A HOME FOR GAMERS. Level-Up Guide. All the information you ll need to start playing, connecting and learning at I-CAN PLAY

Transcription

1 Cover

2

3 A HOME FOR GAMERS Level-Up Guide All the information you ll need to start playing, connecting and learning at I-CAN PLAY

4 Level-Up Guide Text Cape Innovation and Technology Initiative All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying and recording, or any other information storage or retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher.

5 Contents 1 Welcome to I-CAN PLAY a home for gamers! 5 2 What is I-CAN Play? 6 3 Using this guide 7 Important ideas and exercises 8 Layout of the guide 8 4 Game on! 10 Defining games 10 Games are good for you 13 Making a living from games 16 5 Computer basics 20 What is a computer made of? 20 Turning the computer ON/OFF 22 Connecting to the Internet 24 Creating your account 32 6 Gaming basics 33 Talking to the game with your keyboard, mouse and controller 33 What to look out for in a new game 39 Finding the games you want to play 39 Types of games 48 Single player vs multiplayer 52 7 VS Gaming 56 Signing up to VS Gaming 57 Creating your profile 58 Teams and clans 60 Competing through the VS Gaming platform 63 That s it, you re ready! 66 Resources 67

6

7 1 Welcome to I-CAN PLAY a home for gamers! We re excited to have you here ( Before you jump into your first game, we re going to take you through some computer and gaming basics. This guide will get you up to speed with what is happening in games and gaming around the world, and introduce you to the hardware and software you ll be using at I-CAN PLAY. It will also show you what types of games you can find at I-CAN PLAY, and how you can build a career out of esports, creating Let s Play videos and even game development. If you have any questions, you can talk to the site operator. They re always happy to help. Now, let s start levelling up! 5

8 2 What is I-CAN PLAY? The I-CAN PLAY Gaming Centre is a place for you to participate in fun activities, spend time with friends, and learn exciting digital skills. I-CAN PLAY is an initiative of the Western Cape Government, who believes that gaming can have a positive effect on your life. The aim of I-CAN PLAY is also to support entrepreneurs in setting up gaming centres across townships in the Western Cape. To help them make I-CAN PLAY centres as awesome as possible we need to collect some information on the best way to run these centres, and the best way to bring gamers together. You can help us with this process by telling the site operator what games you want to play, what days and times you like to visit the centre and how much you are willing to pay for time at I-CAN PLAY. 6

9 3 Using this guide This guide is easy to use and you can work through it in two ways: 1. Do it yourself You can go through the whole guide or just the sections that are helpful for you on your own. Along the way, you ll find exercises that test your knowledge and help you put what you ve learned into practice. If you re holding this guide in your hands, you ll find some empty space at the back. You can use that to write down your responses to the exercise questions. If you decide to work through the guide on your own, it s still a good idea to check in with the site operator for help or to discuss the interesting things you find. 2. Learn together Some people learn better when they have a chance to talk about what they re learning with others. If you re like that, you can work through this guide with other I-CAN PLAY gamers. On weekends, the site operator will make time to take groups of gamers through all the sections of the guide. You can sign up for these training sessions at the I-CAN PLAY Gaming Centre. 7

10 Important ideas and exercises In this guide, we want to make sure that you re comfortable with some important ideas related to games and gaming. We ll let you know what these important ideas are by highlighting them like this. So when you see a bold, purple word, you know it s something worth remembering. The guide also gives you exercises that are meant to help you remember some of the important ideas and test your knowledge. Exercises will be highlighted, like this: EXERCISE Here s an example of an exercise. When you see one of these, flip to the back of the guide or open up the Level-Up Guide Exercises file saved on the desktop to write down or type up your answers. Layout of the guide The rest of this guide will help you get started on gaming at the I-CAN PLAY Gaming Centre. Here s what you can expect: Game on! (page 10) Before getting stuck into the technical aspects of gaming like navigating a computer or finding games online we ll give you a quick introduction to the world of games and gaming. Computer basics (page 20) This section will show you how to use the laptops at the I-CAN PLAY centre. It will give you more information about the computer itself and give you step-by-step instructions on how to connect to the internet and how to set up an account. Gaming basics (page 33) If you re new to gaming, this section will help you understand how to play. It will show you how you speak to the game (through your keyboard, mouse or controller), how to find the games that you want to play, and how to play games with your friends online. We ll also take 8

11 LAYOUT OF THE GUIDE you through some of the most popular types of games you might find at I-CAN PLAY. VS Gaming platform (page 56) The I-CAN PLAY Gaming Centre will create opportunities for you to play against your friends and other gamers in the country through the VS Gaming platform. This section will show you how to register on the VS Gaming website, how to play a league game and how to capture your scores. Resources (page 67) In this section you ll find a whole list of links to useful articles and videos that will help you be a better gamer, and show you where to find the tools you ll need to start making Let s Plays and games of your own. 9

