The Learning

I need to consider what learning aspects I need to include in the game. I went on the BBC Bitesize website for Key Stage 3 Biology in the food chains section to learn the basics. http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks3bitesize/science/organisms_behaviour_health/food_chains/revise1.shtml

The most important details I found that I need to include in the game are:
- Labeling the different animals as producers and consumers
- Labeling them as herbivores or carnivores (or omnivores)
- The food chain diagram, with the arrows pointing from the prey to the predators.

Learning Games Research

I also need to research some learning games for techniques as how to make my game educational but not boring.

Elemental:
- It gives you choice of a player
- It's basically just a quiz game with a timer, styled like blockbusters, so not very interactive or fun

Questionaut:

- Intriguing design and characters

- Clever way of getting you to answer questions, to collect fuel for your balloon so you can go higher up the screen and find a lost item. If you get a question wrong, you lose some fuel

Whack Attack:

- More questions, but this time to click the correct answer you have to click on the corresponding coloured character when they pop up

After looking at some of the games, for my own I don't just want a quiz, because it can feel too educational. That's fine on the BBC Bitesize website but for The Deep it should be a bit more orientated around fun. Also their games are more about the testing of knowledge already known, and for this they might only just be starting to learn about it. I want to use the 'stealth learning' technique a little more than they do, and have a game where at the start and end of the levels you're given information to absorb.

Game Research

I went on the website http://www.kongregate.com/ and tried a few fish themed games out. By doing this I hoped to have an idea of what works well and what doesn't in these simple games.

Pour the Fish:
- The colours and graphics on this game were very strong, as was the interactivity of the buttons, which would change colour and size when hovered over. It made it feel more professional
- There was music on the home screen
- It included an intro video which gave more of a story behind the fish character, which you could also skip
- The actual game wasn't relevant but the score screen at the end of each level gave you something to work for, and also gave you more options

Go Fish:

- There was no interactivity on the menu at all, only music, which made it feel boring and not well put together.

- There was too many instructions and they were confusing

- The game was barely playable

 Flying Fish:

- The animation style and colouring was consistent and appealing

- There were no actual buttons on the menu, you just had to click in approximate places which didn't feel very intuitive

- Instructions were again too overwhelming and the game didn't explain why you had died

Fish and Chips:

- The menu was very bland. There was only a title and the rest of the images were from the sponsors, so not very inviting

- Instructions appeared on the second page and again there was quite a lot but they made more sense than the others

- Despite expectations the game play was actually good, the fish was easily controllable and there were power ups and lots of extras to keep you coming back

- Simple graphics but effective enough for the game

- When a fish was eaten there was a small cloud of green

From this I can conclude that for my game I want simple but effective looking graphics using simple shapes; I want a highly interactive menu and button system; music and sound effects; simple instructions and a simple enough concept.

The Brief

I firstly need to analyse the brief itself so that I know exactly what to research and what will help me produce the game.

Create an interactive learning experience in the form of a game using Flash and Actionscript. This game is for use in schools as a preparation activity for pupils prior to their visit to the museum. 

Key Stage 3 (11-14 years) Science: Don’t get caught in the web

What goes on around the coral reef? Help us manage our coral reef species by discovering the feeding relationships between them. Provide an opportunity for Key Stage 3 pupils to study predator-prey relationships and explore a functioning food web.

I've highlighted what I think are the most important aspects of the brief that I need to concentrate on.

interactive - This means that my flash game needs to have a high level of interactivity for the player, and not be boring.

learning - This means I need to make sure that whatever I do, there is a high importance on the learning aspect of the game. So I don't want a highly interactive game where you don't learn anything, but I also don't want a game where you learn lots but the player is very aware of it and feels bored.

Key Stage 3 (11-14 years) - This means I need to consider my target audience at all stages, considering what kind of games they enjoy playing, and the kind of visuals that might appeal to them. But I also don't want to be too patronising.

predator-prey relationships and explore a functioning food web - Finally this means I need to include the basic facts and information that are required in the game, which means I might have to swat up a bit again on food chains and coral reefs!