Design Your Own Super Mario Bros. Level

Justin Hoenke By Justin Hoenke, Executive Director, Benson Memorial Library May 18, 2015, 2 comments

Design Your Own Super Mario Bros. Level

Participants will begin by playing the first level of Super Mario Bros. to understand how the level was created and the elements in the level. Participants will be then given large graph paper and be placed in teams to create their own Super Mario Bros. level. At the end of the program each team will talk about what they created and what they liked about their level.

 

Type: Active
Age: Middle school
Optimal size: 6-10
Estimated cost: $1 - $25
Planning time: <1 hour
Frequency: One-time

Learning outcomes

Attendees at this program will learn:

  • Video Gaming History
  • How to design a video game level
  • How to understand elements of design 

Instructions

  1. Hook up a Nintendo or Super Nintendo system to the TV. Give participants a chance to play the game (Super Mario Bros. or Super Mario World) for 3-5 minutes.
  2. Show them the Super Mario Bros Level 1-1 poster and explain that this is the design of the video game. Ask questions such as “What elements do you notice in the stage” “Why do you think the makers of this game put this or that here and there?”.
  3. Roll the graph paper out onto the floor. Hand out the Super Mario Bros level elements guide and explain that participants will use the graph paper and markers to sketch out their own Super Mario Brothers level. The Super Mario Bros level elements guide shows them what they can draw on the graph paper.

Evaluation

Talk with the participants about how they designed their level.

  • What was their goal in making their level this way?
  • What skill level of player would it take to complete this level?
  • What did they find to be the most challenging part of the design process?

Other resources

Supplies

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