present information, findings, and supporting evidence, conveying a clear and distinct perspective, such that listeners
can follow the line of reasoning, alternative or opposing perspectives are addressed, and the organization, development,
substance, and style are appropriate to purpose, audience, and a range or formal and informal tasks.
Language:
 11-12.L.6 Acquire and use accurately general academic and domain-specific words and phrases, sufficient for reading,
writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career readiness level; demonstrate independence in gathering
vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.
Mathematics:
 HS.G-CO.2 Represent transformations in the plane using, e.g., transparencies and geometry software; describe
transformations as functions that take points in the plane as inputs and give other points as outputs. Compare
transformations that preserve distance and angle to those that do not (e.g., translation versus horizontal stretch).
HS.G-CO.4 Develop definitions of rotations, reflections, and translations in terms of angles, circles, perpendicular lines,
parallel lines, and line segments.
2
CB35 – Video Game Development
Career & Technical Education
CB35 Video Game Development - Suggested Teaching Timeline
Fall
August
September
October
November
December
Spring
January
February
March
April
May
Unit 1: Computing Basics
Unit 2: Introduction to Visual
Programming
Unit 3: Introduction to scripting
Unit 4: Intermediate Game Design
Features
Unit 5: Basics of Object Oriented
Programming
Unit 6: Advanced Object Oriented
Programming Techniques
Unit 7: Final Project Design
3
CB35 – Video Game Development
Career & Technical Education
Unit 1: Computing Basics
Students will examine various issues in Information Technology work environments.
Knowledge and Skills
Knowledge:
 Evolution of the computer and how it
relates to the Video Gaming World
 Future trends in Video Game Development
(VGD)
 Recognizing Game Genre
 Digital literacy ethics as it pertains to VGD
 Publically modified source code (open
source) vs personally modified source
code (proprietary)
Skills:
 Design a timeline presentation showing
the beginning and future trends of Video
Gaming and how it has evolved using
computer technology.
 Compare and contrast the attributes of the
various game genres.
 Determine the proper licensing of software
acquired from the Internet.
 Classify rights and responsibilities of
software producers and end users in
regards to legal ethical, and security.
 Predict results from a breach in ethical and
legal issues when it pertains to designing a
video game.
Arizona CTE Standards
Employability Skills
4.0 - EXPLORE LEGAL AND ETHICAL
ISSUES RELATED TO INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY
4.1 Explore intellectual property rights including
software licensing and software duplication
4.2 Understand the legal and ethical issues
related to the difference between open
source and proprietary systems
4.3 Identify issues and trends affecting
computers and information privacy
4.4 Differentiate between ethical and legal uses
of information technology, i.e., data pricing,
use of public and private networks, social
networking, industry-related data, and data
piracy
6.0 - DESCRIBE THE
DEVELOPMENT/EVOLUTION OF
COMPUTERS AND INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY
6.1 Describe a computer, its components and
functions
6.2 Explain the historical evolution of the
computer and computer networks
6.3 Explain how the development of computers
has impacted modern life
6.4 Discuss future trends in information
technology
1. Complex Communication:
Employs complex
communication skills in a
manner that adds to
organizational productivity.
• Exchanges knowledge and
processes among team
members, colleagues, and
clients.
• Communicates effectively
with people of different
cultures, generations, and
life/work experiences in
different situations.
5. Professionalism:
Conducts oneself in a
professional manner
appropriate to organizational
expectations.
• Adheres to organizational
protocol, such as behavior,
appearance, and
communication.
• Manages time in accordance
with organizational
expectations, including
punctuality, productivity, and
time on task.
• Performs assigned tasks with
a “can do” attitude.
• Produces work that reflects
professional pride.
Resources






