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Unit 2 ICT - Chapter 5
**JUNE** 19/6/08 Today we studied Chapter 5, and looked at the main headings, which were programming, scripting language, structures and features of programming, debugging and testing- alpha and beta testing, electronic journals (keeping notes on progress).

20/6/08 Programming needs to be accurate and all data correct because otherwise the program will not work properly. [|vce ict units 1 & 2 website]
 * activity**- XD programming the teacher to create food for the class. **which were not jam sandwiches.**

24/6/08 Game Programming Conventions- Important things to know in using Game Maker //scripts//: small pieces of code that can be used to extend the possibilities of your game. //sounds//: background music or effects //sprites//: images used to show the objects //instances//: a particular occurrence of an object //objects//: the things in the rooms of the game //backgrounds:// the pictures used as background for the rooms //rooms:// the scenes or levels, where the objects live

26/06/08 Today I learnt how to create and edit a game, add //objects, sprites, sounds, backgrounds//, etc. in Game Maker. [|tutorial site for game maker] You have to be accurate and direct in the programming, otherwise the game won't work properly. Things like creating directions for objects to move and boundaries to stop them are pretty important. 17/7/08 I learnt today that Game Maker is frustrating and the instructions for objects and instances have to be really specific. It is easy to create sprites & objects but trying to instruct them to move and at which speed to move at is pretty confusing. The tutorials are really helpful. I know the most of the basics to working with Game Maker now, like setting the score, and loading the sprites and objects but I need to focus on the movement and directions of the objects.
 * JULY **

18/7/08 Game Maker is annoying, I can't control the objects in the room very well, because I can't find which selection is the correct one to use to simply make them move left and right, up and down. I learnt how to change the background and stretch it to fit the room screen, how to make objects solid and reflect other objects and how to create new rooms and doors to instantly continue on into the new room. I also learnt how to correctly name objects and sprites.

22/7/08 I re-read the first tutorial properly today and learnt how to add sounds to specific actions, how to make the main instance move in random directions, how to create a new room, MUST //SELECT SOLID FOR WALL OBJECT//, how to control the instance with the mouse and more. I completed the tutorial and now have a full game that works. I'm pretty happy with the amount of work I got done today.

25/7/08 I worked through the tutorial booklet today and finished the second game and started the third. The second game was a little frustrating to create and I learnt not to try and add lives to the game just yet, but the aliens are pretty easy to program. I now know how to create new rooms, kill objects off, restart the room and add goals.

29/7/08 I almost finished the third game today, but the aliens stopped moving the way they were programmed to and the game wouldnt open from the first room, so I will have to fix that. I'm not sure how, but I'll have to try. I can now create an object that can shoot, and score points every time the bullet hits an opponent. I'm still having trouble with creating multiple rooms.

**AUGUST** 1/8/08 I finished another tutorial game today and learnt how to create new rooms that actually work! I can make an object stop if it collides with a wall, but I also need to find out how to stop the object going anyway once I stop pressing the key controlling it. I found out how to show the score, health and lives on the top bar of the game screen and how to program adding and taking lives and the score. I created objects representing new lives and score, and once the player reached them, made them disappear. I would like to learn how to make objects fly, or jump, to change sprites in an event occuring and how to make multiple objects shoot at each other.

5/8/08 I worked on the tutorial site looking for information on how to stop objects moving once you stop pressing keys, and how to make objects jump or fly. I didnt find anything helpful, so will have to keep looking. I checked over previous games that I had made and fixed the mistakes in the object instructions and added new actions. I still dont know much about platform games and multiple shooting objects.

7/8/08 Today I started my preparation for the S.A.C and made two games, but I also realised that in the easier tasks there were things that I didnt know how to do, and in the harder tasks things that I could, which was confusing. I dont think I am really ready for the SAC just yet. Kieran helped me and showed me one of the tutorials that he used to help him in creating a platform game, which involved setting gravity, using ladders and changing sprites. When I get back from New Zealand, I will practise the tutorials and hope to learn how to make objects shoot at each other, introduce a health bar, change the sprites in an event occuring, and using ladders.

19/8/08 As I was in New Zealand for a week, I could not work on the SAC, but I realised that I knew most of the tasks that needed to be done anyway. I would like to finish at least three tasks today, or all of the textbook questions on chapter 6. I need to learn how to create and shoot bullets, change sprites during the game at an occurance and add sounds. careers assignment page

21/8/08 I finished three of the tasks today, I recreated the first two, which I started last session, because there were a lot of mistakes. I would like to learn how to make objects move towards others, add gravity for jumping and level looping. I think I am doing pretty well at the moment, but I need to study the next chapter of the textbook and finish the next two tasks.

22/8/08 I finished all of my games today but there were still a few problems. I learnt how to change sprites in case of a collision, added sounds and tried to program one object to chase another. I think i have done very well.