Mash of the Month for February: 2DIY 3D

Each month we highlight a #MashoftheMonth, focussing on a tool or application within Purple Mash and how it can be used within the classroom to support learning across the curriculum. During the month, if you share how you have used the #MashoftheMonth, you will then be entered into a draw to win a 2Simple Goody Bag!

This February the Mash of the Month is 3D game design tool 2DIY 3D.

2DIY 3D

Designing 3D games is a brilliant way to challenge children of all abilities across multiple subject areas. It’s about a lot more than just technology and combines several disciplines. Games designers are usually part of a team including programmers, developers, artists and animators working together to transform ideas into the finished game.

2DIY 3D allows users to create a themed maze with 'treasure' and 'baddies' that affect the player's success. The maze is played in a 3D view. Pupils can add instructions for their game and can choose various customization options. The games are really adaptable and finished mazes can be shared in a number of ways.

There are two game modes: My Simple Game and My Game.

My Simple Game

As the name suggests, My Simple Game makes game design simpler by limiting the design options available to children. It is only possible to build one level and there is just one kind of wall and one kind of scenery, such as trees, that can be used, making it ideal for younger learners.

My Game

Meanwhile, My Game mode includes up to five levels, two types of walls and two types of scenery that can be completely customised using templates, other Purple Mash tools such as 2Paint, or imported from elsewhere. There are more audio options too.

Ideas and inspiration

2DIY 3D games are really adaptable to whatever topic you are studying from nature themes to Greek Labyrinths and designing games is a fantastic way for children to develop a narrative. It might be based on a theme or a favourite Serial Mash book for example. Using the same characters from their favourite book, they could retell the story, or develop it further, imagining what happened before the story began or what happens after it finishes.

The ability to build up to five levels allows children to really develop a story over time and there are resources within the 2DIY 3D area that help with this. Head there and you’ll see two different types of game planners, including one that uses 2Connect to enable children to plan their games together remotely, in real-time. There is also a printable background grid that could be laminated and re-used by children as they work together to plan each level of their games. There are also plenty of showcase games and videos for inspiration.

The Purple Mash Games Design Competition

We want to encourage more children to be creative in games design and this is why we have teamed up with Amazon Web Services and Childnet to launch a games design competition. The Purple Mash Games Design Competition will give children the opportunity to explore game creation in a safe environment using 2DIY 3D as well as creating their own graphics and music using complementary tools such as 2Beat and 2Paint.

In line with Safer Internet Day, the challenge is to work in teams of six to design a game based on the theme of online safety and the first round is open to submissions until 1st April. After that, we’ll invite the designers of our favourites from each region to attend a final pitching day’ at Amazon Web Services’ office in London, where children will present their games to a panel of industry experts for a chance to win 6 Amazon Fire tablets and a one-year Purple Mash subscription for their school as well as goodies for themselves.

The competition is open to all Purple Mash subscribers. If you’re not a subscriber, you can try Purple Mash free for 14 days. It would be a great way to make a start in the competition and who knows, you may even win!

Sharing your game

There are plenty of opportunities to win with our Mash of the Month this February. If your game is themed around online safety, then you could enter the Games Design Competition by sharing the design to your regional display board.  And as always, if you share your games with us using the #MashoftheMonth via Facebook or Twitter, you’ll be entered into a draw for your chance to win 2Simple goody bags.

Happy gaming!