Guest speakers
from industry
Review end
user
agreements
from several
software
sources
Introduction to
Video Game
Design
Text book –
Game Maker’s
Apprentice
Internet
connected
computer lab
Game Maker
V8.0
4
CB35 – Video Game Development
Career & Technical Education
Unit 2:Introduction to Visual Programming
Students will construct video games using correct GUI objects for input and output of data.
Knowledge and Skills
Knowledge:
 Methods pertaining to object-oriented
programming
 Input and output of executable programs to
move objects in the game
 Controller objects interfacing with program
 Graphical User Interface (GUI)
 Variables to store values within a program
 Collect objects and create their class
Skills:
 Create sprite attributes to define an event.
 Assign object properties for control of
movement with specific parameters.
 Apply backgrounds, music and sound effects
which attribute to game user friendliness.
 Create an executable to run the program when
it is opened.
 Refine and polish a game for optimum
playability.
 Distinguish appropriate methods to input data.
 Choose the correct method of outputting text
with formatting.
 Distinguish between an object and a class
 Create instances of objects from existing
classes.
 Construct appropriate statements to invoke an
object’s accessor methods.
Arizona CTE Standards
Employability Standards
8.0 - CREATE A PROGRAM USING SOFTWARE
8.2 Compile and execute programs
8.4 Name identifiers and formatting code by
applying recognized conventions
16.0 - IDENTIFY WAYS TO INPUT AND OUTPUT
INFORMATION
16.1 Identify appropriate methods to input data on
a console and/or GUI
16.2 Identify correct input/output statements in a
program
16.3 Choose the correct method of assigning input
to variables
16.4 Choose the correct method of outputting text
with formatting
16.5 Employ graphics methods to create images
at specified locations
16.6 Choose correct GUI objects for input and
output of date to the GUI interface, i.e., text
boxes, labels, radio
18.0 - EMPLOY OBJECT-ORIENTED
PROGRAMMING TECHNIQUES
18.1 Make a distinction between an object and a
class
18.3 Exemplify objects from existing classes
18.4 Identify appropriate statements to invoke an
object's accessor methods
3. Expert Thinking:
Integrates a mastery of
technical knowledge
and skills with thinking
strategies to create, to
innovate, and to devise
solutions.
• Recognizes the
existence of a problem,
sometimes despite
evidence to the contrary.
• Engages in continuous
learning through inquiry
and reflection.
• Exhibits expertise by
asking relevant questions
and listening actively.
• Uses multiple thinking
strategies, such as critical
thinking, divergent
thinking, problem solving,
and decision
making, to determine a
course of action.
• Takes action based on
confidence in mastery.
• Analyzes evidence
based on mastery
knowledge to solve
problems.
• Makes a well-reasoned
case supported by
evidence and mastery
knowledge to explain
conclusions.
Resources
 Text book –
Game Maker’s
Apprentice
 Introduction to
Video Game
Design
 Internet
connected
computer lab
 Game Maker
V8.0
5
Unit 3: Introduction to scripting
Students will create and produce a video game using Game Maker Language (GML)
Knowledge and
Skills
Career & Technical
Education
Knowledge:
 Conditional statements to control whether or
not to block of actions is executed.
 Repeating things to achieve a successful
loop of actions.
 Variables infinitely used in scripts to store
one value.
 Arrays allow the variables to store a whole
collection of values.
 Boolean expressions use the operators
AND, OR, XOR, and NOT to compare
values.
 Nesting syntax to define how declarations,
functions and commands are arranged.

