Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Teacher Page

The Most Dangerous Video Game

A Short Story WebQuest

redesigned by Charlotte Powell

Nb_powell@noacsc.org

Introduction

Educators, in an effort to win students over from the competition of game makers such as Nintendo and X-Box, have decided to tap into the popular video game market. You and your team have been selected to develop a new video game proposal for the upcoming educational game expo. The game will be based upon one of the following short stories:

• "The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs
• "The Dinner Party" by Mona Gardner
• "The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe
• "The Lady or the Tiger?" by Frank Stockton
• "The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson

The Task

Your group will create a video game proposal that you will present to the executives in charge of the Educational Game Expo. Your proposal will be created in PowerPoint and must include the following slides.

• Title Slide - State the name of your game, what short story it is based on and name the creators of the game (You!)
• Character Slides - Include pictures and information about all the characters that will appear in your game - the protagonist (main character), antagonist (villain, adversary, etc.) and any other characters that appear in your game. Also include the goal of each character in the game and their status with regard to the main character - do they seek to harm or help them? You should make sure to cover all the characters in the story.
• Objective Slide - State the ultimate objective of your game. What is your main character's mission or strategy in the game? How do they know when they have won the game?
• Settings/Levels Slides - What are the different settings or levels of your game? Describe each level that your character will encounter. What will the character need to do in this level to move on in the game? Your game should have a minimum of five levels (settings).
• Obstacles Slides - What dangers or obstacles will your main character encounter in attempting to reach their goal? List each obstacle and what must be done by the main character in order to overcome it. There should be a minimum of six obstacles in your game.
• Reward Slide - What reward will your main character receive if they are victorious in the game? What will be the punishment of those they defeat?

• NOTE: It is important that all of the slides you create accurately reflect and represent the characters, settings, events, and conflicts of the short story they are based on. You may add (invent) some elements, but these should still reflect and stay true to the story.

The Process

Step 1: Get with the other members of your group and decide which story you will base your game on. Reread the story so that it is fresh in your mind before you go on to step 2.

Step 2: Before beginning to create your slides, you will first need to make an outline of your PowerPoint.   Complete the Video Game Proposal Outline form before beginning.

Step 3: You will each choose a role for this project. Each role will be responsible for creating a different section of your group's proposal. Below are the options and what is required of each.

Step 4: Visit the links under each role to gather needed expertise in your chosen role. Then create the PowerPoint slides for your aspect of the project.

Step 5: Assemble the PowerPoint slides together and give the presentation on your assigned day.

Role Options

ROLE 1: Story Consultant

·         You have a very important role in your group. It is your job to make sure that the different elements of the game being designed stay true to the story they are based on. The setting, characters, plot, etc. of the original short story must be somehow included in the final product. This does not mean you can't be creative - you can! But just make sure all the important elements are there. You will also be responsible for creating three of the slides for your PowerPoint presentation - the TITLE SLIDE, OBJECTIVE SLIDE, and REWARD SLIDE.

·         Go to the links below to gather needed expertise before beginning your task. Refer to your story link below when overseeing the accuracy of your group's work.

Research Links:

·         Creating PowerPoint Presentations - Tutorial

·         Creating Effective Presentations

·         A Review of Short Story Elements

Story Links:

•  "The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs
• "The Dinner Party" by Mona Gardner
• "The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe
• "The Lady or the Tiger?" by Frank Stockton
• "The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson

ROLE 2: Character Designer

• You will be responsible for creating the CHARACTER SLIDES for your group's presentation. Your game should include all the major characters from your story. You may also invent other characters that make sense to the story if you wish. You will need to have characters who will cause conflict and try to keep your protagonist from reaching his or her goal, so keep that in mind. You should have a minimum of six characters in your game. Your slides should include a picture of the character and list important facts about the character - what is their goal or mission in the game? What do they do?

·         Go to the links below to gather needed expertise before beginning your assigned task.

Research Links

·         Creating PowerPoint Presentations - Tutorial

·         Creating Effective Presentations

·         A Review of Short Story Elements

·         Creating Memorable Characters

Story Links:

• "The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs
• "The Dinner Party" by Mona Gardner
• "The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe
• "The Lady or the Tiger?" by Frank Stockton
• "The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson

ROLE 3: Setting/Level Designer

• You will be responsible for creating the SETTING/LEVEL SLIDES for your group's presentation. Your game should include at least five different levels. Each slide you create should include pictures and descriptions of each level, what the task for that level is and obstacles, dangers and other characters that are encountered on that level (just list - don't describe).

·         Go to the links below to gather needed expertise before beginning your assigned task.

Research Links

·         Creating PowerPoint Presentations - Tutorial

·         Creating Effective Presentations

·         A Review of Short Story Elements

·         Creating Memorable Characters

Story Links:

• "The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs
• "The Dinner Party" by Mona Gardner
• "The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe
• "The Lady or the Tiger?" by Frank Stockton
•  "The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson

ROLE 4: Conflict/Obstacle Designer

• You will be responsible for creating the CONFLICT/OBSTACLE SLIDES for your group's presentation. Your game should include at least six different conflicts, obstacles or dangers that your main character will encounter. Your slides should include pictures, a description of the obstacle or danger and strategies and tips to overcome these obstacles in the game. What must they do to defeat or overcome each obstacle?

·         Go to the links below to gather needed expertise before beginning your assigned task.

Research Links:

·         Creating PowerPoint Presentations - Tutorial

·         Creating Effective Presentations

·         A Review of Short Story Elements

·         Creating Memorable Characters

Story Links:

• "The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs
• "The Dinner Party" by Mona Gardner
• "The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe
• "The Lady or the Tiger?" by Frank Stockton
•  "The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson

Evaluation

Your group will be evaluated based on the following rubric, so read it over carefully before beginning.

Conclusion

Everyone loves a great story, whether it comes to them in the printed word, on a movie screen or even in the form of a video game.  After completing this Web Quest you have learned that the key element to any video game is the story that drives it. As you have seen, many of the same elements that make short stories exciting to read are what make video games exciting to play.