what type of classes/training are available for a 9 year old who is interested in video game development?

Question

I have a 9 y/o who is very interested in video games. He mentioned recently that he would like to make his own video games when he's grown. Wanting to encourage this i'm looking for ways to best get him prepaired. Please give me some advice as what is available for someone his age. I know that people who are interested in programing and or design get into this type of thing at an early age. Where and what can i do to nurture this interest.

Answer 1

Webpage design are often an easy way to get started. It can involve from a limited amount of coding to a whole lot (when he gets involved with scripts and scripting languages). The result will often be graphical, so you always see what you're doing, contrarily to other things where you only see words and numbers. Since it is graphical, he/she will also need to create some graphics for the webpage (2 birds with one stone).



If he likes animations and graphics more than coding, Macromedia Flash is fun and doesn't require an extensive amount of coding (sometimes none at all).



For writing simple programs, he/she can look into Visual Basic. That is the language that is being taught in high school and often in business courses. VB lacks a bit in power though and it is not possible to make more advanced games on it, so when he feels comfortable with it and he's really up to the challenge, C or C++. Those have really everything he will ever need for game development. My friend (he's a genious though so we can't really compare) was able to rewrite the whole original quake game by his first year in college in C++.



From what I've heard, people in the gaming industry are often overworked and underpaid, but really enjoy their career. I guess it's a tradeoff.

Answer 2

There are resources on the web that you and your child should explore for information and free downloads. First, let me say that any Internet use by a 9 y/o should probably be directly monitored by a parent or responsible adult. It would probably, IMHO, be appropriate to set up a system in the child's room with no Internet connection and use another machine to surf together. Once you've resolved this to your satisfaction, I'd recommend that you try the first URL below as it has a lot of links to compilers ( the software to translate source code into a working program ), articles, tutorials and editors that are free to download. The second URL is a site that hosts freeware development projects. It has a lot of game software and game engines for creating it. All are free and Open Source (the source code is distributed freely with the software and can be legally modified) so it can be examined to see how it works.



p.s.

IF you choose to isolate a machine that the child can use for learning about programming, I'd find an older machine. Hopefully, one with no less than Windows 98 or ME on it, and not more either. This makes learning a language easier since the reverse compatibility with DOS is better and the Windows are compatible with the newer versions to a great extent. I hope that this helps you out.

Answer 3

Let him play video games.



Let him take them apart to see how they work.



Teach him how to use HTML from the web, TONS of free sites, help sites, etc for HTML. It is the basics of all programing, etc. He can get into learning C++ programing also.



Find a local company that produces games or something similar and set up a tour so he can see what his office, work area, etc might be like when older.



Email a gaming company and see if you can't find like a "big brother" there that would be willing to email your son, talk to him in an Instant Message, etc. Someone he can talk to some to get ideas, stories of the industry, etc.



Look online and in any local school supply stores for any computer, programing or similar work books, class plans, etc. Do some "home schooling" since he is still young.



Find a college that offers gaming courses close by and pay a visit to campus, the classes, the work rooms. Let him talk to the students, etc.

Answer 4

I'm glad to know that you've identified your child's interest and would like to nurture it. :)

Your 9 year old may be interested in the Kid's Programming Language, which may be found at http://www.kidsprogramminglanguage.com/ , which is a simplified programming environment which your child may explore that will allow him to make his own games.

If you are proficient in programming yourself, you may work with your son using the LiveWires modules which may be freely downloaded from http://www.livewires.org.uk/python/ . These modules should take you from the basics all the way to making simple games, including SpaceWar, Asteroids, and Pacman.

Both resources are free, so you may evaluate both of them to see which will be a better fit for your child. Or you can let your child try them both!

I think that game development is a great activity for children, and it will expose him early to relatively more advanced math and computer concepts that will really help him later and even in his professional life. And it's a good outlet for creativity - it's good for both sides of the brain :). Good luck and I hope that this be a great start for your child in the game development industry.

Answer 5

Community colleges usually let you enroll for specific courses without pursuing a degree program. They may not have highly specialized classes, but taking a few of the creative writing classes wouldn't hurt for a game designer. You could also get him started in some programming languages, so that he gets used to them, even if he doesn't stick to the same language once he enters a field of study. Note: if you do this, he will be extremely young compared to the other people in his classes, but I can't see why he wouldn't be allowed to pursue this route if he can keep up.



Can't hurt to give him a PS1 or PS2 and some of the RPG maker games too.

Answer 6

People Don't like academic items, specifically if they're a preteen, The nine yr historic would like some thing alongside the traces of, a online game ( If you have been 9 do you fairly desire a academic present, you may have the entire leisure of the yr to get that) And Avoid shopping 12 yr historic a toy... supply him coins so he should purchase books or a online game or some thing HE WANTS and now not simply you desire for him ( Doesn't topic how well he's in university, he nonetheless desires to have amusing)

Answer 7

I would start off with a basic PC class, move into various levels of programming (computer language, graphics or animation) and such.... I work in the software industry and have had a computer in my home every moment since the my Texas Instruments TI-994A with cassette tape drive. I used to spend some of my free time making simple graphics and programs to share with classmates. Oh, schools often can have computer clubs and local Parks and Recreation districts can offer classes on computers. Basic programming and an understanding of computer graphics creation and computer animation are all good elements.