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Knudde (Shab)
Administrator
Crazy?
Registered
31/01/2003
Points
5125
      
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2nd December, 2013 at 02/12/2013 08:29:34 -
So my son is 8 years old, and I'm thinking about trying to get him into click. I know most of us on here are pushing up there in age, so I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with this. MMF2 is pretty daunting at first load up.
Craps, I'm an old man!
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nim
Registered
17/05/2002
Points
7234
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2nd December, 2013 at 02/12/2013 12:34:12 -
Klik & Play for Schools. Still has the step-thru editor.
http://knpforschools.webs.com
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UrbanMonk
BRING BACK MITCH
Registered
07/07/2008
Points
49667
       
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2nd December, 2013 at 02/12/2013 15:47:07 -
I remember using the Demo of KnP for hours. All it had was the step-through-editor. If you tried to use the event editor a popup would come up telling you to purchase the full version.
I was 7 years old at the time.
Someone downloaded the Schools version for me later on, and I never touched the step through editor again.
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Chloe Sagal
under the influence of FUN
Registered
19/02/2009
Points
607
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2nd December, 2013 at 02/12/2013 18:19:24 -
You have to get them hooked early, that way they get addicted.
I think the most important thing is to try and create a memorable experience, and provide adequate access to the software for them to experiment and play with it on their own. I have actually worked with several kids, getting them interested in development, creating simple things like basic platformers or pong. The only issue I had was being able to give them access to the program, so they never followed up. But, they did have that memorable experience.
And I almost completely forgot about the step through editor! I used the hell out of that KnP demo, it's a shame I never got to save my work, though it was all garbage 
It still was an inspiring and fun time.
Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/chloesagal
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChloeSagal
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eliris
Registered
14/05/2010
Points
1708
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2nd December, 2013 at 02/12/2013 19:34:11 -
You got the age right! 
I started with Klik n Play at the age of 8 after seeing my older brother trying to invent some pseudoscrolling engine for it, I was there curiously watching him and admiring how it was actually possible to create your own games.
After he hopped off the computer, I quickly went on to check the klik n play he left open.
At that time the lives had little green stickman icons on them so I thought the life bar was actually the main character of a game.
I don't remember everything I did to finally be able to make any games but all I remember was discovering about collision and most of all forgetting what I last did due to small memory.
That experience really felt so sweet on the inside for me and I never left game development until today
As I was always alone, it's probably better to have someone guide the kid on what's this and what's that and most of all motivate him into loving it
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Sketchy
Cornwall UK
Registered
06/11/2004
Points
1971
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2nd December, 2013 at 02/12/2013 20:45:19 -
Have you considered that "Scratch" thing made by MIT? http://scratch.mit.edu/
It's basically the same thing, just a lot more basic and brightly colored, so as to appeal to kids (it was designed specifically as an educational tool, so there should also be loads of good resources for teaching with it). I'm sure it would be very easy to graduate onto klik products later on.
Personally, I've been kliking since "Klik 'n' Play", when everything was much simpler - starting out with something like MMF2 might be a bit daunting.
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s-m-r
Slow-Motion Riot
Registered
04/06/2006
Points
1078
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2nd December, 2013 at 02/12/2013 22:46:41 -
I've been tangling with the same idea, although I work with young adults with intellectual disabilities.
Scratch seems like an incredible tool, and definitely something our participants can jump into and have some results. It certainly doesn't seem as complex as MMF2, but it's a great gateway drug...Thanks for posting the info about it, Sketchy!
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Chris Donovan
Registered
15/06/2003
Points
448
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4th December, 2013 at 04/12/2013 05:04:37 -
I agree with Chloe. Make a simple platformer with a pic of your head on a running figure as the star. If your kid shows interest, show him how to add himself to the game. Then ask him what else he would like to see in the game and help him alter your game further. At some point, give him the controls, and tell him where to click. I'm sure he'll be experimenting on his own soon enough if he's interested.
I think Click tools could be a wonderful addition to his education since creating a game requires so many other disciplines.
Send me feedback on my latest game, It Never Ends.
http://www.misterdonovan.com/it-never-ends/info/
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siven
I EAT ROCKS
Registered
03/11/2008
Points
604
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7th January, 2014 at 07/01/2014 22:22:30 -
I started clicking when i was about 15. i went to a charter school that did most of their work online. one of the classes was game design, so obviously i was interested. the first game they had us make was brick break, and needless to save it bored me. i tried doing some of the other projects after i finished it and realized that the way they had us do thing didnt uh.... work. at all. most of the events didnt even make sense. i then went home and started googling things and found this site. i looked up some tutorials and before i knew it, i was making a platformer hack and slash (very terrible one at that ;D) when i went back to school i was able to complete the projects listed, but with a different set of events. amazed, my teacher had me go through the curriculum and fix all of the bugs in the tutorials, after that he graded me a 150% in the class. thats how i started clicking lol. ever since ive just been helping newbies that come from that school, and anyone else i find thats interested. i think the younger you start the easier it will be. once you get the basic feel of the program down its actually cause and effect, which anybody can figure out. i try to start people oout with making a simple platformer, since most people like those kinds of games anyway.
[Game design makes my brain feel like its gonna explode.]
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Lazernaut
Registered
08/09/2002
Points
1103
  
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15th January, 2014 at 15/01/2014 18:24:34 -
I've actually had the idea of teaching game developer classes for kids, but then again that would require me to interact with them 
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Pan-tosser
Registered
24/10/2008
Points
520
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15th January, 2014 at 15/01/2014 19:09:53 -
I would recommend trying to feel out if it is something that is a good fit for your son first. Does he even like digital art. because he would be doing a lot of it if he got into clicking.
How about logic. Are puzzles from lateral thinking books boring. Or does he see them as cleaver and funny.
Just some food for thought. I'm not going to stand on my soap box and preach about parents pushing kids or anything.
https://www.facebook.com/nathon.brown.7
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