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Ellis Abel Learns.

Game Design Summer Camp in Wheeling, WV

The Wheeling, WV-OH metro area has about 134,089 residents, ranking 308th in the country. Somewhere in it are children who would love game design summer camp and have never been offered one within driving distance.

Ages 8-14 · For families · West Virginia · South

Game Design Summer Camp — Ellis Abel Learns STEM summer camp materials used in Wheeling, WV
Game Design Summer Camp — Ellis Abel Learns STEM summer camp materials used in Wheeling, WV

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

Wheeling, WV — what applies locally

  • The Wheeling, WV-OH metro area has about 134,089 residents, ranking 308th in the country.
  • Metro area: Wheeling, WV-OH
  • State: West Virginia · Region: South

Questions we get from Wheeling, WV

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 Wheeling

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Game Design Camp elsewhere in West Virginia

Huntington, WVMetro areaCharleston, WVMetro areaMorgantown, WVMetro areaSteubenville, WVMetro areaBeckley, WVMetro areaParkersburg, WVMetro areaMartinsburg, WVCityVienna, WVCity

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