Short mobile game development projects for CS1/2

Game development and mobile computing have been successfully used to increase student motivation. However, instructors with no background in mobile computing, computer graphics, and/or game development may find it difficult to develop or adopt course materials on these topics. This tutorial is designed to address these concerns. Using Java Micro Edition, we have developed several project-based course modules focused on mobile game development and designed to study fundamental programming principles (e.g. loops) while also exposing students to more advanced concepts (e.g. databases). Using a mobile phone emulator, participants will test-drive one of our modules and develop a simple game, which can then be transferred to and played on a mobile device. A Windows or Mac laptop is recommended. Today, most college students have mobile phones and spend a considerable amount of time using them for browsing the web, texting, or playing games. Introducing students to mobile application development allows students to better relate to the course material and make a stronger connection to real-world applications they see every day. Mobile game development is by far less complex than traditional game development due to its smaller scale and simpler graphics. Students are always interested in computer game development; the course model presented in this tutorial brings this topic to students very early in the curriculum and serves as a good tool to increase student retention. This tutorial is intended for faculty members teaching college-level and high school Java-based courses in CS who are looking to improve student motivation. All other faculty members interested in integrating game development as a motivational tool in their courses will also benefit from this tutorial. A number of free software packages will be used during the tutorial. These include Java Platform Micro Edition Software Development Kit 3.0, J2SE SDK version 1.6 or later, and Mappy Editor for tiled maps. The tutorial participants will be provided with with handouts describing how this software can be downloaded, installed, and used. Participants will also have access to the source code, data, and relevant course materials for the currently existing mobile game development modules. Tutorial attendees will also be invited to register on the project website that hosts all current versions of the modules, along with a discussion board for instructors interested in or those who have already adopted our course materials.