Where/when is the Academy?

The Academy for Game Development will be held virtually, wherever in the world you are!  Students will spend daytime hours working on projects and will have access to academy advisors who can answer questions and help them with their projects throughout the week.  The academy will be Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. - noon and 1:30 - 4 p.m. (CST).  There will be an optional time from 7-8 p.m. for the students to work with the counselors on their projects.

Who Can Attend?  Do I Need Prior Experience?

The academy is open to students going into 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grades. No experience necessary! This is your chance to learn about what programming and computer science looks like in game development, as well as how to be an artist, designer, and collaborative team member.

What will we be doing?

Have you ever wondered how games are made? In this camp, participants will explore the world of game development, gaining experience in programming, art, and design. Participants will explore computer science, creativity, and teamwork while building out a web-based game of their own over the course of the week. This academy is suitable for students with all experience levels, from those who have never programmed before to those who already have some experience!

Attendees can look forward to:

• Learning about the game development process, including programming, art, and game design
• Developing web-based games in the Phaser framework
• Learning to program in JavaScript
• Learning about additional development tools, such as package managers and running local web servers
• Working on teams to bring their games to life

Topics include:

• Introduction to web development and web development tools
• Turning game ideas into actual development
• Building game code
• Working toward a game design
• Creating look and feel through art
• Learning to communicate and work as a team

Attendees will need a computer, a webcam+microphone, and Internet access. We will release instructions for downloading and running the required software (npm, http-server, Phaser) prior to the academy, so that students can test the software and debug any issues prior to the academy.
 

Staff

Dr. Sarah Abraham, assistant Professor of Instruction in the Department of Computer Science, will be teaching students how to create games, using interdisciplinary skills from computer science, art, and design.

Academy Directors Tiffany Buckley and Mary Esther Middleton have worked for the Department of Computer Science for 15+ years on summer academies, admissions, enrollment, student organizations and diversity initiatives.

Eligibility Requirements:

You must be a high school student entering your freshman, sophomore, junior or senior year in Fall 2021.

Cost of the Academy

Tuition for the academy is $799.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

Prior to May 15 - Full refund minus a $50 deposit per session canceled.

May 16 - May 31 - You will receive 75% of your registration fee.

June 1 - June 15 - You will receive 50% of your registration fee.

After June 16 - No refunds will be given.

Scholarship

If you have financial need and would like to apply for a scholarship, please fill out this Scholarship Application by May 1. We will let you know if you are chosen by June 1.