Program editor to decipher proper scripting
of game.
Skills:
 Utilize the proper debugging tool to examine
debugging code to hand trace find and
correct errors.
 Compile and execute programs to
maneuver objects and sprites to properly
execute commands
 Rearrange and modify code
 Evaluate Boolean expressions to compare
values and return a true of false result.
 Declare and initialize arrays so that a
related set of values can be easily sorted or
searched.
 Manipulate array data for creating the
syntax for storing and displaying the values.
 Utilize nesting syntax to define how
declarations, functions, commands, and
other statements should be arranged.
 Utilize program editor to write source code
in a natural fashion, using logical words and
symbols.
Arizona CTE Standards
Employability
Standards
Resources
CB35
– Video
Game Development
STANDARD 8.0 - CREATE A PROGRAM USING 3. Expert Thinking:
Integrates a mastery of
SOFTWARE
technical knowledge
8.1 Use a program editor to enter and modify
and skills with thinking
code
strategies to create, to
8.2 Compile and execute programs
innovate, and to devise
8.3 Follow established documentation standards
solutions.
8.4 Name identifiers and formatting code by
• Recognizes the
applying recognized conventions
existence of a problem,
STANDARD 9.0 - TEST AND DEBUG TO
sometimes despite
VERIFY PROGRAM OPERATION
evidence to the contrary.
9.1 Identify errors in program modules
• Engages in continuous
STANDARD 12.0 - UTILIZE CONDITIONAL
learning through inquiry
STRUCTURES IN WRITING
and reflection.
PROGRAMS
• Exhibits expertise by
12.1 Compare values using relational operators,
asking relevant questions
i.e., =, >, <, >=, <=, and not equal
and listening actively.
12.2 Evaluate Boolean expressions
12.3 Select an appropriate decision structure for a • Uses multiple thinking
strategies, such as critical
given situation
thinking, divergent
12.4 Select correct syntax for decision
statements, i.e., if/else, if, and switch case thinking, problem solving,
12.5 Select the correct nesting syntax for decision and decision
making, to determine a
structures
course of action.
STANDARD 13.0 - UTILIZE REPETITIVE
• Takes action based on
STRUCTURES IN WRITING
confidence in mastery.
PROGRAMS
• Analyzes evidence
13.1 Identify various types of repetition structures
based on mastery
13.2 Identify the role of a loop control variable
knowledge to solve
13.3 Select the correct syntax for nested loops
problems.
13.4 Compute the values of variables involved
• Makes a well-reasoned
with nested loops
case supported by
STANDARD 14.0 - UTILIZE SIMPLE DATA
evidence and mastery
TYPES AND STRINGS
knowledge to explain
14.1 Declare numeric, Boolean, character, and
conclusions.
string variables
14.2 Choose the appropriate data type for a given
situation
14.3 Identify the correct syntax for constants in a
program
14.4 Identify the correct syntax for initializing and
modifying variables
 Text book –
Game Maker’s
Apprentice
 Introduction to
Video Game
Design
 Internet
connected
computer lab
 Software: Game
Maker V8.0
6
CB35 – Video Game Development
Career & Technical Education
Unit 4: Intermediate Game Design Features
Students will create video games using appropriate functions to input and output information.
Knowledge and Skills
Knowledge:
 Method as a subroutine attached to a specific
class defined in the source code of a program.
 Input and output of executable programs to
move objects in the game.
 Controller objects to set the boundaries within
the game parameters.
 Variables infinitely used in scripts to store one
value
 Object as an instance of the class of objects
known as sprites.
 Parent object as a senior object in the class of
objects, primarily works with child object.
Skills:
 Determine appropriate sprite attributes by
using method subroutines.
 Construct object properties to move sprites
within the specified parameters.
 Apply backgrounds, music and sound effects
to make game aesthetically pleasing.
 Modify and balance a game for user
compatibility.
 Deduce appropriate methods to input data for
logical sequencing.
 Select the correct method of outputting text
with formatting procedures.
 Differentiate between an object and a class.
 Create instances of objects from existing
classes such as parent or child.
 Construct appropriate statements to invoke an
object’s accessor methods (executable
statements)
 Create a mathematical model to represent the
object movement.
Arizona CTE Standards
8.0 - CREATE A PROGRAM USING SOFTWARE
8.1 Use a program editor to enter and modify code
8.2 Compile and execute programs
8.3 Follow established documentation standards
8.4 Name identifiers and formatting code by
applying recognized conventions
8.5 Access program and language documentation
10.0 - WRITE CODE TO PERFORM
ARITHMETIC CALCULATIONS
10.1 Identify and correctly use arithmetic
operations applying the order of operations
with respect to programming
10.2 Interpret and construct mathematical
formulas
16.0 - IDENTIFY WAYS TO INPUT AND OUTPUT
INFORMATION
16.1 Identify appropriate methods to input data on
