GameStar Mechanic, which was created for seven- to fourteen-year-olds, can be used by anyone. It is a community and a game developed to introduce principles of game design and systems in a highly interactive environment. The features included in this app makes it easier for kids to play it alone or with their parents.

Website: http://gamestarmechanic.com/

What Users Love About the App

“I used Gamestart Mechanic in the context of the Mouse Create program. Some students who were not engaged became fascinated and motivated using this program. The students who found this too generic are the students who are motivated to want to make more original work so they just worked alongside the others, learning the principles of Gamestar Mechanic but then going on additional paths to create original art.”

“I think that this is a beautifully rendered and thought out piece of software. I love that my students like it and WANT to use it. I also love that it helps them with critical thinking skills and it helps them adjust their thinking about other types of Coding.”

“I use Game Star to promote the Engineer Design Process. Students develop an understanding of how developers use iteration to create games that engage the users. It was helpful to allow students to work as part of a team in order for all students to be successful.”

“This was used as a supplement to a game design class. It’s a fun, eye catching introduction. Not really enough to work with for very long, but it gets a point across well and is very basic to reach all students.”

“Gamestar Mechanic is highly engaging, and well-designed to help students learn the basics of game design. And for students who love to play video games, and may never have thought about where they come from, Gamestar Mechanic is a perfect learning tool.”

What Users Dislike About the App

“I would not use this with teaching in the classroom. It takes too long to collect the “Sprite ” points needed to build a game yourself. The process of collecting “Sprite Points” to build a game can take 2 or more hours. Therefore, not good for a classroom situation.”

“I registered and played with Gamestar Mechanic. I can’t imagine a 10 year old being able to use it and come away with any educational value. There’s no pop-up bubbles over the tools that help you build a game and I’m not about to sit down with my child for hours and read a manual like a textbook.”

“My issue is that this is being pushed as a game creation tool. I have problems with that since it is restricted between monthly subscribers or free users. If your child wants to learn to make games, there are free tools out on the net that don’t need a monthly subscription.”

“The website seems like it hasn’t been updated since 2013, and it uses flash, which makes it a hassle to use. The storylines are confusing and boring.”