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Ellis Abel Learns.

Game Design Summer Camp in St. Cloud, MN

The St. Cloud, MN metro area has about 205,854 residents, ranking 231st in the country. Game Design Summer Camp works the same way here as anywhere: give a child a problem too hard to guess at, then refuse to hand them the answer.

Ages 8-14 · For families · Minnesota · Midwest

Game Design Summer Camp — Ellis Abel Learns STEM summer camp materials used in St. Cloud, MN
Game Design Summer Camp — Ellis Abel Learns STEM summer camp materials used in St. Cloud, MN

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

St. Cloud, MN — what applies locally

  • The St. Cloud, MN metro area has about 205,854 residents, ranking 231st in the country.
  • Metro area: St. Cloud, MN
  • State: Minnesota · Region: Midwest

Questions we get from St. Cloud, MN

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 St. Cloud

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Game Design Camp elsewhere in Minnesota

Minneapolis, MNMetro areaDuluth, MNMetro areaRochester, MNMetro areaMankato, MNMetro areaSt. Paul, MNCityBloomington, MNCityEagan, MNCityBurnsville, MNCity

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