game programming school for teens

I'd recommend just learning programming in general and getting a solid base there before trying to do anything specific like game programming (which...probably isn't that much different than other kinds of programming).

To be fair, I have little to no experience with programming games, but that's always the impression I got. Game companies want people with strong CS backgrounds, strong programming fundamentals, etc. If that is already there, maybe just play around with Unity or some free game tools. Join a team making mods to existing games to get an idea of how game development works. Etc.

I'm sure there are some game programming/design schools, but I got the impression most of them were a ripoff (little value in what they offer, and they likely have a huge asking price). A few exceptions, but they tend to be more for college students (one is really good IIRC, but the name escapes me...DigiPen maybe?).

 

^ I'd typically agree with that statement, but for teens, it helps to have a course that is fun, too. When kids can see fun results from their "coding" fairly quickly, they might take more interest. Then you direct them to the real courses.

I'm sure there is some Flash coding sites where you can do a minor amount of ActionScript and see some fun animation occur.

Ideally, it would be some type of desktop gaming course, though.

 

In before DD teaches us all a lesson on how much he has "learned about teens in his companies."

 

Check out coursera.org there is a beginner programming course focused on games using C# and the XNA framework.

Also try edx.org; Harvard's comp sci course is there. It is great for beginners, but does not have a game focus. It is their actual course with their actual lectures as well.

Lastly Udacity.org is great as well and is provided by people already in the industry. There are a few programming courses and a HTML5 game programming course. It is for advanced users however (the HTML5 course specifically, there are a ton of beginner offerings).

 

True, though I guess I was assuming that intro programming courses would also be fun (and maybe use games as a way of showing what you can do). Some of the first programming I did in college was manipulating colors in images, and creating "programmer art" as I like to call it (which was pretty cool and easy to do).

Something like Khan Academy's CS courses is what I had in mean for intro programming (and not necessarily game specific programming):
https://www.khanacademy.org/cs
Some quick and easy ways to see how "cool" programming can be.

edit: seclusion's post has more examples of what I had in mind. Definitely recommend those (and that kind of thing). They're all free too, IIRC.

 

I also have a 14 year old that is just now starting this pathway - our school offers some coding classes, and in Jr High he actually had a game development class in 8th grade.

There are plenty of summer camps too for this stuff - so much has changed over the years.

BTW- we hit $21m today in crowd funding - just an incredible experience so far and we have a livestream event this Thursday night on our 1 year anniversary of the announcement.

DD

 

^ I missed it the first time. Where r you crowd funding?

 

You can click on the link in his signature to find out.

 

if your looking for a college, there is DigiPen in Seattle.

As for learning how to code, http://www.codecademy.com/
Start there so you know some basics and etc.

 

I don't think codeacademy is very good for a beginner programmer. The gamification is fun, but you won't retain any of that information once you're done. Plus it doesn't really explain "why" something is done -- only how. Don't get me wrong, it's a good supplemental resource, but I wouldn't use it as the main thing you learn off of.

 

I truly believe that a good structured class in a classroom setting is VITAL for beginning anything, in most cases.

From then on its all how much you put into it, but that first stepping stone needs to be a formal class.