12 4 Game on! Did you know that 2.2 billion people across the world play digital games? That s almost a third of the global population. A lot of people still think that games are for children, and that they re especially for boys. But in 2017, studies found that the average gamer is around 35 years old and that 46% 1 of all gamers are women. The spread of powerful smartphones has made games more accessible to people who might not have played on computers or consoles. The rise of independent games has also made different types of games available to players. Fighting and sports games are still popular, but you can now also play a range of games that focus on things like exploring new worlds, solving puzzles or expressing emotions. These days, games really are for everyone! Defining games So now that we know who plays games and why they are so popular, we should try to answer a more basic question: what is a game? 10

13 DEFINING GAMES EXERCISE 1 What is a game? If you re an experienced gamer, you might already have an answer to that question. Before you read on, write your answer down and see how it compares to ours! Games have four defining traits. 2 The first is a goal. When you play a game, there is something in particular you want to achieve. You want to score the most points, beat the enemy or get the special item. Everything you do in the game is about achieving that goal. The second trait that defines a game is a set of rules. These rules limit how you can go about achieving your goal. If your goal is to match three of the same candies in a row, then the rules tell you that you can only swop out two adjacent candies at a time. Rules are what makes a game interesting. They encourage the player to find creative ways of solving a problem. A game also has a feedback system. That means that a game will tell you if you re getting closer to or further away from your goal. If you re moving away from your goal, you ll lose points, lose health or have to start again. If you re getting closer to it, you ll get points, gain health and level up. Finally, a game is defined by voluntary participation. When you play a game either by yourself or with friends you agree to play according to its specific goal, rules and feedback system. That means that you are opting in to the game, and that you and other players have a shared understanding of how it works. Let s look at an example that illustrates the first three defining features. In the game Snake that you can play on an old Nokia cellphone, your goal is to score as many points as possible. You do that by catching and eating small objects in the game. The game has a few rules: you can only move up, down, left or right (not diagonally), two parts of the snake cannot touch and you cannot move through walls. You receive feedback in two ways: you get more points, and your snake gets longer. 11

14 The simple game of Snake (Nokia, 1997) Source: Rex Shutterstock / Fiona Graham [2 May 2018] You can think of a game as a magic circle 3 that you step into when you start to play. Inside the circle, things and actions take on new meanings. When you play Rock Paper Scissors, your fist is not just a fist anymore; it beats scissors and is conquered by paper. As a gamer, knowing that games are made up of goals, rules and feedback systems can help you understand what you re trying to achieve, how you can achieve it, and how you ll know if you ve achieved it. This is also helpful for anyone who is interested in reviewing games or making games of their own. EXERCISE 2 If you wrote down a definition of a game, can you explain how our definition differs from yours? 12

15 GAMES ARE GOOD FOR YOU EXERCISE 3 Use one of your favourite games to explain the four defining traits of a game. EXERCISE 4 Can you find examples of how actions and objects take on new meaning in some of your favourite games? Games are good for you A lot of people still think that games are bad for you. They say games make you lonely and isolated. They say games hurt your eyes. They think you re wasting your time, and that you should be studying or working instead. But besides giving you something fun to do, games can actually have a positive impact on your life. Let s look at a few of the benefits of gaming. Games build communities Did you know that in the United States 53% of people who play games frequently play them with other people, both online and in person? 4 That means that all of those people are using games as a tool for connecting with their friends and family, and even making new friends online! There are many ways that you can share the experience of gaming with others. When you play sports, you learn to collaborate with others to achieve a shared goal. You do your part to make the team better, and you support your teammates. Even when they re struggling, you cheer them on. And whether you win or lose, you respect your opponents. The same is true for gaming! But what if you don t play games with other people? Can you still get some social benefit from games? Of course! Talking to people about your favourite games, sharing stories and strategies, is a great way to connect with others. 5 13

16 Games challenge you Any game you play gives you a problem to solve. It might be a simple problem (jump over the blocks to stay alive), or it might be a difficult problem (break a complex code to unlock the next clue). But whether they re simple or difficult, the game will reward you when you find the solution. Games teach you to face challenges head on, instead of shying away from them. 6 Games also activate the part of your brain that is responsible for strategic planning. 7 As you try to figure out a solution to the problem the game has given you, you learn how different parts of the game work together 8 and how you can influence them. In these ways games are helping you to develop a problem-solving attitude that you can apply to your everyday life. A group of players interacting with one another through a game called Johann Sebastian Joust (Die Gute Fabrik, 2013) Source: Bennett Foddy [2 May 2018] 14

17 GAMES ARE GOOD FOR YOU A word puzzle game called Alpha Bear (Spry Fox, 2015) which challenges the player to make words with random letters Source: AppleNApps [30 May 2018] 15

18 Games make you tech savvy Playing games is a fun, exciting way to become familiar with technology. When you play games you use different parts of a computer or console to achieve your goal. You need the processor to make sure that the game keeps up with your input. You need the keyboard and mouse so that you can tell the game what you want to do. And you need headphones and a microphone to talk to your teammates while you play. The more you play, the more comfortable you ll become with each of these parts and learn to use them for other purposes as well. We ll talk about all the different parts of a computer in more detail in the next section. Making a living from games Have you ever thought about playing or making games as a job? Can you imagine getting paid to play your favourite game every day, or making a game of your own? These aren t farfetched ideas. A lot of people around the A player in Langa, Cape Town, trying out Virtual Reality technology. Source: Xola Dos Santos 16

19 MAKING A LIVING FROM GAMES world, and even in South Africa, make a living from games. And you can too! Here are some of the most well-known ways you can turn gaming and games into a career: esports Over the last few years, esports have taken the gaming world by storm. esports refers to competitive gaming, where individuals or teams play against one another in order to win prizes. What makes esports so popular is that they re fun to watch. You might not be playing the game yourself, but you get to be part of the action and experience the excitement. Some of the most popular games that are played competitively include: Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (Hidden Path Entertainment and Valve Corporation), FIFA (Electronic Arts), DOTA 2 (Valve Corporation) and Overwatch (Blizzard Entertainment). We ll look at some of these examples again later in this guide. esports players are professionals who practise full time, and make a living from sponsorships and competition prizes. Because esports attracts so many viewers, big brands are willing to spend money on players and events. This also means that the prize pools for esports tournaments are huge. In 2017, first prize at The International (a yearly DOTA 2 tournament) was over R120 million! 9 In South Africa, esports is still a growing industry. We re seeing more and more skilled players and big tournaments come onto the scene. 10 If you want to be an esports player, I-CAN PLAY is the perfect place for you to level up until you re ready to play in the big leagues. Let s Plays As digital games become more and more popular, they start to attract different types of audiences. Some people don t want to know anything about a game before they get to try it themselves, and others want more information about the story or gameplay before they dive in. There are even people who prefer to watch games being played, instead of playing games themselves. Today, Let s Plays are a popular way of showing an audience what a game is all about. These are videos that walk you through parts of a game, and include commentary from the gamer. Let s Plays use screenshots and video clips to show off the most fun, funny, scary or exciting interactions in the game. Gamers who make Let s Plays they can be professionals or 17

20 amateurs might try to attract more viewers by doing something interesting, like speedrunning 11 through a popular game. Because so many people watch Let s Plays on platforms like YouTube, gamers who make these videos also make a lot of money from advertising. If you want to start making Let s Play videos and building up a following of people who enjoy watching you play games, you can use the hardware and software available at the I-CAN PLAY centre to record, edit and advertise your videos. Game development Today, the process of making digital games is easier than ever. So many of the tools that can help you make an interactive experience are now free to use, and simple to learn. And you don t even need to know how to code! Making games has always been an interdisciplinary exercise. That means that it takes people with very different skills people who can write, people who can code, people who can draw to make a game that is fun and interesting. It also means that the world of game making is open to everyone. No matter what your skills or interests are, you can find a way to apply them in the process of game development. Did you know that we have a strong game development industry right here in South Africa? In 2016, there were 31 active game development studios in the country. 12 Some of these studios have made successful, award-winning games. 13 The local game development industry supports young people who are interested in making games by giving advice and hosting workshops. If you want to make your own digital game, you can learn more about the process and meet some local developers at I-CAN PLAY. That s it for your introduction to the wonderful, exciting world of gaming and game development. We hope you feel a bit more familiar with topics like: What is a game? Why are games so popular? What are the benefits of gaming? How can you make a living from games? 18

21 NOTES Notes McGonigal, Jane. (2011) Reality is Broken. Why games make us better and how they can change the world. New York: Penguin Books. 3. Huizinga, Johan. (1950) Homo Ludens. New York: Roy technical.ly/brooklyn/2015/09/17/jane-mcgonigal-nyu-game-center static1.squarespace.com/static/579b8aa26b8f5b8f49605c96/t/ 59925f1aa803bb828325afc8/ /Chap_1_Zimmerman.pdf 9. dota2.prizetrac.kr/international is-it-a-bubble 11. kotaku.com/how-to-start-speedrunning-video-games seriousaboutgames.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/citi_sagreport_ _web-1.pdf 13. Games like Desktop Dungeons by QCF Design, and Broforce by Free Lives. 19

22 5 Computer basics What is a computer made of? Computers have different parts that all serve different functions. When they work together, they help us perform complex tasks like creating and editing documents or playing games. These are some of the key parts of a computer: Central processing unit (CPU) You can think of the CPU as the computer s brain. It receives and interprets messages, and makes sure the computer gives you the right response. When you double click a file, for instance, you are giving the computer input through the mouse. The CPU gets the input, and turns it into output which is the files that open up on your screen. Operating system This is the programme that helps you communicate with the computer without having to speak its language. The most common operating systems are Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. The operating system manages all the computer s software and hardware. When you are doing tasks on your computer, different programmes need access to the computer s CPU, memory and storage. The operating system makes sure 20

23 WHAT IS A COMPUTER MADE OF? that all of these processes run smoothly. It also makes sure that your hardware knows exactly what to do. Graphics processing unit (GPU) This is the part of the computer that deals with 2D and 3D images, animations and videos. It is one of the components that gamers care about most, because a good GPU will give you faster and smoother pictures and movement while you play. Random access memory (RAM) This part of the computer stores all of the information from programmes that are running on your computer. RAM allows you to access information quickly and easily, but it goes away when you turn the computer off. Hard drive The hard drive is also used to store information. Unlike the RAM, which stores some information for a short time, the hard drive holds all of the information that your computer needs in order to work. The hard drive saves all of the information on stacks of disks that continuously spin around. You might be thinking: what am I going to do with all of this information? If you re not interested in building or fixing your own computer, the definitions we ve given you might seem useless. But knowing a little bit more about the parts of a computer is very important for gamers! That s because all games come with something called minimum requirements. These minimum requirements tell you how big, fast or strong the different parts of your computer need to be in order to run the game you want to play. You can find the minimum requirements on the box of the game if you re buying a physical copy, or on the platform you buy your digital copies from. We ll look at how to find games on platforms like Steam and Origin in the next section. 21

24 EXERCISE 5 Can you find the minimum requirements for your favourite game? Try to compare them to the specifications of the computer you re playing on. Ask the site operator for help with finding and understanding the specifications. Turning the computer on/off The laptops at the I-CAN PLAY Gaming Centre run on the Windows 10 operating system. Sometimes, you might run into a problem that can be fixed by turning the laptop off and then on again. Knowing how to do this basic task will also come in handy when you download new games. We ll look at how to connect to the Internet and how to find games a little later. First, let s go through the steps of turning the laptop off. Step 1: The Windows icon In the bottom, left hand corner of the laptop screen you will see an icon that looks like a window pane. The Windows icon This is the Windows icon. When you click on it with the left button of your mouse, it will show you a menu of all the programmes on your computer. 22

25 TURNING THE COMPUTER ON/OFF Step 2: The power icon On the right left side of the menu that comes up when you click the Windows icon, you will also find three smaller icons (from top to bottom they are an outline of a person, a cog wheel, and a power icon). The menu that comes up when you click the Windows icon shows three smaller icons: a person, a cog wheel, and a power icon 23

26 When you click on the power icon (the one closest to the Windows icon), you will see a menu that includes the options Sleep, Shut down and Restart. The power menu that includes options Sleep, Shut down and Restart. Step 3: Shut down or Restart The menu that comes up after you ve clicked on the power icon gives you three options. You can choose Sleep. This will put the computer in rest mode, but will not turn it off. You can choose Shut down. This will turn the computer off completely. It will only turn on again if you press the power button on the laptop. You can also choose Restart. This will turn the computer off and then automatically back on again. If you want to turn the computer off, you will choose Shut down. Connecting to the Internet The Internet is a powerful network that gives you access to all kinds of information and communication opportunities. At the I-CAN PLAY Gaming Centre, you can use the Internet for a number of things. You can use the 24

27 CONNECTING TO THE INTERNET Internet to connect to other gamers (at I-CAN PLAY and across the world), and play multiplayer games with them. You can also use the Internet to download new games that you want to try, and to watch Let s Plays and tutorials of the games you re learning to play. Please remember to check with the site operator before you download a new game. But how do you connect to the Internet? EXERCISE 6 If you already know how to connect to the Internet, write down your answer or tell a friend. There are two easy ways that you can connect to the Internet. The first is through Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi allows computers and phones in a particular area to wirelessly connect to the Internet. To use Wi-Fi, you ll need to follow these steps: Step 1: The Windows icon In the bottom, left hand corner of the laptop screen you will see an icon that looks like a window pane. The Windows icon This is the Windows icon. When you click on it with the left button of your mouse, it will show you a menu of all the programmes on your computer. 25

28 Step 2: The settings icon On the left hand side of the menu that comes up when you click the Windows icon, you will also find three smaller icons (from top to bottom they are an outline of a person, a cog wheel, and a power icon). The menu that comes up when you click the Windows icon shows three smaller icons: a person, a cog wheel, and a power icon Step 3: Network & Internet settings When you click on the cog wheel, or settings, icon (the middle icon), it will show you a menu. 26

29 CONNECTING TO THE INTERNET In the Windows Settings menu, the icon in the top row, second from the right says Network & Internet. Click on this icon with the left button of your mouse. When you click on the cog wheel, or settings, icon, you see a menu like this. 27

30 Step 4: Turn Wi-Fi on In the Network & Internet settings menu, click on the word Wi-Fi that appears in the list on the left hand side of the menu (second from the top). The Network & Internet settings menu That will take you to the Wi-Fi menu. The Wi-Fi menu 28

31 CONNECTING TO THE INTERNET Click on the slider that shows that the Wi-Fi is off. When you click on the slider it will change from white to blue. When you click on the slider it will change from white to blue. EXERCISE 7 Can you find another way to connect to the Internet through Wi-Fi? Show your friend or the site operator how you would do it. Connect the Ethernet cable to the Ethernet port The second way that you can connect to the Internet is through a Local Area Network (LAN). This works in a similar way to Wi-Fi, but you use something called an Ethernet cable to establish your connection. To connect to the Internet using a LAN, there s only one step to follow. 29

32 On the one end the Ethernet cable will be connected to a modem, and on the other you will plug it into a port that looks like the picture below. An Ethernet cable and an Ethernet port Source: Terry White [2 May 2018] 30

33 CONNECTING TO THE INTERNET If the LAN connection does not work, you can follow the first two steps we went through for connecting to the Internet through Wi-Fi. That will bring you to a menu titled Ethernet. The Ethernet menu Click on the word Ethernet on left hand side of the screen (third from the top). Here you will find the settings that you need to adjust to make sure that you are connected to the Internet. 31

34 Creating your account Now that you know how to connect to the Internet, you can create an account. is a great way to communicate with friends and family, and can help employers contact you more easily. When you play games, an account is also a way for you to identify yourself, and get access to the platforms we ll discuss in the next section. The most popular platform that you can join for free is Google s Gmail. You can pick your own handle. It might look like this: lerato@gmail.com, or l.kgatle@gmail.com. You can have fun and pick a name that suits you, but also keep in mind that you want other people to be able to recognise and remember your address. You can also make more than one account if you want to separate your personal and business profiles. EXERCISE 8 If you don t already have your own account, click on this link and follow the instructions to create one: guides/ /how-create-gmail-account. 32

35 6 Gaming basics Talking to the game with your keyboard, mouse and controller If you re an experienced gamer, you might already know how to get the character in your game to move around on screen. Maybe you grew up with games, and automatically know how to jump or roll or kick, even if you re playing a new game. As we play more and more games, we start to see patterns. Some games might have very different themes, but the way you move and interact inside these games stays basically the same. You will have three main ways of communicating with the game through your computer: the keyboard, the mouse and the controller. The games that you ll find at the I-CAN PLAY centre will be twodimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D). In 2D games, you can move up, down, left and right. Depending on the angle of the game it will either look like your character is flat against a wall, or it will look like they are moving around on a flat surface. 33

36 A two-dimensional game Source: Time magazine [2 May 2018] 34

37 TALKING TO THE GAME WITH YOUR KEYBOARD, MOUSE AND CONTROLLER In a 3D game, you can move into the screen, and back out again (if your character walks backwards, for example). Here, your mouse will be an important tool since it will help you move in the right direction. In a 3D game you move up, down, left, right, in and out. The graph below will help you imagine it. A three-dimensional graph 35

38 Keyboard Different games will assign different actions to the keys on your keyboard, but there are a few common keys used in most games. The picture below highlights these. Move around Run / sprint Jump Quit You can use the W, A, S, D keys or the arrow keys to move around in a game In many games, you ll run / sprint in the direction you re already moving when you also hold down the shift key When you press the space bar you can jump To leave the game, press ESC Common keys used in most games Source: replacementlaptopkeys.com [2 May 2018] Mouse In many games you use the mouse to point your character in the direction you want to go. The left mouse button will also be used to interact with objects or other characters in the game (kick the ball, pick up the item, shoot the arrow). In games like DOTA 2, you will use the mouse to move around instead of the keys we showed you above. To find out how to move around and interact in a particular game, you can look for a section called settings, and then look for controls. 36

