XP Explainer: Understanding Experience Points

You might notice that each task you do lists a number of XP (Experience Points). XP shows your progress as a game maker and helps you see how your skills grow over time. Every task you complete adds to your XP, building a picture of your skills, effort, and creativity.

Why XP Matters

XP tracks the time and effort you put into each task and connects everything you do - playing, creating, sharing, and reflecting - into a bigger picture of your growth. It helps you see how your skills are developing and prepares you for recognition as you reach higher levels.

How XP Works

Each task gives you a set amount of XP when you complete it. Tasks are linked to one or more subdomains and skills. XP can be verified through a checklist, peer review, an automated system, or mentor confirmation. This ensures that the XP you earn reflects real learning and progress.

Note

We are developing the technical system for tracking XP earned and achievements unlocked. Tasks you complete before this is ready will be counted. Stay tuned!

From XP to Recognition

As you earn XP, you can unlock higher levels of recognition:

Skill Achievements: Show that you've built verified skills in a specific area through practice and effort.

Microcredentials: Combine multiple skill achievements and formally recognize your learning. They can be shared with educators, peers, and even employers.

Explore

Explore experiences are your entry point into game making. They are short, focused, and a great place to start - and you can take them in any order. In Explore: Godot, you learn the fundamentals of the Godot game engine by playing games critically, modifying existing projects, and building your first playable artifact inspired by the Threadbare world. In Explore: fAIrytales, you use AI tools as a creative collaborator to design and build an original mini game, learning to prompt, iterate, and make your own creative decisions alongside AI. Each Explore experience gives you the chance to earn an industry-recognized microcredential from Arizona State University (ASU): Intro to Game Making with Godot, or Intro to Game Making with AI.

Core: Threadbare

In Core: Threadbare, you earn XP across all the subdomains. This is your chance to explore different areas of game design, discover what excites you most, and try out new skills. You build XP throughout the program, and successful completion means you have earned at least 2000 XP. These points are counted when your final StoryQuest is submitted to our maintainers. Completing Core: Threadbare also gives you the opportunity to earn an industry-recognized microcredential from Arizona State University (ASU) in Community Game Making, showcasing your achievement across multiple domains.

More: Threadbare

After the Core: Threadbare experience, More: Threadbare lets you continue earning XP and developing your skills. You can dive deeper into areas you enjoy, take on new challenges, and level up your abilities as a game maker. Learners can also earn additional domain-specific microcredentials from ASU in areas like Art, Game Design, Engineering, Go to Market, and Management & Production.

Lore

In a Lore Jam, you team up with other learners for an intensive, time-bound challenge to design, build, and submit an original LoreQuest - a playable narrative experience that expands the canon of Threadbare. You earn XP for your collaborative work across the jam, and completing one gives you the opportunity to earn the Applied Game Making: Concept to Canon microcredential from ASU. The best part: winning LoreQuests can become an official part of the Threadbare world.

Putting It All Together

Every task you complete builds your skills and adds to your story as a game maker. XP tracks your journey and helps you move toward skill achievements and microcredentials, showing the world how much you've grown and what you can create!