A downloadable game

Download NowName your own price

From 2020 to 2025 I taught a class in narrative design using Bitsy, a simple game-making tool by adam le doux. The objective of the class was to learn how to tell interactive stories with a simple set of tools: spatial movement, simple interactions, concise dialogue, pixel art, color design, and screen composition. Bitsy is both (A) relatively approachable for non-programmers, and (B) actively resistant to systems-based design, making it perfect.

You'll find the actual Bitsy files in the Downloads section below, but you won't get much out of them without reading their descriptions. Check the Development Log for full notes and descriptions for each exercise (note that they're listed in reverse chronological order).


Overview

These are all files that can be imported into the Bitsy editor using the "load game" function. Each exercise has a goal, and I've tried to provide the basic scaffolding for it in the file. (For example, a Bitsy file might come with sprites representing characters, and the exercise might be to give those characters dialogue by editing the sprites.)

None of that scaffolding needs to exist in the finished project. The guiding principal is: Anything can be changed in service of an interesting idea.

Most of these exercises were run in class: We would start with a lecture, then I would give students about fifteen minutes to work on the exercise, and finally they would upload their finished creations to D2L for a class show-and-tell.

Some of these will be larger projects or smaller examples.

Keep checking back or follow me for updates!

Updated 11 days ago
Published 22 days ago
StatusReleased
Rating
Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars
(9 total ratings)
AuthorAnna Anthropy
GenreEducational
TagsBitsy, design, exercise, Narrative, narrative-design, Tutorial

Download

Download NowName your own price

Click download now to get access to the following files:

the_wizard_s_tower.zip 61 kB
the_museum_of_____s_artifacts.zip 61 kB
shrine_of_the_sword.zip 61 kB
lunch_date_at_the_witch_s_house.zip 61 kB
just_another_monday.zip 62 kB
where_s_my_key_.zip 61 kB
rambling_old_man.zip 61 kB
the_day_of_the_robbery.zip 62 kB
just_your_classic_whodunnit.zip 63 kB
nearly_the_big_day_now.zip 62 kB
cave_of_the_ancient_treasure.zip 61 kB
it_s_the_same_thing_every_night_.zip 61 kB

Development log

View all posts

Comments

Log in with itch.io to leave a comment.

These are awesome, thanks for sharing! I'm going to work my way through them. Is it OK if we post our results on itch & link back here?

Absolutely!

This is so great! Thank you for sharing those exercises, so helpful!

This is phenomenal, thank you so much for putting these up!

I love how completely open and demystifying these exercises are. Really highlights the joy of tiny bitsy experiences.

Love this! Bitsy is my favorite tiny game tool, so I will definitely be checking out these prompts.

Thanks! Bitsy is really something special.

Thank you for posting these! Although I've toyed with Bitsy before, I'm excited to give them a go :D

(+1)

I love the idea - thanks for sharing!

Is it... intended that the current downloadable zip contains a single HTML file (I assume it's all self contained?)  - and that the wizard's tower ends abruptly as soon as you leave the initial screen? ^^

(+1)

Yes! I'll be posting explanations for all the exercises as development posts - look in the "Development log" above!

(+2)

As a fellow narrative design teacher, this is greatly appreciated! Looking forward to more :) 

Thank you! I hope they end up being useful!