Learn about Game Creation and GameStar Mechanic

Posted by SM Bruner on

Gamestar Mechanic is a gaming community designed to teach young people the basics of game design and systems thinking in a highly engaging environment. Students can play, design and share their creations in a safe online environment.

Gamestar Mechanic plays an important role the development of emerging field of game-based learning. The game was developed through a unique public-private partnership that crosses leading foundations, non-profits, academia and the game industry.

Gamestar Mechanic is currently supported by a partnership between the Institute of Play and E-Line Media. The game was originally developed by Gamelab in partnership with the Institute of Play and the Academic Advanced Distributed Learning Co-Lab (AADLC) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Initial funding for the game and companion learning guides came from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

The design of the game is based on research by some of the leading academics in the field including Katie Salen (Executive Director of the Institute of Play and curriculum author for the New York City Public School Quest To Learn) and James Paul Gee (author of What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy).