DALLAS

THE GAMES FOR CHANGE CHALLENGE INVITES STUDENTS TO DESIGN AND CODE GAMES ABOUT REAL-WORLD ISSUES IMPACTING OUR COMMUNITIES.

Middle school and high school students in the North Texas area can join the competition for the chance to win prizes like meeting professional game designers, cool new gaming gear, and career opportunities in tech and civic service.

Games for Change is working with Dallas-based youth organization Big Thought to run the Challenge in North Texas. 

bigthought

HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CHALLENGE

  1. Pick one of the three themes:
    1. Climate Change
    2. Future Communities
    3. Local Stories & Immigrant Voices
  2. Research your theme, attend a Moveable Game Jam in Dallas or conduct interviews in your own neighborhood.
  3. Make a digital game that tackles your theme. Work individually or in a small team.
  4. Submit your game by April 12, 2017.

Any middle or high school student enrolled in a Dallas public school can participate! Check that you meet the eligibility requirements and review the submission guidelines. Submit your game through the submission portal on the Student Challenge website starting February 7, 2017.

CHALLENGE TIMELINE

OCTOBER 2016

PROGRAM LAUNCHES

Challenge opens in NYC, Dallas and Pittsburgh with game design courses in 22 schools and game jams across North Texas.

JANUARY 2016

GAME DESIGN BEGINS

Students encouraged to choose one of the three Challenge themes and make a game to submit to the competition.

FEBRUARY 2017

SUBMISSION PORTAL OPENS

Students can submit their games on the Challenge website until the deadline of April 12, 2017.

APRIL 2017

Evaluation & Judging

Submissions evaluated on gameplay, creativity and content. Two winners per theme and one Grand Prize winner will be selected in North Texas.

JUNE 2017

AWARDS CEREMONY & PRIZES

Prizes awarded at ceremony and exhibition in Dallas. Grand Prize winner presented onstage at the 2017 G4C Festival in NYC.

22 SCHOOLS ACROSS DALLAS RUNNING GAME DESIGN COURSES

22 teachers from North Texas were selected by Big Thought to receive training to run game design courses at their schools. Students in the courses are learning how to use Gamestar Mechanic and Scratch through the Mouse Serious Game Design curriculum. Professional game designers provide advice to students and conduct classroom visits throughout the school year.

ADDITIONAL STUDENT COURSES & PROGRAMS IN DALLAS

If you’re looking for even more opportunities to do cool projects with technology, here are a few more teen programs offered in Dallas.

CODESTREAM STUDIOS – Offers a variety of project-based coding programs through classrooms, after-school opportunities, camps and virtual learning.

PER SCHOLAS: DALLAS – Free IT job training in cities where it is needed most.

REX PROGRAMMING – Offers year-round computer programming classes to youth ages 6-18. Create games and apps, build robots and websites and more!

INTERESTED IN BECOMING A PARTNER?

Games for Change is expanding the Challenge program for 2017–2018 and seeking both national and local partnerships. For information on how to get involved, email [email protected].