Create your own video game science fair project

Ask questions about projects relating to: computer science or pure mathematics (such as probability, statistics, geometry, etc...).

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Crazymom5
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Create your own video game science fair project

Post by Crazymom5 »

I am new to science buddies and there is much great information. I am not a techie so I am struggling with how to pinpoint the exact info I need. I am thinking of the question, "What factors affect the score?" as that seemed to be the objective regarding the project above. The only problem is I am not sure what factors are measurable and what factors will be the variables that we experiment with. Also, what do you suggest for a display board or do you suggests having a computer available for actual game play? Please advise.
dcnick96
Former Expert
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Joined: Wed Jul 25, 2007 7:59 pm

Re: Create your own video game science fair project

Post by dcnick96 »

Hello and welcome to Science Buddies! This sounds like a great project!

You can make this project either an engineering project or a scientific method project.
  • To make it an engineering project, you will need to follow the engineering design process. Start by defining what problem you want your video game to solve, then work through the rest of the design process until you have a completed project to show off at your science fair. In this case, you might not be defining variables...just the problem you wish to solve. https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... cess-guide

    If you want to use this for a science project, you will need to follow the scientific method. As you state, start by coming up with a question for which you can use the video game as a tool to help answer. For example, does age or video game-playing experience affect a person's ability to score highly in the game? https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... ience-fair
The instructions for this project indicate you don't need a computer...just a monitor, HDMI cable, keyboard, and mouse.

Try brainstorming initial ideas on whether you wish to follow the engineering design process or the scientific method. Then, provide us initial thoughts on a problem you wish to solve (engineering design process) or variable(s) you wish to explore (scientific method). Once you get a better idea of how your project is going to flow, we can talk about display boards.

I hope this helps. Write back with your initial thoughts a/o questions. Good luck!
Deana
bfinio
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Re: Create your own video game science fair project

Post by bfinio »

Hi Deana - a quick clarification on the materials required for this project. There are two different versions of this project on our site. One can be done in a web browser on a regular computer:

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... es#summary

using Scratch: https://scratch.mit.edu/

The other is designed to work with our Raspberry Pi kit (the Raspberry Pi is a type of tiny computer popular with hobbyists in case you haven't heard of it). The peripherals (monitor etc) are things you need in ADDITION to the Raspberry Pi kit, since they are not included in the kit:

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... video-game

That version also uses Scratch, but it includes some electronic circuit parts so you can build your own controller instead of just using the keyboard.

For someone who JUST wants to do the video game project and already has access to another computer, the first option is probably better because it's free. For someone who is interested in learning more about electronics and programming, the Raspberry Pi kit may be a good option because although it's expensive, it contains instructions for 7 other projects and you can re-use all the parts for other things in the future.

Hope that helps clarify things a bit!

Ben
dcnick96
Former Expert
Posts: 533
Joined: Wed Jul 25, 2007 7:59 pm

Re: Create your own video game science fair project

Post by dcnick96 »

Thanks, Ben!
Deana
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