Pixel Art Coin Collection Game

In this project you will design and develop a fit-for-purpose technological outcome by creating a 2D pixel art coin collection game in Scratch.
You will follow a design thinking process to investigate a design context, generate ideas, create design drawings and mock-ups, gather stakeholder feedback, and refine your ideas before creating a working game.

Don't worry we are going to learn what all those terms mean also

Big Idea

Designers do not start by creating a final product.
They first identify users, investigate needs, communicate ideas through sketches and mock-ups, gather stakeholder feedback, and refine their designs before development begins.
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Lesson 1 Investigating Good Game Design

Learning Intention
  • Investigate existing digital games to identify features that make them engaging, accessible, and fit-for-purpose.
  • Analyse how game design decisions affect different users and audiences.
Success Criteria
  • I can identify the purpose and target audience of a game.
  • I can explain how specific design decisions affect the player experience.
  • I can identify positive and negative impacts of a digital outcome.
  • I can evaluate whether a game is fit-for-purpose for its intended users.
Do Now: Open your One Note Book activity for Design
Give your own definition of the following three words: Stakeholder, Design, Purpose
Copy in an AI or dictionary definition but include "for a digital outcome" in the prompt

Task 1: Game Analysis

Task: Play the game on the right for 5 minutes.


Now play it again for 5 further minutes.

Consider these questions for classroom conversation:

Design Purpose
  • What is the purpose of this game?
  • What experience is it trying to create?
Impact on Users
  • How does the game affect players?
  • What makes it enjoyable?
  • What might frustrate users?
Communities and Culture
  • Would all users enjoy this game equally?
  • Are any groups excluded from the design?
  • What design choices influence accessibility?

Task 2 Positive and Negative Impacts

Play this game made by Year 13 student (2025) Chloe Floss for our digital Innovation Class.

Spend 5 minutes playing
Then think about the questions on the right and answer them
​Identify

  • Two positive impacts of the game.
  • Two negative impacts of the game.
  • Who might enjoy the game most?
  • Who might find the game difficult or unsuitable?

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Task 3: What makes a Good Coin Collection Game
​Create a list of:
  • Three features that make games fun.
  • Three features that make games frustrating.
  • Three ideas you want to include in your project.

Lesson 2: Designing for Stakeholders

Learning Intention
  • Apply a design thinking process to develop a user-centred game concept.
  • Gather stakeholder feedback to inform design decisions.
Success Criteria
  • I can identify the needs of my target audience.
  • I can create a design brief with clear specifications.
  • I can gather and record stakeholder feedback.
  • I can justify changes to my design using evidence from feedback.
Do Now: Fill in the following sentences with what you think:
Video games have had a _____ impact on society.
One positive impact on the individual is ____________________
One negative impact on the individual is __________________
One positive impact on the community is ___________________
One negative impact on the community is ___________

Try to answer without internet for the first 5 minutes, then you may look up answers.

Task 1: Create a Design Brief

You are going to design a 2D pixel art game in Scratch where you collect coins.

But first we need to create a Design. Lets create a brief that is fit for purpose.

First we need:

A game Name:
Target Audience:
Goal of the game:
Win condition:
Lose condition:
Challenges:
Scoring System:

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Task 2: Identify Stakeholder Needs

Interview a classmate and ask:
  • What makes a game enjoyable?
  • What makes a game difficult?
  • What makes a game visually appealing?
  • What makes a game boring?

Record your responses

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NOTES!!!!!!
You must at least interview one person and be an interviewee

You must at least list 2 different things per question.

Task 3 Refine the Design Brief

From the interview that you have done, At least add two things to your design brief.

Then answer these questions:

What Changed?

Why it Changed?

​Which feedback caused the change?

Lesson 3: Exploring and Communicating Design Ideas

Learning Intention
  • Generate and communicate a variety of design ideas using sketches, mock-ups, and AI-generated inspiration.
  • Refine design ideas based on stakeholder needs and evidence.
Success Criteria
  • I can generate at least three different game concepts.
  • I can use sketches and mock-ups to communicate my ideas.
  • I can use AI tools to create design inspiration and explore possibilities.
  • I can explain how prompt quality affects AI-generated outputs.
  • I can justify my final design choice using stakeholder feedback and evidence.
Do Now: Open your design brief from Lesson 2 and answer the following questions:
1.) Who is your target audience?
2.) What is the goal of your game?
3.) What feedback did you receive from your stakeholder?
4.) What change did you make because of that feedback?

Task One: Generate Design Ideas

□ Game Prompt Generator

Character
???
Setting
???
Obstacles
???
If you are stuck use this game prompt generator I created
Create three different concepts for your game.
For each concept include:
  • Character
  • Setting
  • Obstacles
  • Coin collection method
Try to make each idea different.

For Example:

Character: Small guy with big sword
Setting: Taihape
Obstacles: Gumboots
​Coin Collection Method: Fall from above

Task Two: Sketch your best Idea

Select your favourite concept and create a simple game mock-up.

​Use Paint to create a simple game mock up

Include:
  • Gameplay screen
  • Character
  • Coins
  • Obstacles
  • Score display
Remember: this is a planning sketch, not finished artwork.

Take a Screenshot to put into one Note

Then get feedback and update your basic sketch

Task 3: Create AI Mock-Ups

Use an AI image generator to create:
  • A character concept
  • A game environment/background
  • A visual style or theme
Try at least two different prompts and compare the results.
ReflectionRecord your answers:
  • Which prompt produced the best result?
  • What changes improved the output?
  • How could the prompt be improved further?

​Once you have feedback try to make it better.

Exit Ticket: Final Design Decision

Complete the following statement:
I have chosen Concept _____ because it best meets the needs of my target audience.
Provide:
One piece of stakeholder feedback that influenced your decision.
One idea gained from your AI mock-ups.
One feature that makes your game fit-for-purpose.