Transition Year
Transition Year Game Development
A self-directed TY module built around Code, Create, Play, taking students from a blank file to a finished, playable 2D game in GameMaker — one project, built step by step, with every programming concept introduced exactly when students need it.
What's included (pilot)
Everything students need to finish a game
- Digital access to the full book content, adapted for classroom self-study
- A structured project, built around the book's 7-day project and broken into stages students work through at their own pace: idea → prototype → enemies → scoring → power-ups → boss level → finished game with menus
- Free GameMaker software (no cost or licensing required for students)
- Written by a Teaching Council of Ireland registered teacher (see the author block below)
How it works
A founding-school pilot for 2026/27
This is a founding-school pilot for 2026/27. We're working with a small number of schools to deliver this as a self-directed module — students work through the material independently or in pairs, at their own pace, with teacher oversight. No live workshops are included at this pilot stage; the focus is a complete, well-structured project students can finish within TY.
Pricing
€10 per student
Minimum 25 students per school (€250 minimum).
Who it's for
TY coordinators who want a tangible outcome
TY coordinators looking for a coding/digital-skills module with a tangible outcome — not just exercises, but a real finished game students can show off. Suits TY groups studying QQI Level 5 Games Analysis Design or similar, and any TY programme wanting a games/coding option that goes further than block-based tools.
The author
Written by a classroom teacher
Written by Tomás Brides, a secondary school teacher with 17 years' classroom experience, including three years delivering Transition Year. He holds postgraduate qualifications in 21st Century Teaching and Learning (Trinity College Dublin) and Universal Design for Learning (UCD) — training that shaped how this module is structured for mixed-ability TY groups. He is a Teaching Council of Ireland registered teacher.
Enquire
Interested for 2026/27?
Get in touch and we'll confirm availability and next steps.