Gamestar Mechanic
uses fun, game-based quests and courses
​to help you learn game design and make your own video games!

Published by E-Line Media,  Gamestar Mechanic is supported through a partnership between the Institute of Play and E-Line Media. Initial funding for the game and companion learning guides came from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

Gamestar Mechanic Trailer from E-Line Media on Vimeo.

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For Teachers

For Parents

Apply to Take a Paid Online Class

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GameMaker Published by YoYo Games

GameMaker allows you to make exciting computer games without the need to write a single line of code. Using easy to learn drag-and-drop actions, you can create professional looking games in very little time. You can make games with backgrounds, animated graphics, music and sound effects, and even 3D games! And when you’ve become more experienced, there is a built-in programming language, which gives you the full flexibility of creating games with
GameMaker. GameMaker can be used free of charge.
To check out the YoYo Games site click here.
​To check out the official tutorials click here.

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Scratch

Scratch is a programming language that makes it easy to create your own interactive stories, animations, games, music, and art — and share your creations on the web.

Scratch is developed by the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab, with financial support from the National Science Foundation, Microsoft, Intel Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Google, Iomega and MIT Media Lab research consortia.
ScratchEd is a new online community where Scratch educators share stories, exchange resources, ask questions, and find people.

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​Unity
Used by many professional designers, Unity is a game development ecosystem. Create interactive 3D and 2D content, and publish your games on multiple platforms. Unity is used by most professional game designers to create their games, but is more complicated than some of the other tools.
​Visit the Unity website.
Unity Learning Resources The Unity website provides a great set of resources for learning to develop with Unity including Tutorials, Documentation, Live Training Sessions, Q & A’s and Community Support.
To visit Learn With Unity.

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Open Platforms

Open Platform refers to a variety of other game-making tools that you can use in your design. Your game may be made using any game creation platform that permits the prototype to be played by the Challenge judges on a browser, personal computer, or mobile device without the purchase of a subscription or license. You can use a tool not on the list below as long as it meets that requirement.

AgentSheets by AgentSheets, Inc.
AgentSheets is a unique software authoring environment where users of all ages can build games, interactive demonstrations, modifiable simulations, and more! To check out AgentSheets click here.

Clickteam Fusion 2.5 by Clickteam
Clickteam Fusion 2.5 is an all visual video game design and development studio. It has a unique and powerful event editor that helps users develop their creations extremely quick and frustration free. The free version of Fusion 2.5 can be used to create smaller HTML5 applications, and the paid versions along with its various export modules allows creation for Windows, iPhone, iPad, Android and more. To check out Clickteam Fusion 2.5 click here.


FazGame
FazGame is the ideal platform to make, share and publish storytelling games. Designed for teachers and students of Basic Education — allowing anyone to create games with different educational contents in a simple to user interface, without programming. You can access the premium version, with all the features, here.

Flash by Adobe Systems Inc.
If you play games online, you have almost certainly played a game made with the Flash suite of development tools. As Adobe suggests on their product website, the Flash Platform is designed to help software developers rapidly develop cross-platform rich Internet applications and content using the open source Flex framework. It includes support for intelligent coding, debugging, visual design, and features powerful testing tools that speed up development and lead to higher performing applications. To check out Flash, click here.
 
GameBuilder Studio by GameBuilder, Inc.
GameBuilder Studio is a visual game creation tool built to make it easier for creative professionals and aspiring game builders to create and deploy their cross-platform 2D games everywhere. It is a multi-layered tool comprised of a visual interface top layer and an optional custom codebase layer. It leverages existing Adobe technologies & frameworks like Adobe AIR, Starling GPU Rendering, Feathers User Interface, and Native Device Extensions to deliver a powerful game engine that runs on mobile devices and in the browser. Develop games with or without writing a line of code, it is your choice. No ceilings! To check out GameBuilder Studio, click here.

Gameblox by MIT Education Arcade
Gameblox is a blocks based programming environment that enables anyone to make games. It’s free and no downloads are required. You can make games online that anyone can play both on gameblox.org and on a mobile device using the Gameblox iOS or Android mobile app.

GameSalad by Gendai Games Inc.
GameSalad is a game creation tool for non-programmers. With GameSalad, game makers of all levels can bring their ideas to life without programming a single line of code. Build games visually using a drag-and-drop interface along with a robust behavior system. Publish your games quickly and easy to the iPhone, iPod Touch, and the iPad. To check out GameSalad, click here.

hyperPad by hyperPad
hyperPad is an iPad app that allows people of all ages and technical experience to create interactive apps and mobile games with no programming. It includes a powerful visual behavior system that makes it easy to unleash your creativity and gives you the power to create the games of your imagination. You can share your games to the world with the hyperPad Hub, or create the next app store hit and export your project for the iPhone and iPad App Store. To check out hyperPad click here.

MicroWorlds EX developed by LCSI
MicroWorlds EX is the latest in a line of products used by millions of children (and adults) around the world. Students explore and test their ideas in this idea exploration and project creation environment that helps develop creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills. To check out MicroWorldsEX, click here.  RPGMaker VX and RPGMaker XP by ENTERBRAIN,INC RPG Maker VX is software that helps you create you own unique RPG without any programming experience necessary. RPGMaker XP is the latest entry in the RPG MAKER series that gives you the power to create your own original RPGs. To check out RPGMaker click here.

Stagecast Creator by Stagecast Software, Inc.
Stagecast Creator is an easy-to-learn, easy-to-use software tool for making your own games and simulations. Starting with a blank stage, simply add a cast of characters using the included picture painter or imported graphics, then move the characters around to generate rules of behavior completely visually. Without using a programming language, you can easily create games or simulations and then share them with friends at home or on the Internet. To check out Stagecast Creator, click here.

The Game Creators
The Game Creators offer a wide range of game making tools designed for hobbiest and indie developers. From the easy to use My Doodle Game and FPS Creator products to programming tools like Dark Basic and App Game Kit. There are many trial versions of the tools and some of them can be downloaded in a FREE to use format. To check out The Game Creators click here.

Tululoo Game Maker by Silent Works
A complex game creation environment that allows you to create browser based games. The program generates a Javascript code that can be played in web browsers using the next generation web standard HTML5. To check out Tululoo Game Maker click here.

XNA Game Studio by Microsoft
Build games for both Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360.
XNA Game Studio is based on the .NET Framework and includes custom managed code libraries, Xbox Live Support, and Games for Windows Live support to make multi-player game development easier. Coupled with XNA Game Studio, the App Hub 12-month Student Membership opens up video game development to untapped creative minds, enabling anyone to affordably build and play their amazing game ideas on Xbox 360 systems for the first time ever. To check out XNA Game Studio and the App Hub 12-month Student Membership click here.