GMG Virtual Summer Camp Parents Guide
Welcome!
I’m thrilled to welcome you to the 7th summer of Girls Make Games!
What a year it has been. We’re all still reeling from the impact of Covid-19, and it’s impossible for us to imagine what the last few months have meant for kids missing out on daily life interactions. GMG’s entire year revolves around our summer camp program - we held out as long as we could in hopes of creating a safe space for the girls to meet in person, because no matter how hard we try, no virtual experience can replace the human touch.
Every day my team and I continue to draw inspiration from our girls. They have shown incredible resilience and courage in the face of an unthinkable challenge. They’ve been the first to assist GMG in testing our new curriculum and offering their ideas and perspectives With their help, we believe we’ve managed to create something lasting with the GMG virtual summer camps.
You wouldn’t think much of a summer camp, and I didn’t either until I ‘went’ to camp and met our girls. A few weeks of being surrounded by love, encouragement, inspiration and validation can be immensely powerful. This transformative experience goes so much farther than simply learning technical skills - when you’re confident in who you are and what you believe in, you are unstoppable.
A big Thank You for being a part of GMG’s summer and community; I hope your daughter/camper has the most amazing summer, and I can’t wait to meet her and play her game.
For so many of you joining us for the first time this year, I invite you to view a short documentary outlining GMG’s mission and founding story.
Here’s to another #GirlPower summer of game making!
Laila Shabir
Founder and CEO, Girls Make Games
//Virtual Camp Overview
Live, guided instruction. All camp participants will learn through group instruction led by a mentor (Camp Counselor) virtually.
Small groups of 5-6 participants per instructor
Each camp participant makes their own individual game to be entered to Demo Day, a chance to present their game and win prizes
Community building (i.e. make new friends!) via online games, community contests and more!
Meet industry role models: Speaker sessions and special modules led by industry experts. Learn about careers and pathways in the video games industry
AGE REQUIREMENT:
Open to teen girls (ages 13-18) based anywhere in the US
//Guide Contents
1. Camp Logistics, Dates & Hours
2. Daily Agenda
5. Demo Day & National Competition
(August, 2020. Sponsored by Nintendo of America)
//Camp Logistics, Dates & Hours
//Camp DELIVERY:
All camp instruction and interaction will be delivered via Zoom.
GMG will send out Zoom call links the week before camp.
//CAMP Dates:
July 20-31, 2020 (Mon-Fri only)
//CAMP Hours & Schedule:
10am - 2:15 pm; Additional 20 minutes 1:1 daily review.
Each camper will be assigned a time slot between 2:30-5:30pm when they meet with their counselor. See full breakdown below.
Time zones offered: EST & PST
//Daily Agenda
10:00 - 10:30am
//Morning Games and Hang out (Zoom)
10:30 - 12Pm
//Group Instruction (Zoom)
12:00 - 1Pm
//Lunch Break (independent, campers not required to be on computer)
1:00 - 1:30pm
//Industry Speaker Session (Zoom)
1:30 - 2:15pm
//Daily Games Session - Make Friends! (Zoom)
2:30 - 5:30pm
//20 minute 1:1 End of Day Check In (Zoom)
Each camper will receive a time slot assigned by GMG to meet with their counselor.
This time-slot will remain the same for the duration of camp. For eg: 5-5:20pm daily
//Two Week Overview
Our camp curriculum is designed to encourage exploration of game making tools in a safe, collaborative setting. Due to the virtual nature of camps this year, the curriculum has been adapted to prioritize community building through making as well as playing online games with friends old and new.
//Week 1
Introduces participants to fundamentals of game design and a new game engine: Construct 3.
Each camper will create an individual game project while learning in a group setting of 5-7 peers led by a Camp Counselor.
//Week 2
Campers will continue to experiment and expand their knowledge of Construct 3, create art and play test each others’ games. Campers will spend the last 1-2 days polishing their games and learn to ‘pitch’ their games to their group. Campers selected to present at Demo Day will be notified at the end of camp!
//Curriculum Topics
In a span of 2 weeks, participants cover topics from:
1. Game Design
2. FUNDAMENTALS OF Game Programming
3. Game Art –
—Creating, animating and importing art assets
4. Music and Audio Engineering –
—Creating, editing, and importing audio
5. Pitching and Presentation Skills
6. Other Highlights:
Industry Speakers,
Online Games and contests,
Enter Demo Day for a chance to win Prizes sponsored by Nintendo of America
//Virtual Demo Day & National Competition
Our favorite day of the year! This year creators of the top 10 games from around the country will present their game and vision to a panel of judges and live online audience. Demo Day winners will receive exciting prizes sponsored by Nintendo of America!
Demo Day will take places in August, 2020. Exact date TBA
2015 Demo Day held at Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California
Meet the 2019 Finalists here, and check out the winners from 2014-2017 below!
// Technical Requirements
Internet Connection
Computer mouse
Webcam and microphone
One of the Supported Browsers
Google Chrome 57+, Firefox 55+, Safari 11+, Microsoft Edge 16+
One of the Supported OS:
Windows: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 or newer
Mac: OS X / macOS 10.9 or newer
Linux: 64-bit Ubuntu 14.04+, Debian 8+, openSUSE 13.3+, or Fedora Linux 24+
Chrome OS: Any Chrome OS device updated to v57+
Please be sure to provide administrator access or we may have to call you during camp for login information!
//Prep for Camp
Can’t wait for camp? We totally get it! :D
Here are a few things you can get started on before joining us:
• Brainstorm ideas and game genres:
One of the best parts about making games is researching and brainstorming what your game is going to be about. Make sure to take notes, draw sketches and bring them in at camp!
• Review Game Engines
Take a look at the game engine we’ll be working in: Construct 3
This is not a requirement and we’ll cover pretty much everything from scratch, so no worries if you don’t get to it!
• Play BlubBlub: Quest of the Blob!
Full Game (free): https://girlsmakegames.itch.io/blubblub
Demo made @ camp (download)
The demo, built fully by the girls, gives you an idea of what you can do in just 2-3 weeks! :)
//Virtual Summer Camp FAQs
What’s the best way to reach GMG?
Email info@girlsmakegames.com, tweet us @GirlsMakeGames, or call our HQ (833) 464-7877 or (833) GMG-SUPP :)
Please note this number is only active for the duration of the camp, M-F, 10am-7pm EST, July 20-31 .
Where can we see more pictures of what camp looks like?
Our Facebook page is a treasure trove :) https://www.facebook.com/girlsmakegames/photos_stream
Can we miss a day(s)?
Generally that’s OK. Counselors may assign homework to make up for the lost time, and campers can spend their daily 1:1 catching up with their Counselor.
Who are the camp counselors/teachers/speakers?
Our staff comprises of independent game developers as well as students from some of the top Computer Science and Game Design programs in the country like USC, MIT, DigiPen, and UT Austin.
Industry Guest Speakers share their expertise and journey to inspire young game devs. Past speakers include industry veterans such as Tim Schafer (creator of Psychonauts), Kellee Santiago (Journey, Flow), Phil Spencer (President, Xbox)
How do we keep the spirit of GMG going after camp?
We’ll be sending out activity lists and ideas to keep them going after summer ends :)
What is your refund policy?
We offer 100% refund through July 6, and none thereafter.
//Contact GMG
Email: info@girlsmakegames.com or fill out the contact form on the website.
Tel: (833) GMG-SUPP [(833) 464-7877]
Please note this number is only active for the duration of the camp, 8am-6pm EST, July 8-26
Twitter: https://twitter.com/girlsmakegames
#GirlsMakeGames #GMG2020
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/girlsmakegames