ogpc 3.0 Important Challenge Information

The Platform

Students do not need any experience in computer programming to participate in the competition. Historically, ogpc has limited the platform used to develop games to Game Maker.  Starting this year, students can use any gaming platform or even create their own game development environment to develop their game.  It is important to note that the game needs to be playable by judges and fellow teams during the competition itself. 

ogpc 3.0 will have two categories in both the middle and high school divisions:

  • Games developed in Game Maker
  • An open category for games developed using other platforms

Getting Started

If you are a teacher,  parent or mentor:

  1. Consider introducing your students to computer science using Game Maker or another platform either in class or as an after-school activity.
  2. Form one or more teams of four to seven high school or middle school students each.
  3. Register your team online (registration opens February 1, 2010) and pay the $50 registration fee by March 19, 2010. Note that the registration fee can be waived for teams with special circumstances - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .
  4. Have your students use the tutorials or one of the books to learn about game design and Game Maker. The Game Maker's Apprentice by Jacob Habgood and Mark Overmars or Basic Game Design & Creation for Fun & Learning by Nanu Swamy. A copy of the Lite Edition of Game Maker also comes on CD-ROM with these books.
  5. Decide on what category to enter your game: The Open category or the Game Maker Category
  6. When the details of this year's challenge are announced on January 18, 2010 encourage your team(s) to start their project!

 If you are a student:

  1. Form a team of four to seven high school or middle school team members.
  2. Find an adult to serve as your team's coach.
  3. Have your coach register online (registration opens February 1, 2010) and pay the $50 registration fee by March 19, 2010.
  4. Start using the tutorials or one of the books to learn about game design and Game Maker. The Game Maker's Apprentice by Jacob Habgood and Mark Overmars or Basic Game Design & Creation for Fun & Learning by Nanu Swamy. A copy of the Lite Edition of Game Maker also comes on CD-ROM with these books.
  5. Decide on what category to enter your game: The Open category or the Game Maker Category
  6. When the details of this year's challenge are announced on January 18, 2010, start your project!

Developing Your Game

All games must be based on this year's theme but teams should NOT start designing their game until the details of this year’s challenge are announced on January 18, 2010. The entries will be evaluated by a panel of judges and trophies in several categories will be awarded to teams based on what they accomplish during the season and at the tournament on May 1, 2010.

How will the teams' accomplishments be evaluated?

Teams' accomplishments will be judged from a variety of perspectives:

  • The depth and breadth of research the team does on this year's theme.
  • How well the game was designed.
  • The quality of the presentation that the team makes at the tournament.
  • How well the game incorporates the annual theme.
  • How much fun the game is to play.
  • Advanced use of technology or programming features.

Game Maker Details and Resources

Game Maker allows for different experience levels. Game Maker is a freely available, PC-based game development tool. Game Maker's drag and drop gaming primitives and friendly interface allow novice designers to create interesting games almost immediately. For more advanced users, Game Maker's built-in programming language provides flexibility and customization. Development on Game Maker is supported by online documentation, tutorials, and lots of game examples. Teams can use the Lite Edition (free) or the Pro Edition ($20), which provides more functionality.  Download the free Lite Edition of Game Maker and the free tutorials.

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