a console and/or GUI
16.2 Identify correct input/output statements in a
program
16.3 Choose the correct method of assigning input
to variables
16.4 Choose the correct method of outputting text
with formatting
16.5 Employ graphics methods to create images
at specified locations
16.6 Choose correct GUI objects for input and
output of date to the GUI interface, i.e., text
boxes, labels, radio
buttons, check boxes, dropdowns, and list boxes
18.0 - EMPLOY OBJECT-ORIENTED
PROGRAMMING TECHNIQUES
18.5 Change the state of an object by invoking a
modifier method
Employability Skills
1. Complex
Communication: Employs
complex communication
skills in a manner that
adds to organizational
productivity.
• Demonstrates mastery of
traditional communication
skills in reading, writing,
speaking, and listening
within organizational
contexts
3. Expert Thinking:
Integrates a mastery of
technical knowledge and
skills with thinking
strategies to create, to
innovate, and to devise
solutions.
Recognizes the existence of
a problem, sometimes
despite evidence to the
contrary.
• Engages in continuous
learning through inquiry and
reflection.
• Exhibits expertise by asking
relevant questions and
listening actively.
• Uses multiple thinking
strategies, such as critical
thinking, divergent thinking,
problem solving, and
decision making, to
determine a course of action
Resources
 Text book –
ActionScript 3.0
Game
Programming
University
 Introduction to
Video Game
Design
 Internet
connected
computer lab
 Software: Game
Maker V8.0
 Flash CS 5.5
7
CB35 – Video Game Development
Career & Technical Education
Unit 5: Basics of Object Oriented Programming
Students will construct video games by devising appropriate method of
programming based on a hierarchy of classes, and well-defined and
cooperating objects.
Knowledge and Skills
Knowledge:
 Documentation Standards to verify logical
sequence of game construction.
 Conditional structures using if-then-else and
switch to perform object actions.
 Run time errors may prevent a program to
work properly.
 Boolean expressions use the operators
AND, OR, XOR, and NOT to compare
values
 Nesting syntax to define how declarations,
functions and commands are arranged.
 Program editor to decipher proper scripting
methods.
 Mathematical formula to
Skills:
 Utilize the proper debugging tool to examine
debugging code to hand trace find and
correct errors.
 Compile and execute programs
 Create and modify code
 Evaluate Boolean expressions
 Create a mathematical model to represent
the object movement.
 Utilize Flash API to construct a video game
Arizona CTE Standards
8.0 - CREATE A PROGRAM USING SOFTWARE
8.1 Use a program editor to enter and modify
code
8.2 Compile and execute programs
8.3 Follow established documentation standards
8.4 Name identifiers and formatting code by
applying recognized conventions
8.5 Access program and language documentation
9.0 - TEST AND DEBUG TO VERIFY PROGRAM
OPERATION
9.1 Identify errors in program module
10.0 - WRITE CODE TO PERFORM ARITHMETIC
CALCULATIONS
10.1 Identify and correctly use arithmetic
operations applying the order of operations
with respect to programming
10.2 Interpret and construct mathematical formulas
12.0 - UTILIZE CONDITIONAL
STRUCTURES IN WRITING PROGRAMS
12.1 Compare values using relational operators,
i.e., =, >, <, >=, <=, and not equal
12.2 Evaluate Boolean expressions
12.3 Select an appropriate decision structure for a
given situation
12.4 Select correct syntax for decision statements,
i.e., if/else, if, and switch case
12.5 Select the correct nesting syntax for decision
structures
STANDARD 13.0 - UTILIZE REPETITIVE
STRUCTURES IN WRITING PROGRAMS
13.1 Identify various types of repetition structures
13.2 Identify the role of a loop control variable
13.3 Select the correct syntax for nested loops
13.4 Compute the values of variables involved with
nested loops
Employability Skills
Resources
5. Professionalism:
Conducts oneself in a
professional manner
appropriate to
organizational
expectations.
• Adheres to organizational
protocol, such as
behavior, appearance,
and communication.
• Manages time in
accordance with
organizational
expectations, including
punctuality, productivity,
and time on task.
• Represents the
organization in a positive
manner that reflects its
mission and goals
accurately.
• Performs assigned tasks
with a “can do” attitude.
• Makes appropriate
distinctions between
personal and workrelated matters.
• Produces work that reflects
professional pride.
 Text book –
ActionScript 3.0
Game
Programming
University
 Introduction to
Video Game
Design
 Internet
connected
computer lab
 Software: Game
Maker V8.0
 Flash CS 5.5
8
Career & Technical Education
CB35 – Video Game Development
Unit 6: Advanced Object Oriented Programming Techniques
Students will program identical video games using GML, Action
Script (AS) and assess the attributes of each language.
9
CB35 – Video Game Development
Career & Technical Education
Knowledge and Skills
Arizona CTE Standards
Employability Skills
Resources
10
Career & Technical Education
Knowledge:

