Workshops
Here are the descriptions and dates of the FREE workshops that we are offering from January 9-13. They are a great way to prepare for the GameJam but you can also go to these workshops without participating in the GameJam. It's up to you!
Pixel Art
Monday (Jan 9) 6-7pm
We’ll use the free tool at pixelart to learn to draw a full game character. We’ll also master the 12 basic principles of animation for shading and 2D drawing in this workshop.
Breaking into the Video Game Industry
Tuesday (Jan 10) 6-7pm
How can you get an internship or a even a job in the video game industry? There are a lot of different paths including doing Quality Assurance (QA) as well as doing post-secondary studies in video game creation. In this workshop, you'll get to ask your questions to video game employees to understand the different opportunities available to you and how to prepare for them.
Brainstorm a Game Idea
Tuesday (Jan 10) 7-8pm
In this workshop, we will learn different brainstorming techniques to help you find and refine a game idea that you can build one day - card games, video games and board games. This workshop is very useful if you participate in the Game Jam, but you can also come to talk about cool game ideas.
Sound Effects and Game Music
Wednesday (Jan 11) 6-7pm
You'll learn how to create an entire sound universe for your game with the free Beepbox software including both sound effects and music.
Narrative Design
Wednesday (Jan 11) 7-8pm
John Rumsby from Manavoid Entertainment will tell you about writing for video games including how he uses the free software of Twine to put together choose-your-own-adventure stories.
Design Blitz Tournament
Thursday (Jan 12) 2-4pm ***IN-PERSON***
This workshop will be the ONLY one that is IN-PERSON, taking place at the Edu2 school in Montreal (5800 St Laurent Blvd). In this design tournament game, you will be divided into three teams to do brainstorming activities of 15 minutes each such as designing a logo for a card game, drawing a storyboard for a video game or creating a landing page for a table. It's very interactive and very fun. There will be snacks and prizes to be won.
UX/UI for Game Interfaces
Thursday (Jan 12) 6-7pm
Do you want to learn about user-experience (UX) all while designing a game prototype with Adobe XD, a clickable mockup software? If so, this workshop is for you!
Program a Game in Less than 1 Hour
Thursday (Jan 12) 7-8pm
In 60 minutes, you'll learn how to program an entire 2D platform game in Construct 3 with visual programming. At the end, your game will have a character you can move, an entire point system, levels, a boss challenge and a collecting mechanic.
Advice for Successfully Participating in a GameJam
Friday (Jan 13) 6-630pm
Participating in a gamejam is more than just making a game. You need to sleep well and eat well too! Mentors with lots of gamejam experience will give you their "best-of” list for surviving and thriving in a gamejam experience.
Unity Basics in 3
Hours
Friday (Jan 13) 630-930pm
In this introduction to Unity, you will create a game prototype while learning the basics of Unity like particle effects, adding sound, artificial intelligence, 2D/3D animation, physics simulations, and much more. Yes, it's 3 hours but you'll learn a ton! Most useful to students with some experience in programming.