39 TALKING TO THE GAME WITH YOUR KEYBOARD, MOUSE AND CONTROLLER Left mouse button Right mouse button Mouse wheel The main action A secondary action Scrolling and sometimes also for clicking Common mouse controls Source: Redragon USA [2 May 2018] Controller Another device that you can use to communicate with a game is a controller. Even though controllers are usually used to play on consoles, you can also use it to play games on your computer. Like with the keyboard 37

40 and the mouse, controls may change from game to game. You can, however, start by trying to use the controller for the purposes listed below. Left joystick Right joystick Direction pad You use this joystick to move your character left, right, up, down and diagonally. You use this joystick to control the camera view (where you / your character is looking). This will also determine the direction you move in. In some games you can use this pad to move (instead of the left joystick). If you re moving with the left joystick, this pad might open up a menu or activate special powers or items. X, Y, A, B buttons The functions of these buttons will change based on the game you play. Left trigger Right trigger This button is often used for aiming. This button is often used for shooting. Common functions of a controller Source: XBox.com [2 May 2018], Expert Reviews [30 May 2018] EXERCISE 9 Can you find the control settings for one of the games at I-CAN PLAY? Write them down, or take a screenshot to share with the site operator and other gamers. 38

41 FINDING THE GAMES YOU WANT TO PLAY What to look out for in a new game Trying to play a new game can be exciting but also confusing. There are a few things you can look out for that will help you make sense of any new game. In section 1 we talked about the four things that define a game. Can you remember what they are? By keeping the first three defining factors in mind, goal, rules and feedback system, you ll find all the information you need to play a new game well. Finding the games you want to play Games platforms These days, a lot of people download games instead of buying physical copies. If you have an Internet connection, digital distribution platforms can make it easy to find and play the latest games. It even gives you access to free games! The most popular digital distribution platform is Steam. Steam is great for gamers and for game developers, because it allows developers to make new games easily available. To access Steam you ll need to follow these steps: Step 1: Go to the Steam website On your browser, type in store.steampowered.com. That will take you to the Steam website. In the top right hand corner you ll see the word login. 39

42 Step 2: Register If you already have a Steam account you can fill in your account details when you click login (top right hand corner) or Sign in. To create a new account, click on the button that says Join Steam. 40

43 FINDING THE GAMES YOU WANT TO PLAY On the Create an Account page, you can fill in your details and register for Steam. You will need to accept the Steam Subscriber Agreement. Make sure to read through it before you accept, and talk to the site operator if you need any help. Once you ve put in all of your details, you will receive an that will ask you to verify your account. And now you re ready to play! Searching for games on Steam Registering for Steam gives you access to an endless amount of awesome games. To find them, you can download the Steam app by clicking Install Steam in the top right hand corner of the Steam website. Or you can search for them through the browser option. Let s take a look at how you find games through the steam app. 41

44 Step 1: Open Steam Click on the Windows icon (check the Computer Literacy Basics section to find out where that is) and type S-T-E-A-M. This is what you ll see: When you click on the blue bar, your computer will open up the Steam application and ask you to log in to Steam. 42

45 FINDING THE GAMES YOU WANT TO PLAY Log in using the account details you created when you registered for Steam, and click LOGIN. Step 2: Use the search bar to find your game When you ve logged in to your account, you ll automatically go to the Steam Store page. In the top right corner of that page, you ll see a search bar. This is where you will type in the name of the game you want to play. 43

46 If you want to find games that are free to play, you can also click on the tab that says Games. You will see a dropdown menu, where the first option is Free to Play. When you click on Free to Play, Steam will take you to a menu of all the free games available on the platform. You can scroll through them and decide which one you want to play. If you choose League of Pirates, for example, you will go to the game s page where you will find all of the information you will need. 44

47 FINDING THE GAMES YOU WANT TO PLAY 45

48 Step 3: System requirements In section 5, we talked about the system requirements of games. You ll need to know what they are, so that you can tell if your computer will run the game or not. When you get onto the game s page, you can scroll down to find the system requirements. Step 4: Play! On the game s page, you ll see a green button that says Play Game. When you click on the button, Steam asks you to confirm that you want to install the game. When you click Next, Steam will ask you to accept terms and conditions. Make sure that you read these through carefully. Remember to ask the site operator before downloading a new game, and talk to them about the terms and conditions if there is anything you do not understand. 46

49 FINDING THE GAMES YOU WANT TO PLAY 47

50 When you click I Agree, the game will start downloading, and you will be able to find it in your Library. Types of games These days, new and exciting games are coming out all the time. With that in mind, it would be difficult for us to give you a detailed breakdown of all the games you might want to play. Instead of telling you exactly where to find the right buttons, or what to do to win, we re going to tell you about the different types or genres of games that you might find at the I-CAN PLAY Gaming Centre. That way, you ll know how to play whatever new game comes your way. Here are some of the most popular genres for esports. 48

