Remember entries must be in on Friday! Good luck!
Posted on 21st September
How will the leader board work and what will it look like?
Posted on 21st September
Make the controls user friendly and maybe include a timer as part of your game
Posted on 21st September
Think about keeping your levels short and snappy with increasing difficulty
Posted on 21st September
Include controls and explain the mechanics of how the game is to be played in your annotations.
Posted on 19th September
Remember you can make use of the iPhones/Android tilting feature to control the game, as well as touch controls
Posted on 19th September
Consider the progression of your game. How will the game progress to get more difficult?
Posted on 19th September
Think of a great game name that can be marketable as a free downloadable app.
Posted on 19th September
Dont overwhelm with complicated game rules. Over-complicated game rules will limit its appeal. The best games are always the ones in which you can continue to try and beat your score.
Posted on 16th September
Dont over complicate the idea or the playability factor.
Posted on 16th September
Keep the annotations simple, clear and concise.
Posted on 16th September
Add colour to your storyboard to help it stand out!
Posted on 16th September
Annotations should be about the actions or movements of the game.
Posted on 8th September
Does your game require certain sounds or music to make it better or even playable?
Posted on 8th September
Keep a notebook or sketchbook to hand in case you come across a fantastic idea!
Posted on 7th September
Give every idea a chance. If it seems too outrageous, it can be adapted.
Posted on 7th September
Try to find an interesting theme
Posted on 6th September
Just because you understand how to play the game, doesnt mean others will.
Posted on 6th September
Remember your audience. The game needs to appeal to all tastes and ages - dont make it specific to one age.
Posted on 5th September
It needs to be addictive and engaging for all age groups. The best games are those that people want to play again and again.
Posted on 2nd September
Think about the sound effects what kind of noises will your game make, when and why?
Posted on 2nd September
Does your game have characters? What do they look like, and sound like? How do they move? Make any characters engaging and allow people to relate to them.
Posted on 31st August
If in doubt get a second opinion, teamwork is always important
Posted on 30th August
Think of the long term playability of the game, will the user get bored?
Posted on 30th August
Look at some of the more classic games and try to understand what makes them so addictive.
Posted on 25th August
Only use one version of the storyboards - decide if you will design your game portrait or landscape and stick to it!
Posted on 25th August
Simple games are more effective than complex games. We are not looking for a complex video game; we are looking for a simple fun game, like Angry Birds.
Posted on 25th August
Doesn't need to make sense as long as it's fun!
Posted on 25th August
Think of the best game apps and what makes them so popular.
Posted on 25th August
The game is being made in association with Arnold Clark so the company must remain in a positive light throughout.
Posted on 25th August
Get into the mind of the game player. What do you think they want to achieve or experience while playing the game?
Posted on 25th August
Research ask your friends and family what they think of your gaming idea.
Posted on 25th August
The game will be played on a mobile phone, so make sure the drawings and artwork are simple.
Posted on 25th August
We hope you're enjoying your summer holidays guys! Just a reminder driving games won't be accepted this year but you can include cars if you wish, as long as they're not being driven!
Posted on 29th June
The Arnold Clark Schools Challenge is back and even bigger than before! The Teachers information pack has been sent out today to every secondary school across Scotland. Make sure your school is involved!
Posted on 6th May
Make your game stand out from the crowd, be different.
Posted on 6th May
Dont underestimate the importance of annotating your game correctly to explain how it works. This will sometimes be even more beneficial than the visuals you are providing.
Posted on 6th May
Remember to follow the judging criteria closely.
Posted on 6th May
Unfortunately we will not accept driving games this year, we are looking for something different from the 2011 challenge.
Posted on 6th May
Most importantly Like Us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to receive more hints and tips as the challenge progresses and ask us questions.
Posted on 6th May

Thanks to the thousands of
people who voted.
Keep up to date with the progress of the Arnold Clark Schools' Challenge by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter.
A panel of experts will shortlist the top 10 game ideas using the judging criteria. The top 10 teams will be notified week commencing Monday 3rd October, with voting due to start Monday 10th October.