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Youth make games, not just play them
By Adam Rosenfield, Staff Writer
It’s 11:30 a.m., a time when most of 11-year-old Robby Christopher’s classmates would be waking up to start their summer day. However, he’s been hard at work since 8:30 a.m., making a video game resembling Pac-Man.
“I wanted to take this class because I’ve liked video game since I was 5,” Christopher said. “I love it so far.”
The class, called Gaming Institute and put on by Youth Tech Inc., is the first of its kind to be put on in Allen. The class is from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, and allows kids ages 10-17 to learn about the world of 2-D and 3-D games. They have the opportunity to create their own professional-style games. Nine kids signed up for the inaugural class in Allen.
This particular class at Allen Station Park is comprised of all boys; a trend, Suhr said, that is reversed when he teaches adult classes in Kansas City.
“We were contacted by the Frisco Parks and Recreation Department about the Gaming Institute by a guy who previously worked for the city,” said Shaine Power, director of the Edge at Allen Station Park Youth Center. “Video games and youth go hand-in-hand, and we thought this was a great opportunity to get kids coming to the rec center.”
The boys in the class all have different reasons for signing up.
“I’m taking this class to learn how to make classic games for my mom to put on her laptop,” said 13-year-old Dillon Davis.
Youth Tech Inc. operates in four states: Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and Texas with the goal of giving kids the experience of building games and giving them an advantage in the future field of their choice.
“We felt this was a need for the demographic of kids,” Suhr said. “It opens a new wave of programming to the kids who are overlooked for other activities.”
Power said the initial response from parents has been positive, and the Parks and Recreation department plans to bring back the Gaming Institute next year.
For Davis, the class fits his needs.
“I love this class,” Davis said. “I get grounded because I play video games too much at home.”
Christopher wants to have a future in the video game industry.
“I would like to have a job working for Nintendo, since my favorite console to play with is the Wii,” he said.
Another session of the Gaming Institute is scheduled Monday through July 26 from 8:30 a.m.-4:30p.m., in the computer room of The Edge Youth Center, 201 East St. Mary.
The cost is $400 for members and $430 for non-members. For information, call 214-509-4760.
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