Support for building high school computer game development programs
A great way for students to learn leadership, collaboration, coding, problem solving, and cross-disciplinary creativityBuilding on patterns used since 2004 to release 500 games from 2 college clubs, remote teams, and university classes
Hi! I'm Chris DeLeon
I've been building game development learning communities for two decades. I started by founding clubs at Carnegie Mellon and Georgia Tech, then 9 years ago built a new business around supporting the format online.I love three things about helping people learn by making games:
It taps into intrinsic motivation to make something based on their interests
Anyone can see if it isn't working yet, which accelerates iteration for self-guided learning
The skills involved transfer well to other technical, creative, and long-term team projects
I'm now looking to support high schools starting similar programs.I'm available to provide training and troubleshooting so your school can build a sustainable program where students make games together.Like a shop or maker class, much of the learning happens through experience building things - hands-on, just in a digital sense. There are many great resources free online for game development skills. A standard, even low spec computer is the only hardware necessary.
Students who make games develop...
...Technical skills
Real coding - using popular programming languages (including JavaScript, C#), which can also be used to build other applications
Team software development in a shared code base raises the standard for communication
Using basic version control (git)
Working with various file formats, such as images and sound files, to gain familiarity with extensions and using the local file system
...Creative skills
Applying proper creative process
Navigating design tradeoffs
Prototyping as a way of thinking
Confidence and momentum from seeing their ideas take shape in a result they can proudly share
Portfolio-style documentation
Free exploration of interests and styles to find someone's favorite
...Soft skills
Problem solving with teammates each with a different skill focus
Long-term planning, adjusting the schedule to hit a deadline
Internal presentations in the form of regular team progress updates
Finding and using online tutorials
Entrepreneurial / small business thinking, responsibility for coming up with their own assignments
Better simulates job experience
Each game being unique makes room for peers to compare notes
Optionally: running play tests, accepting peer critique, and introductory marketing activity
The collaborative process
The main process is simple: students come up with projects, build them together on small teams over the span of a semester, and along the way provide brief updates to the rest of the group about their progress and plans.I've honed and tested the process through hundreds of team projects across several communities, to ensure more games finish on time. Finishing plays a big role in student confidence and morale.
Ways I can help
I'm flexible to provide support in a way that fits your needs and budget.My ideal approach combines a mix of initial training for teachers over zoom, being available to remotely troubleshoot questions, and working with teachers to evaluate project feasibility early on. I'm also available to guest speak via video and answer student questions about game development, observe a weekly update or the final presentations.If this activity can fit during school hours, I can show and discuss examples for how I handled grading for a version of this system that I used for a few classes at Northeastern University.I also prepared advanced video courses and related exercise ebooks, which I can provide to schools that I work with.My aim is to set up teachers to run this program locally, without needing an ongoing support agreement or license. I am, however, open to make time for future followup support if needed. I handed off my first group 17 years ago, my second one 10 year ago, both are still running well without my involvement.No/low budget, or just want to start now? My intro to game programming video course and my educational game (Safe Code Trainer) are both free.
"You might learn something playing a game. You will always learn something making a game." -Nolan Bushnell, Founder of Atari
Games shown are beyond the quality likely for high school teams. These were made in HomeTeam GameDev, a service Chris DeLeon operates. Though a similar process is used, all members are adults, some have years of practice, and this version of the system includes support from industry experts.
Different versions I've already set up
Variations of this pattern have been tested and successfully led to released games (so far, mostly for students college age or older):
As a graded class, or as an extracurricular activity
Facilitated by a teacher, or fully run by students
In-person, remotely with live zooms, online asynchronous
Publishing games publicly online, or keeping work private
Minimal cost overhead, or with dues for common benefits
Synchronously, fully asynchronously, or a mix
Using JavaScript for HTML5 Canvas, Unity C#, Godot, Unreal 5, and many other programming languages
On Chromebooks (not ideal, but a version of it is possible), or comparatively low spec Windows PCs or Macs. A high performance graphics card, gaming machine, or latest spec PC isn't necessary!
Each option has its pros and cons, depending on your school's priorities and purpose for starting a program like this.We'll discuss your context and compare it to past cases to find what can work best, or adapt the plan to suit new challenges.
Examples of games made this way
Chris DeLeon's career backstory
Chris has been making games since 1997, professionally since 2005. His roles include serving as a Technical Game Designer on console games at Electronic Arts, an indie game developer with multiple top ranking mobile games, fourth hire at a Silicon Valley startup that became PopCap San Francisco, and doing R&D as part of a small team in Will Wright's company.Chris taught programming and design at Georgia Tech as a graduate student, and 4 classes on game development for Northeastern University from 2023-2024. His main work since 2015 has been teaching game development online through HomeTeam GameDev, an updated version of the clubs he established at Carnegie Mellon and Georgia Tech.His youth teaching experience began in 2009 as the lead coding instructor for 4 sessions of Camp Galileo in Palo Alto serving middle school groups. In 2016 he became the coding instructor for Sycamore School in Malibu, teaching students between 4-12 years old. Since 2019 Chris has been giving weekly private lessons in programming for students 9-14 years old. Chris regularly volunteered in Los Angeles 2016-2020 with several local high schools on the advisory boards, industry curriculum discussions, teacher panels, as well as attending student demo showcases and final project defenses.Chris earned his BS in Computer Science from Carnegie Mellon in 2007, and MS in Digital Media from Georgia Tech in 2012. Chris was in the first Forbes Under 30 for his work in games.
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