Top 6 Video Game Design Summer Camps
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There are a lot of kids (and adults) out there who love gaming. Some parents worry that kids are spending too much time on video games and not getting skills they can use in the real world. Other parents may have a gamer who is interested in going to the next level with their love for games. The answer to both of these scenarios is Video Game Design Summer Camps!
Video Game Design Summer Camps are a great way for parents who are afraid their kids are just mindlessly gaming to know that their kids are actually learning something. And for kids who are interested in learning more about how their favorite games work, Video Game Design Summer Camps are for them too!
What is a Video Game Design Summer Camp?
At Video Game Design Summer Camps, kids will learn how to design their own video games. This means they will do the creative and technical parts of the design themselves. Depending on the camp, there may be down time when they can play other games, or games that their peers have made, and they may also start by making their own version of a game that already exists. A Video Game Design Summer Camp differs from other gaming and coding camps in that it is focused on creating, developing and coding your own games, not on just playing games or coding in general.
What Do Campers Learn?
Different kids learn different things at Video Game Design Summer Camps, but in general, all participants will learn about:
Creativity
Logic
Sequencing
Looping
Variables
Conditionals
Platformer, RPG and physics-based game design
Depending on the camp and skill level of the campers, kids may also learn to code in new programming languages and how to make 2D, 3D and VR games.
Top 6 Video Game Design Summer Camps
Coder Kids
Coder Kids has a ton of Video Game Design Summer Camps for kids of all ages, and at affordable prices! They offer in-person and online video game design summer camps, and they have camps for kids from grades 3-12. Coder Kids offers several video game design camps in the following areas:
Scratch (they have 4 different game design camp options in Scractch!)
Roblox (they offer 2 different game design camp options in Roblox)
Unity
Levelhead
As you can see, Coder Kids provides a huge variety of Video Game Design Summer camps. They offer them at different times all through the summer, so you’ll be sure to find something for your budding game developer! The prices for half day summer camps start at $165. Coder Kids Camps provide a quality and challenging curriculm that also allows for creativity as well as time for individual instruction.
Games Words Camp offers game design camps for kids ages 8-18. Game Worlds Camp was created by game developers and they work to connect students with professional developers. Camps are week-long sessions and each week has a new theme to explore. They focus on teaching kids the technical and artistic components of video game design. There are student presentations at the end of the week and kids can receive feedback direct from the minds of behind their favorite games!
Game Worlds Camps have game design lessons, workshops and even private studio tours. They are planning in-person camps for 2021, but they have the ability to change to online camps if needed. Game Worlds Camps. Their camps are located in Austin, Texas and weekly in-person sessions cost $650. Online camps sessions are $400/week.
Digital Media Academy provides video game design camps for kids ages 9-12. They offer 1 and 2 week-long sessions in the following areas:
Roblox Game Development
Unity Game Design
VR Game Design
In these camps, kids create guided projects, independent projects and start their game developer portfolios. Their in-person camps are located at universities across the United States and they have overnight as well as day camps.
Although FunTech Camps is based in England, they also offer virtual game design camps that anyone can attend. FunTech offers game design camps in Minecraft, Roblox, 3D, Python and Indie Game Development. They have camps for kids from ages 7-16 and offer week long sessions during the summer.
FunTech camps use hands-on exercises and projects to teach your child skills and techniques used to design and build interactive games. They focus on campers gaining real experience, unleashing their creativity and incorporating real-world physics in their games.
The Video Game Design Camps at Indiana University Bloomington are week long sessions and they have in-person and online camps. They offer an Online Game Development Camp that includes tech tutorials, micro-talks led by Indiana University Game Design faculty, game playing, critiques and guest talks.
The in-person game design camps include sessions about 2D Game Design, 3D Game Design, and a GirlPowered Camp (all girls). Their in person camps focus on helping students learn the skills they need to turn their ideas into reality!
Game Camp Nation offers video game design camps for kids agesf 10-18. They offer online and in-person camps. Their prices start at $300 and they offer week long sessions as well as camps that meet once a week for 4 weeks.
Game Camp Nations offers camps that cover graphic art, game design basics, programming for game design and electives where you choose what you want to learn! The instructors pride themselves on being approachable experts who are excited to teach kids!
Conclusion
Video Game Design Summer Camps are a great way for kids who love gaming to take their skills and creativity to the next level! In these camps they learn how to actually design and create their own games! It’s a perfect opportunity for kids to improve their coding skills, unleash their creativty and start their game design journey!
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