Nexus Research Group - Games programming, elearning, and simulators

Game Maker...more than just games!

2009: Transylvania ...a new twist on teaching about compass points and map navigation

June 2009 GMTech magazine features Michael in the Game Maker in Schools section!

GENETICS EXAMPLE

In 2006 Michael created a DNA Fingerprinting and DNA sequencing simulator that can also download and run real DNA sequences from the NCBI Genbank database! It even reads the sequence out loud...cool! Identify which child is adopted in a family of five, or which disease organism is in a patient sample or identify which suspect was at the crime scene. Each time the application is run a unique set of prints is generated. GeneE is fast and full of features yet it fits on a floppy disk!

DATA LOGGING / ELECTRONICS EXAMPLE

2007 - Michael's Real-world Interactive Games and Electronics Link. RIGEL can record data from up to 4 channels from a 08M PICAXE chip, displaying data as analogue gauge, digital meter, column graph, or line graph. It can also remotely monitor or activate valves and switches as a process control system as well as interface the 08M chip with the games projected into a room. Data can be echoed to a network or the internet. RIGEL is fast and full of features yet it fits on a floppy disk!

GeneE - UV lamp makes DNA bands visible

RIGEL displays a heartbeat trace using a sensor of Michael's own design.

MULTIMEDIA DATABASE EXAMPLE

In 2007 Michael created the MATRIX database; a random access flat file database that can be 'skinned'. It can play as well as store multimedia content and webpages, and of course handle the traditional text content.

The MATRIX can even be used to store games and tools made using Game Maker!

The screen shot below shows a database to store information and files relating to SciFi TV shows.

MATRIX can store and display the following file types:

ppt, doc, rtf, txt, wav, mp3, mpg, mp4, mov, xls, gmd, gm6, gmk, exe, jpg, gif, bmp, html, htm

SEE THE SCREENSHOT BELOW...

CLOCK EXAMPLE

In 2007 Michael created a clock that can display the time in:

Binary (base 2)
octal (base 8)
hexadecinmal (base 16)
roman numerals

Download here... (1MB zip file)

The MATRIX...created using Game Maker, this is a true random access flat file database to store and play multimedia content; print and search too! Get the students to build a dynamic database full of interactive content, including webpages and movies! Share with colleagues or students...it is 'skinable' so each database can have a look to suit its theme or contents. The MATRIX can even be used to store Game Maker games and tools!

SOLAR SYSTEM EXAMPLE

The Planets 3D: Watch the planets rotate on their axis in 3D!

Modified to include axis tilt, new textures, zoom in/out, difference in sizes; original code from the Game Maker community.

A new build for 2009 will show the moons of Jupiter and have a better camera view mechanism.

TEXT BASED ADVENTURE GAME

Map making and compass points: A fun way to teach maths!!

Your cousin, a famous painter, has been missing for 3 weeks.

He was last seen on his way to the castle and estate of Count Morlock.

Two Private Investigators failed to return attempting to find him.

A local farmer will only take you to the church at the edge of the estate.

You hope the full moon will make the way easier...

MATHEMATICS EXAMPLE

Graph-X: Graph Explorer

Explore many kinds of graphs found in mathematics and physics.

What happens if we change the m value in y = mx + c ? Does it change the slope or the height?

What about parabolas, circles, ellipses, and trigonometric modelling?

Great for the IWB or SMARTboard, this graph simulator gets to the point quickly and clearly.

Who wants to be a Millionaire?

Interactive fun for the whole class!

3 life lines

Question bank for any curriculum area, any year level!

Includes the sound effects from the TV show!

Mission:Impossible game - Operate a nuclear reactor in this GameMaker simulation, seen at the 2003 Science Fair. A great Year 12 Physics resource!

Downloads:

Asteroids game: At the 2002 Science and Technology Fair we had a TARDIS console from Doctor Who as our trade display. This game (written in just one hour!) was a definate hit! NRG Blast Version 1.0 demo EXE (ZIP file)
ThunderBirds! Written for the 2003 course this example is based on the ThunderBirds TV series. Fly Thunderbird 2 and drop Pod 4! NEW...a 3D version...fly Thuinderbird 2 over Tracey Island, operate Thunderbird 4 under the sea...
Spongebob Squarepants game: Written for the Fenton girls as a Christmas 2004 present, this is a demonstration of what Game Maker can do. A quick cut and paste of some of the GM tutorials lets you go Jelly Fishing with Spongebob, jump platforms in Squidwards Escape, eat Krabby Patties to avoid Plankton in a Pacman like level, and solve mazes with Patrick. Spongebob demo EXE (ZIP file); 7 Mb file!
Faery Kingdom game: Written for the Fenton girls as a Christmas 2003 present, you must put out fires to save the forest, turn dangerous spiders into harmless frogs, turn bats into butterflies, and send baby dragons back to their homes. Catch power balls to gain extra spell power! Faery Kingdom V1.0 demo EXE (ZIP file) Five year old Kimberley is in the process of adding two new levels...
Jet Fighter game: After the Science Fair beginner programmer Chris Abraham created this after only one day learning to use Game Maker! Jet Fighter V1.0 demo EXE (ZIP file)
Space Fighter game: Here Chris has changed the sprites and background to create a space combat experience. The enemies chase you as well as their bullets! Space Fighter V1.0 demo EXE (ZIP file)	Executable file only
*Game Maker 6* is for Win 98 and WinXP. GM 6 games can be converted to Vista compatable format. GM 7 is the latest version available from YoYo Games... The games created by our Inglewood High students are for GM 6 unregistered version.	Download Game Maker 6

Special Effects:

Asteroids game: A good example of what you can do with Game Maker was seen at the Science and Technology Fair. We had a TARDIS console (from the TV program Doctor Who) as our trade display. A computer game (written with no prior knowledge of games programming in only two hours) was a big hit! We gave away over 150 computer disks that included the game and information about the NRG. Read more about our success at the Fair...

Download Game Maker and start developing an EDUCATIONAL game for the next competition!

Download rules and entry forms

Educational Games and SMARTboard tools

Interactive whiteboard (IWB) or SMARTboard capable for science, spelling, maths, a second language, music, the road code, anything! The examples below were all created using Game Maker...

2009 Game Design Competition!