Input and output of executable programs to move
objects in the game

Adding & updating files for proper execution of
game

Multidimensional arrays for developing two
dimensional arrays of columns and rows.

Object oriented programming (OOP)

Program module script for the set of commands
and instructions to all components of the game.

Relational operators identify the kind of relation
between two entities.

Nested loops to determine which loop takes control
of the number of repetitions

Data types to classify one of various types of data.

String variables for values that contain characters.

String concatenation to join two character strings
end-to-end.

An object as an instance of a class.

Application Program Interface (API) to specify the
use as an interface by software components to
communicate with each other.
Skills

Retrieve information from a data base

Manipulate array data structures

Make a distinction between an object and a class

Distinguish between is-a, has-a and class
relationships

Exemplify objects from existing classes

Apply appropriate statements to invoke an object’s
assessor methods

Change the state of an object by invoking a
modifier method

Determine the requirements for constructing new
objects by reading the Application Programming
Interface (API) Action Script (AS)

Utilize the correct syntax for an original userdefined class
 Determine the correct syntax for a class that
extends an existing class
CB35 – Video Game Development
14.0 - UTILIZE SIMPLE DATA TYPES AND
STRINGS
14.1 Declare numeric, Boolean, character, and
string variables
14.2 Choose the appropriate data type for a given
situation
14.3 Identify the correct syntax for constants in a
program
14.4 Identify the correct syntax for initializing and
modifying variables
14.5 Identify the correct syntax for operations on
strings, including length, substring, and
concatenation
15.0 - IMPLEMENT ARRAYS IN PROGRAMS
15.4 Manipulate data stored in an array
15.5 Search and sort data in an array
15.6 Identify correct syntax for defining and using
two-dimensional arrays
17.0 - USE EXTERNAL DATA SOURCES WITHIN
A PROGRAM
17.1 Input data from a sequential file and database
17.2 Output data to a sequential file and/or
database
17.3 Add data to an existing file
17.4 Update files and/or databases
18.0 - EMPLOY OBJECT-ORIENTED
PROGRAMMING TECHNIQUES
18.1 Make a distinction between an object and a
class
18.2 Distinguish between is-a, has-a, and class
relationships
18.3 Exemplify objects from existing classes
18.4 Identify appropriate statements to invoke an
object's accessor methods
18.5 Change the state of an object by invoking a
modifier method
18.6 Determine the requirements for constructing
new objects by reading the API
18.7 Identify the correct syntax for an original userdefined class
18.5 Change the state of an object by invoking a
modifier method
19.0 - APPLY KNOWLEDGE OF CODE TO
PERFORM RUN-TIME ERROR-HANDLING
19.1 Identify (catch) run-time errors and take
appropriate action
19.2 Identify the proper syntax for user-created
errors (throw errors)
3. all
5. All
 Text book –
ActionScript 3.0
Game
Programming
University
 Introduction to
Video Game
Design
 Internet
connected
computer lab
 Software: Game
Maker V8.0
 Flash CS 5.5
11
CB35 – Video Game Development
Career & Technical Education
Unit 7: Final Project Design
Students will form a development team, design and program an educational
video game.
Knowledge and Skills
Arizona CTE Standards
Employability Skills
Resources
12
CB35 – Video Game Development
Career & Technical Education
Knowledge:
 Advanced programming in GML & AS 3.0
 Academic content from selected areas
 Collaboration of team and game
requirements.
Skills:
 Form teams and assign roles based on
student’s skill set
 Select a content area from a pool of
academic based teacher supplied ideas
 Evaluate the best genre for their game
 Design, storyboard and program the game
 Perform the peer evaluation process for
other teams’ games
 Refine and polish their games based on
peer evaluation feedback.
1.0 - APPLY PROBLEM-SOLVING AND
CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS TO
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
1.1 Describe methods of establishing priorities
1.2 Prepare a plan of work and schedule
information technology tasks
1.3 Use problem-solving processes
1.4 Explain the purpose, types, and content of
documentation
15.0 - IMPLEMENT ARRAYS IN PROGRAMS
15.4 Manipulate data stored in an array
15.5 Search and sort data in an array
15.6 Identify correct syntax for defining and using
two-dimensional arrays17.1, 17.2, 17.3 & 17.4
STANDARD 18.0 - EMPLOY OBJECTORIENTED PROGRAMMING TECHNIQUES
18.1 Make a distinction between an object and a
class
18.2 Distinguish between is-a, has-a, and class
relationships
18.3 Exemplify objects from existing classes
18.4 Identify appropriate statements to invoke an
object's accessor methods
18.5 Change the state of an object by invoking a
modifier method
18.6 Determine the requirements for constructing
new objects by reading the API
18.7 Identify the correct syntax for an original
user-defined class
18.8 Identify the correct syntax for a class that
extends an existing class
19.0 - APPLY KNOWLEDGE OF CODE TO
PERFORM RUN-TIME ERROR-HANDLING
19.1 Identify (catch) run-time errors and take
appropriate action
19.2 Identify the proper syntax for user-created
errors (throw errors)
2. Collaboration:
Collaborates, in person
and virtually, to
complete tasks aimed at
organizational goals.
• Applies personal
strengths to enhance the
effectiveness of the team.
• Builds on strengths and
contributions of others to
achieve common goals.
• Works cooperatively with
different cultures and
generations.
• Optimizes technology to
collaborate with others.
• Earns trust of partners
and team members.
• Exchanges essential
information among
collaborators.
• Exercises shared
leadership.
7. Legal and Ethical
Practices: Observes
laws, rules, and ethical
practices in the
workplace.
 Text book –
ActionScript 3.0
Game
Programming
University
 Introduction to
Video Game
Design
 Internet
connected
computer lab
 Software: Game
Maker V8.0
 Flash CS 5.5
• Follows all applicable
local, state, and federal
laws.
• Takes responsibility for
one’s actions in the
workplace, such as
disclosing personal
mistakes to supervisor.
• Manages resources for
the good of the
organization.
• Acts with integrity.
• Interacts respectfully
with co-workers and
customers.
2 all
3 all
5b, d, e, f
13
Career & Technical Education
CB35 – Video Game Development
14