Arcade Camp: Retro Game Design with GB Studio

  • Price: Starting at $449
  • Age: Ages 10-12
  • Skill Level: Beginner-Intermediate
  • Format: Virtual Tech Camps | Small-Group, Online
  • Duration: Meets daily for 2 hours Monday-Friday

About This Course

Press Start! Journey to the 90s gaming era with iD Tech and design your own retro arcade game in this online version of our camp. Start with an idea and design a world in full pixel art with characters and sprites! Then, build each level in GB Studio, a visual coding engine built for retro games. Expand your creativity as you work within the same limits that developers faced on classics like Pokémon and Super Mario Land for the Nintendo Game Boy. You’ll build an adventure or platformer game with a custom theme and story. Take your game design skills to the next level in this retro experience!

You'll learn to:

  • Develop a retro handheld arcade game in GB Studio
  • Use visual code and events to implement game mechanics
  • Design character sprites and pixel art
  • Explore game design principles and storytelling

Course Format

This course is part of a weeklong virtual summer camp running Monday through Friday. Your child will learn online with a small group of other students, in sessions led by expert instructors. Each day includes two hours of live instruction and peer collaboration plus two hours of self-paced project development. Learn more below. 

Sample Schedule

Here’s a sample of what a week in this course could look like. Keep in mind students will progress at varying paces, and this is meant to serve as an outline of key materials and the overall experience. 

Jump into game design with GB Studio! You’ll create events like scene changes and character dialogue.

Dive deeper into game development and push your creativity further as you deal with the same hardware limitations as classic Nintendo Game Boy games. Create a game design document and plan out your game’s overall design.

Use events to plan game scenes and add variables like a collectible item score or quest progression. You’ll design characters and levels to bring your game to life.

Continue to build your game and add features that fit with your game’s design, such as custom music or sprites. Playtest it along the way and enhance it as you go.

Playtest and polish your game in preparation for the iD Tech Virtual Family Showcase!

Portfolio-Boosting Transcript

At the conclusion of your child's course, they will receive an official iD Tech transcript outlining the skills they learned over the course of the week.

Elite Staff & Experienced Instructors

Passion for tech. Unmatched expertise. Personality that brings out the absolute best in your child. With 25 years of experience, we know there's no replacement for the best teacher. Each year iD instructors go on to be hired by the most prestigious tech companies in the world like Google, EA, Disney, Microsoft, and more. When your child learns from the best, they’ll unlock opportunities to become their best.

  • 100% USA-based, adult instructors

  • Recruited from top universities like Stanford, Caltech, and NYU

  • Rigorous background and reference checks

  • Robust training programs and certification

  • Adherence to American Camp Association accredited guidelines

Instructor Highlights

Chris M.

Software Engineer at Google

“My time as an iD instructor was really formative. I stayed with STEM in college as a Computer Science and Electrical Engineering major, and now I’m working at Google in Chicago. If you find yourself thinking about STEM-related things outside of school, follow that passion. Major in it. Keep pursuing it.”

Instructor Highlights

Chris M.

Software Engineer at Google

“My time as an iD instructor was really formative. I stayed with STEM in college as a Computer Science and Electrical Engineering major, and now I’m working at Google in Chicago. If you find yourself thinking about STEM-related things outside of school, follow that passion. Major in it. Keep pursuing it.”

Instructor Highlights

Aspen C.

Associate Designer at Bethesda Softworks

“The spirit of innovation and creativity I felt around my students while teaching Unity led me toward my career as a professional game designer. My time at iD Tech taught me that no dream is too big, and that brilliant ideas can come from anywhere.”

Instructor Highlights

Aspen C.

Associate Designer at Bethesda Softworks

“The spirit of innovation and creativity I felt around my students while teaching Unity led me toward my career as a professional game designer. My time at iD Tech taught me that no dream is too big, and that brilliant ideas can come from anywhere.”

Instructor Highlights

Brian M.

Software Engineer at Disney

“The opportunity to create an environment of collaboration, inclusion, and creativity was a truly special experience. The skills I honed while teaching at iD Tech led me to my software engineering roles at ESPN and the Walt Disney Company.”

Instructor Highlights

Brian M.

Software Engineer at Disney

“The opportunity to create an environment of collaboration, inclusion, and creativity was a truly special experience. The skills I honed while teaching at iD Tech led me to my software engineering roles at ESPN and the Walt Disney Company.”

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FAQ

GB Studio is a visual coding engine built for retro games. Students use visual code and events to build each level and connect game mechanics to the console's buttons, so players can interact with the game on a real handheld. They work within the same limits developers faced on classics like Pokémon and Super Mario Land for the Nintendo Game Boy. No coding experience is needed.

As video games get more and more advanced, they're beginning to look as visually sophisticated as blockbuster films. That means there is a lot going on behind the scenes! By combining a gamer's eye for design and game mechanics with GB Studio, kids can level up their STEM skills.

While we are proud to offer world-class experiences on many of the world’s most prestigious university campuses, we also recognize that many families need the flexibility of quality virtual learning! It’s with these families in mind that we’ve adapted the core elements of our flagship camps to an online format with our Virtual Tech Camps. 

Like our on-campus programs, Virtual Tech Camps feature structured small-group sessions led by expert instructors. Each week includes live teaching of our signature, cutting-edge curriculum, plus peer collaboration, social time, and independent project work. To complete the experience, our Virtual Tech Camps incorporate all the magic of summer camp including games, challenges, and legendary iD traditions!

Yes, this course is designed for beginner to advanced students. Our small class size ensures that each student receives individual attention and has the freedom to learn at their own pace.

To run this online course with iD Tech, students will need a Mac or Windows computer (no Chromebooks, unless otherwise specified), a webcam, and a stable internet connection with access to Zoom video conferencing. Additional info on course-specific installation requirements will be communicated after registration.

As courses frequently sell out, we recommend registering early to secure your child’s spot. You can make unlimited changes - with no fees - up to 14 days before the start of your session. If you need to cancel, you will receive a refund of the amount paid, less the payment plan fee (if applicable) and the deposit of $250 per week. No refunds are provided for cancellations made within 14 days of the start of your session.

Our Online Private Lessons offer 1-on-1 learning with our inspiring instructors, curriculum customized to your child’s needs, and a full range of STEM and other academic topics. It's as simple as selecting a lesson package and topic, and then choosing an instructor to schedule a 60-minute lesson at the date and time that works best for you. Learn more. 

Our Program Specialists are here to provide you with the best experience. Looking for a personalized course recommendation? Need help signing up? We’ve got you covered. Call us at 1-888-709-8324 or email hello@idtech.com.

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