51 TYPES OF GAMES Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) An example of how a MOBA is laid out Source: Wikipedia [2 May 2018] To understand this genre of games we should start with its name. MOBAs are played by opposing teams of players (multiplayer) who play together via the Internet (online). Each player controls one character in a team, and the aim is to destroy the other team s main structure situated in a battle arena. The arena is made up of three lanes (top, middle and bottom). Along these three lanes, each team also has smaller structures that can be destroyed by the opposing team. In a MOBA, the player can choose to play one of a wide range of characters, often called heroes. Each of these heroes 49

52 have different abilities. Some are good at long range attacks, some are strong and can take a lot of damage, and some can do magic. The hero that you choose will influence how you play the game. MOBAs are complicated games. Even experienced gamers struggle to master them. But don t worry! You ll get the hang of it if you play through tutorials, watch other players (on YouTube or Twitch) and keep practising! The most popular MOBAs in esports at the moment are DOTA 2 and League of Legends (Riot Games). DOTA 2 (Valve Corporation): a popular example of a MOBA Source: VentureBeat [30 May 2018] 50

53 TYPES OF GAMES First Person Shooter (FPS) This type of game lets you see the game through the eyes of your character. FPS games are usually fast-paced, and give you access to different weapons and special abilities for your character. While you ll mostly be shooting your way through levels, some FPS games also have detailed stories and ask you to complete interesting puzzles. These days you can also play FPS games online with players around the world. Overwatch (Blizzard Entertainment): a popular example of an FPS 51

54 Sports games These games are part of a broader genre of games called simulation games, because they simulate the experience of playing a sport. Using the keyboard and a mouse, you control an individual player or a team, and follow the rules of whatever sport you re playing. Some sports games also focus on strategy and team management. FIFA 18 (Electronic Arts): a popular example of a sports game Source: USgamer [30 May 2018] Single player vs multiplayer You can play digital games in many different ways. When you play by yourself against the game, it s called single player. When you play with one or more other players, it s called multiplayer. By plugging two controllers into a computer, you can play local multiplayer. That means that the connection between you and the other player is not made online, instead you are in the same room. When you play games with other players through the Internet, it s called online multiplayer. You can either play with strangers, or you can play with friends. To play online multiplayer games with friends, you will first have to add them on Steam. 52

55 SINGLE PLAYER VS MULTIPLAYER Step 1: View friends list In the bottom right hand corner or the Steam page, you ll see some text saying VIEW FRIENDS LIST. When you click on that, Steam will open up your list of friends. If you don t have any yet, you ll have the option of searching for friends. 53

56 You can then search for your friends on the Steam platform. You can use their Steam handles (which will usually look like their name or their address. 54

57 SINGLE PLAYER VS MULTIPLAYER When you find your friend, you click on the ADD AS FRIEND button and they will appear in your friends list. When you are both online at the same time, you will be able to play the same game together as a team or against one another. 55

58 7 VS Gaming The VS Gaming platform was designed to help gamers create teams, track their progress and compete against other players. At I-CAN PLAY, we ll be using this platform to run tournaments for you or your team to win awesome prizes. The VS Gaming platform is easy to use, and gives you the freedom to practise and compete against other players when it suits you. You can set up your own matches and input your own scores, or ask the site operator to help you out. 56

59 SIGNING UP TO VS GAMING Signing up to VS Gaming To register on the VS Gaming platform, you ll need to follow these steps. Step 1: Visit the website Type into the search bar of your browser. That will take you to the VS Gaming landing page. 57

60 Step 2: Insert your information When you get there, press the REGISTER button in the top right corner of the page. This will take you to a form that will ask you for your details. Make sure that all of your information is correct, and press the Register button at the bottom of the page. VS Gaming will send you an to verify your account (go to section 5 of the guide (page 32) if you don t have an address yet). Once you click Verify in the , you will be able to sign in to the VS Gaming platform. Creating your profile Now that you ve signed up to the VS Gaming platform, you can edit your profile. By doing this you ll make sure that other gamers (potential opponents or teammates) know more about you. 58

61 CREATING YOUR PROFILE When you sign into VS Gaming, it will take you to your dashboard. This is your home base. From here you can update your profile, create teams and schedule matches. To make sure all your information is captured, you can click on the Profile button, and then on the Edit button. Fill in the information requested in the fields, and click Save. The VS Gaming platform will tell you how much of your profile you ve filled out with a percentage in the bottom on the screen. See if you can get yours to 100%! 59

