Red Girl+ Gamers Program
I created a free workshop to help young women step into game making. Leading a team to design and launch the program, I focused on building an inspiring, supportive space where participants could see themselves as creators and explore their own ideas through game design.
I was inspired by the gender gap in the gaming industry to take action and create a pathway for young women to see themselves as game makers.
With funding from Red Games, I assembled and led a talented female team to design a program that offered hands-on opportunities in design, storytelling, and development. The program not only provided a safe and inclusive environment but also proved to be highly successful and inspirational for participants, sparking confidence and creativity in ways that will carry forward into their futures. Recognizing the importance of accessibility, we made the program available to anyone for free, ensuring that aspiring creators everywhere have the chance to explore game development and contribute their voices to the industry.
Program Outline
Our workshop centered around a Tamagotchi-inspired pet game that students were able to customize and expand.
To make the experience approachable, we provided a pre-built starter project with the core functionality already in place. This allowed students to begin with a running game and focus on adding their own ideas and creativity.
We also created a “quest list” of optional prompts to guide students. These quests suggested features to add, highlighted common game mechanics, and walked students through tasks that inspired them. While completely optional, they gave students a roadmap for building and experimenting.
By the end, participants had both a playable game and a personalized creation that reflected their own ideas.
Course Materials
Written by lead Engineer and all around wonderful person, Savannah Mann created Pet playground with a small team of Engineers. It’s available to the public for free, so everyone can learn! If you’d like to make your own playground, check out the git & documentation to get started!