Background Information
Video game consoles today are powerful computers that can generate amazing lifelike graphics. Early on in video game history machines were much more limited. Game creators needed to be very creative to make unique characters and settings that would not be demanding on the virtual memory of the machines running the games.
One important limitation was the number of colours and pixels that could be used for game characters. Please see the "Space Invader" below for an example of "8 bit" character design.
One important limitation was the number of colours and pixels that could be used for game characters. Please see the "Space Invader" below for an example of "8 bit" character design.
To learn a bit more about the early history of video games and the evolution of graphics.
Getting Started
For this activity you will be designing your own "8-bit" art and characters. The graphic below includes a few famous examples. Notice how you can see the individual color pixels that form the image.
- Practice your 8-bit design skills by sketching some 8 bit characters using pencil and graph paper. See if you can recreate one of the famous characters above or search for 8 bit characters on google images to see many more examples. You can print your own grid paper using the file below.
graph_paper.pdf |
- Try make8bitart.com to make some more challenging designs. This website provides a wide canvas and many colours to work with.
- Use the Microsoft MakeCode arcade and try the tutorial titled "Walking Hero" to learn how to create and animated 8-bit sprite that moves.
Guiding Questions:
- How do limitations (such as limited colours and pixels) push us to be more creative?
- Why were graphics so limited in early game consoles?
- How were the decisions of early game designers influenced by the limitations of the consoles that the games ran on?
- Where does math and computer science impact game design?
Share Your Learning:
- Create your own classic game world. Design a main character, villain, props and backgrounds.
- Write a story outline describing the plot of your game.
- Extend your learning by programming your game in Microsoft MakeCode arcade.
- Purchase some Perler Beads to make real life versions of your 8 bit art.