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Ellis Abel Learns.

Game Design Summer Camp in Beloit, WI

Parents in Beloit, WI book summer in February and regret it in July. Beloit is one of the cities the Janesville–Beloit, WI metro area is officially named after. What separates a week worth repeating is whether the child was ever genuinely stuck and then unstuck.

Ages 8-14 · For families · Wisconsin · Midwest

Game Design Summer Camp — Ellis Abel Learns STEM summer camp materials used in Beloit, WI
Game Design Summer Camp — Ellis Abel Learns STEM summer camp materials used in Beloit, WI

What the week actually is

Game design is systems thinking with the boring name removed. Balance, incentive, feedback loops, difficulty curves — a child who can explain why their level is too easy is doing analysis, and they will do it for six hours without being asked.

Day by day

  1. Paper prototype, no computer
  2. Playtest and take the criticism
  3. Balance passes on the numbers
  4. Build the digital version
  5. Showcase: strangers play it in front of you

Beloit, WI — what applies locally

  • Beloit is one of the cities the Janesville–Beloit, WI metro area is officially named after.
  • Metro area: Janesville–Beloit, WI
  • State: Wisconsin · Region: Midwest

Questions we get from Beloit, WI

Do they build a real game?
Yes, playable by the end of the week, and playtested by the other campers who are ruthless.
What tools?
Beginner engines and paper prototyping first. Paper catches bad design faster than code does.
Is this just playing games all week?
No. Playing is the testing step, and they have to write down what they changed and why.

Other camp themes in Beloit

Game Design Camp elsewhere in Wisconsin

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