The school children at the schools in Gwent studied computer coding before creating the “Splotch” app, which is designed to inspire others to love new technology.
The game enables children to build a blob (or splotch) that moves around and fights enemies.
Children of various ages from Duffryn High School, Newport, and Heolddu Comprehensive in Bargoed were among those involved in the design project, which was led by the creative education company Pyka.
Greg Ryan, from Pyka, who worked with the children in special app-making sessions in the schools, said Splotch was designed as a way to introduce children to something that might be seen as boring.
“The course was conceived to teach children about the skills that are needed in the world of app development,” he said.
“There was a lot of emphasis on coding and the scientific side of it, but we wanted to make children aware that there’s a whole world past that, including business skills, design and creativity.”
James Lockui, 13, who is a year 8 student at Duffryn High School, said he thought the app would help promote Duffryn as well as teaching schools about how to design an app. “I think the app will help build Duffryn’s reputation as the app is quite a public thing,” he said. “The process of just making an app is quite an important thing because you can put it on your CV and it helps you in the future.
“All of it was fun but testing the app was the best bit as we got to iron out the problems.”
The app will soon be available to download for free from the Apple app store.