CHARGER GAME DESIGN ACADEMY
CHARGER GAME DESIGN ACADEMY
The CHARGER GAME DESIGN ACADEMY is a multi-year creative pathway where imagination turns into playable worlds. Students don't just learn about games, they make them. From day one, you explore every stage of game development: brainstorming ideas, writing game stories, designing characters and worlds, creating digital art, coding gameplay systems, testing builds, and publishing finished games.
Each class in the academy is a step toward Studio 332, our advanced student game studio. Along the way, you build real skill using the same tools and workflows used by professional developers. You'll work in Unity, create art and assets, collaborate in teams, solve problems, and learn how ideas evolve from rough sketches into polished experiences. Every project adds to your growing portfolio of playable games, showing what you can create.
Studio 332 is where everything comes together. This is not a typical class; it's a student-run game studio. Members of studio 332 operate like real developers, planning projects, assigning roles, using production pipelines, running playtests, and releasing games to the public. Artists, programmers, designers, writers, and producers all have a place, and every role matters. Studio 332 represents mastery, leadership, and creative confidence.
Whether you dream of becoming a game developers, digital artist, programmer, storyteller, or simply want to create something unforgettable, the Charger Game Design Academy gives you the path to get there. If you ever wanted to make games instead of just playing them, this is where your journey leads and studio 332 is where it takes off!
Game Development Principles / Introduction to Computer Science: If you've ever dreamed of making your own video game, this class is the perfect place to start! In the fall, you'll dive into the world of game design - exploring game history, story writing, and design principles while experimenting with real game creation tools. You'll learn how games are built, what makes them fun, and even create and critque your own game ideas. In the spring, you'll take those creative skills to the next level by learning how computers actually work and how code brings your ideas to life. You'll explore programming, problem-solving, and how technology shapes the world around us - all while preparing for Introdcution to Programming. By the end of the year, you'll have designed, coded, and built your own interactive projects that blend imagination, creativity, and computer science. *Prerequisite - NONE
Introduction to Programming: Get ready to bring your game ideas to life! In this course you'll learn how to code using the C# programming language inside the Unity game engine - the same tools used by professional game developers. You'll create scripts that control characters, build interactive systems, and add logic that makes your projects come alive. Along the way, you'll master core programming concepts like variables, loops, conditions, and functions, while learning how to debug and problem-solve like a real developer. Each student is issued a district-owned laptop (NOT a Chromebook) to take home, allowing you to extend your learning and explore Unity beyond the classroom. You'll also have the opportunity to earn industry recognition by taking the Unity Certifiede User: Programmer exam. By the end of the course, you'll have built your own playable Unity projects and gained the coding skills to advance to Advanced Game Development & Publishing and join Studio 332! *Prerequisite - Game Design & Development Principles / Introduction to Computer Science
Advanced Game Development & Publishing: Step into the studio and make your own professional-quality games! In this year-long, double-period course, you'll join Studio 332 - a classroom development team where you'll use the Unity game engine and the SCRUM workflow used to REAL studios to design, code, and publish your own games. In the fall, you'll collaborate with a small team to build and release a complete game. In the spring, you'll work solo to turn your Game Design Document from the first course into a fully playable project that showcases your creaticity and technical skill. You'll handle everything from coding and animation to testing and publishing. your final game on the Charger Arcade for the world to play. With more than 150 hours of hands-on programming and development, you'll graduate this course with real experience, a public portfolio, and a strong foundation for careers or college programs in game design and software development. *Prerequisite - Game Design & Development Principles / Introduction to Computer Science AND Introduction to Programming.