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Indie Game Physics Studio

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Grades 6-890-120 minSource: Creative Dad Company

Aspiring game designers code a simple 2D character and tune gravity, friction, and bounce until the movement feels satisfying instead of floaty or stiff.

Choose your version

Every level teaches the same core idea — pick the one that fits your time, budget, and energy today.

Prep: 20 minActivity: 35 min1 session~$1/groupOne table or a clear section of floorBeginner-friendly

Setup

Print or hand-copy the essential prompt for Indie Game Physics Studio, then set out only paper, pencils, and the common or recycled items needed for one test. Use a tabletop representation whenever the original version mentions a room, specialized device, or digital tool; the learning comes from the decisions and evidence, not elaborate scenery.

Activity

  1. Define the central success test in Indie Game Physics Studio and make a paper planning sheet for the inputs, actions, and expected result.
  2. Represent the system without electronics by using labeled cards, paper controls, tokens, a ruler, or a student acting as the device; follow the same cause-and-effect rules described in the project.
  3. Run at least three cases, including one difficult or unexpected case, and record input examples, operating rules, predicted outputs, and actual outputs.
  4. Revise one rule, layout, mechanism, or decision after the failed case, repeat it, and explain with the recorded evidence whether the change worked.

Done when: The group has completed Indie Game Physics Studio when it can demo the finished level to classmates and explain which variable made the biggest difference in how the game feels and point to the observation, measurement, comparison, or trial that supports its conclusion.

Materials

laptop or tablet, free block-based coding app, graph paper for level sketches, sticky notes

Shown for the Quick Start version — switch tabs above to see what changes.

Disclosure: Materials links below go to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, Creative Dad Company earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Steps

  1. Play a few reference games and predict what numeric values for gravity, jump height, and friction make a character feel right.
  2. Build a simple platformer level and code the character's movement using those starting values.
  3. Playtest the level, discover the character floats too long or slides past platforms, and adjust the code's variables until the motion feels believable.
  4. Demo the finished level to classmates and explain which variable made the biggest difference in how the game feels.