62 Teams and clans The VS Gaming platform also allows you create a team and a clan. Teams are groups of people who are dedicated to playing the same game together. When you play DOTA 2, for instance, each side is made up of five players. If you are playing alone via the internet, you ll be put into a team with strangers. But you can also create your own team. That means that you and four of your friends will be on the same side. The benefit of having a team is that it makes it easier to plan and communicate your strategy. A clan, on the other hand, is a collection of teams. You can think of a clan as a big team that is made up of a bunch of smaller teams. Unlike teams, clans are not defined by specific games. For example, an I-CAN PLAY clan can be made up of two different teams. Let s call them TheSokkaPlayas and Khaltsha Kidz. TheSokkaPlayas will compete in FIFA tournaments and Khaltsha Kidz will play DOTA 2 matches, but both teams will wear I-CAN PLAY colours. To create a team on the VS Gaming platform, follow these steps: 60

63 TEAMS AND CLANS Step 1: Find the Teams box in your dashboard Click the Teams box. It looks like this: This will take you to the Teams page, where you will see a list of all the teams that have been made on the VS Gaming platform. Step 2: Team details In the top right corner of the Teams page, you will see the Create Team button. This will take you to a form where you can fill in all the details of your team, and invite other players. Your teammates will have to be registered 61

64 on the VS Gaming platform, so make sure they follow the steps in this guide to register (see Signing up to VS Gaming, above). You can give your team a fun name, describe who you are and what your team is about, and pick the game that you ll be participating in. If you want to play more than one game as a team, you will have to create a new team profile for each game. To finish off the process, click Create at the bottom of the page. If you and your friends want to start a clan you will follow the same steps listed above, but instead of clicking the Teams box in your dashboard you will click on Clans. 62

65 COMPETING THROUGH THE VS GAMING PLATFORM If you want to join a clan that your friends have created, you can click on the Clans box in your dashboard and search for the clan name in the top right corner of the page that comes up. When you find the right clan, click on Join Clan to request access. The clan administrator will have to accept your request before you can join. Competing through the VS Gaming platform There are a few different ways that you can compete against your friends and players across the country through the VS Gaming platform. The 63

66 platform makes it easy for you to join existing competitions, or to create your own. Here are your options: Tournaments Tournaments are competitions that happen over a short period of time. They are usually one- or two-day events where players face off against one another in order to win a prize. A tournament usually works with knockout rounds. Each player gets a chance to play, and is knocked out if they lose. If you want to see the tournaments held on the VS Gaming platform, you can click on the Tournaments button at the top of the screen. If you want to play a tournament of your own, you can talk to the site operator about setting up a tournament for you and your friends. Leagues A league is a competition that is played over a longer period of time. A league can last for a few weeks, and works on a point system. When you join a league, you can challenge other players to matches. If you win, you get points and increase your rank in the league. If you lose, you also lose points and move down in rank. The VS Gaming platform allows you to schedule matches with other players, and keeps track of your scores. 64

67 COMPETING THROUGH THE VS GAMING PLATFORM If you want to see the leagues hosted on the VS Gaming platform, you can click on the Leagues button at the top of the screen. When you click Leagues, the website will take you to a list that can be filtered according to games or styles. If you want to join an open league, find the league you want to join in this list and click the Join button. You can also talk to the site operator about setting up a league of your own. 65

68 That s it, you re ready! You re all levelled up! Now you re ready to start playing some exciting games, connecting with other players and learning new skills. If you want to know more about the topics we ve discussed in this guide, check out the resources in the next section, and remember to talk to the site operator about your experience here at I-CAN PLAY! 66

69 Resources esports Introduction to esports An Intro to Esports: What is Esports? ( watch?v=vk17-irapqc) Esports: the digital revolution has arrived ( watch?v=dwm-r9iyhbo) Why Esports should be in the Olympics in 2024; Jon Pan, TenxDenHelder ( A beginner s guide to esports ( beginners-guide-esports-dota-2-league-of-legendsstarcraft-2-37#list-1) Rebirth: What Is Esports ( watch?v=o0z4theyglm) Women in esports, gaming with the Valhalla Girls DStv ( FIFA 18 How to defend in FIFA 18! Fifa 18 Advanced Defending Tutorial: Easy Guide to Defending ( Fifa 18 Attack Tutorial Best Attacking Strategy Simple and Effective Guide ( DOTA II DOTA 2 Guide for Beginners 2017 [Updated] ( watch?v=vjyx2nisecq) 67

70 Hearthstone Master Hearthstone in 10 Minutes! The Ultimate Beginner s Guide ( Fortnite Battle Royale Fortnite: Ultimate Beginners Guide To Battle Royale ( Game development Free tools Unity ( Game Maker ( Bitsy ( Bitsy tutorial ( Gaming basics Understand game platform types ( 68