program · ages 9 to 17
Game Design
Kids stop playing other people's games and start making their own: levels, rules, art and the code that runs it.
from $179 a month
About this class
Game design is a sneaky way to learn a lot at once: code, math, art, writing and testing with real players. The rule in our labs is simple: you only play what you or a classmate made.
Each level ends with a playtest day. Students watch someone else play their game, take notes on what confused the player, and fix it. It is the closest thing to real product design a 12-year-old can do.
What we use
- Scratch
- Roblox Studio (Lua scripting)
- Godot (GDScript)
- Free pixel-art and sound tools
What your child will make
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01
A Scratch platformer
Gravity, jumping and collectibles, all coded by hand.
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02
A Roblox obby
An obstacle course with scripted moving parts, checkpoints and a timer.
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03
A Godot 2D game
Teens build a short game with menus, sound and three levels.
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04
A playtest report
Notes from real players and the changes your child made because of them.
3 levels
The levels, in order
Each level is about one term and ends with a project. Kids move up when the project shows they're ready, not on a birthday. Ages are a guide.
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G1
Arcade in Scratch
Ages 9 to 11Learns: Game loops, gravity, collisions and scoring in Scratch.
Project: A platformer with three levels
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G2
Roblox Studio
Ages 11 to 14Learns: 3D building, Lua scripts, events and playtesting.
Project: An obby with scripted traps and a timer
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G3
Godot Studio
Ages 14 to 17Learns: Scenes, nodes, GDScript, menus and sound.
Project: A finished 2D game with three levels
A class, minute by minute
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Design talk 10 min
One game idea on the board: what makes a jump feel good, why a level is too hard.
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Mini lesson 15 min
One new piece of code or tool, shown step by step.
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Build 50 min
Students add it to their own game. The instructor circles the room.
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Playtest 15 min
A classmate plays for two minutes and leaves one note.
Total: 1 h 30 min.
We provide
- A laptop for every student
- Student accounts with chat and friend requests turned off
- Free art and sound packs
- A private link to the finished game
Your child brings
- Headphones if they have them
- A water bottle
- Ideas for a game they wish existed
Class times this term
Winter term runs Mon, Jan 11 to Sat, Apr 3, 2027. Trial classes run in these same slots.
| Day | Time | Level | Ages | Room | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 5:45 to 7:15 p.m. | G2Roblox Studio | 11 to 14 | Lab A | Seats open |
| Wednesday | 4:15 to 5:30 p.m. | G1Arcade in Scratch | 9 to 11 | Lab A | Seats open |
| Thursday | 5:45 to 7:15 p.m. | G3Godot Studio | 14 to 17 | Lab A | Seats open |
| Saturday | 12:45 to 2:15 p.m. | G2Roblox Studio | 11 to 14 | Lab A | Waitlist |
Game Design questions
Is Roblox safe for my child at the academy?
Students use Roblox Studio, the building tool, on accounts we set up with chat and friend requests turned off. They test games in private servers with classmates only.
Will my child just play games all class?
No. Playing is limited to testing your own or a classmate's game, a few minutes at a time. The rest is building and coding.
Do you teach Unity or Unreal?
Not in weekly classes. Godot is free, light enough for school laptops and easier for a first real engine. Teens who finish Godot Studio can talk to us about next steps.
Other programs
- Coding Classes Ages 8 to 17
- Robotics Ages 5 to 14
- Minecraft & Scratch Ages 5 to 10
- STEM Camps Ages 5 to 14
- Competition Teams Ages 9 to 17
when trial class booked
Try a game design class first.
The trial is a full class with kids at your child's level. No card, no contract. Stay for the last 10 minutes and see what they built.
Rather talk first? Call (905) 555-0163. Lina answers weekdays from 10 a.m.