The Get Started with Games Design course involves young people exploring how the structure of games work, and the process of creating different levels, characters, plots, and narratives, before setting them the challenge to create their own games.

Under guidance from our delivery partners, the young people spend a day brainstorming and identifying a game themes and ideas, and then get into teams to get to work on planning, coding and bringing their game ideas to life. 

From creating Victorian haunted house thriller games and out of this world Pangea battle games, to military training games and games that get characters to other planets, the young people’s creativity on our games design courses has been second to none.

The young people have also had the opportunity to visit the offices of Sony, one of the programme funders, to put their networking skills to the test and find out more about employment within the gaming industry. With the CV and interview advice from Prince's Trust programme executives, coupled with the STEM skills they’ve acquired, there are lots of ways young people can apply what they learn from the course in the future.

One young person, Devante, said:

I’m on Games Design picking up all sorts of skills in Photoshop, Unity, 3D engineering, and many other tech skills which will help with my future. I want to work in a design organisation to help create things, or be a software developer.

Other young people like Tony wanted the opportunity to develop creative storytelling skills.

Tony explained:

"I’ve always been into art and using my creativity to tell stories people can actually engage in through games. I am doing an online course in games design so thought this programme would be the ideal opportunity for me to try things out in more detail.

I have to say I’ve learned a lot about the software, and I’ve also learned by walking around and seeing other people’s games. If I, as the creator of the game, am able to leave an impression on the player, and give the players the change to create a magical outcome for themselves and craft their own story through the game they play, I’ve done my job.

More Get Started with Games Design programmes are being planned for the future, offering even more young people the chance to develop their employability and STEM skills through creativity, design, and gaming.