Lift Off 2019: Diversity and Representation

Freelance e-sports journalist and diversity advocate, Amanda Stevens, provides an in-depth workshop on why diversity and representation is important in the media that we create. In addition, they provided some strategies on adding more representation in media, including uses of writing, music, characters, etc.

After the presentation, each participant reviewed with their mentor how their first playable went, and discussed what improvements can be made to it.

Resources:

  • None!

Lift Off 2019: You Belong in Tech

STEAM advocate, Milena Gonzalez provides a thorough presentation on why participants at the TVGS’ Lift Off Diversity Incubator belongs in tech. She lists the benefits of working in the tech industry and the positions available, but also indicated the negatives that the industry suffers from. Diversity can solve these problems, she argues, making a better world for everyone.

After the presentation, everyone split up to review their game design document and project schedule. They were tasked to make their first playable for next week.

Resources:

Lift Off 2019: Project Management

TVGS’ Lift Off Diversity Incubator continues with a presentation on Project Management for Game Development by college professor and former Studio Manager of Cinematic at Telltale, Becky Arcovitch. She provides a primer on what project management is, why it’s important, what the common practices are for game development, and provided an example of a schedule for Lift Off attendees to track their progress. Lastly, she provided resources on splitting and managing tasks, as well as encourage those interested in the practice to look for the Associate Producer role.

After the presentation, everyone split up to discuss how to write their first game design document and plan out their project over the course of the program using task management software like Trello.

Resources:

Lift Off 2019: Opening Ceremony

The second TVGS Lift Off: Diversity Incubator began with a keynote by indie game developer and TVGS Executive Director, Taro Omiya, who provided a large list of resources and common game-dev-related terms to look out for. The presentation came with a handout summarizing the presentation.

New to this year, attendees were also encouraged to share their game ideas to help the team building process. After ice breakers and a review of the program, everyone split with their own designated mentor. Each discussed what the attendee’s game ideas were, and what tools to look into to make it happen. With the handout and resources sheet in-hand, everyone will be spending the week studying what tools best fits their game.

Resources:

#include <Black History Game Jam 2019>

participateButtonMerged
mentorButtonMerged

To participate in this event, please reserve a free ticket on Eventbrite: Black History Game Jam tickets

In celebration of Black History Month, the next event in our #include series will be the Black History Game Jam, a day long “hackathon” dedicated to creating games, interactive artwork and stories inspired by African American history and culture. Come join us in recognizing and celebrating African American contributions to history and culture while creating your own game!

Everyone is welcome to take part in this public game making event, and first time creators are highly encouraged to participate. The atmosphere at #include events is fun and collaborative, and a team of experienced mentors will be on hand to help out any newcomers and provide guidance on how you can bring your game ideas to life.

The jam will take place on Sunday, February 17th starting at 10am and ending at 6pm. Participants are invited to gather at Tech Valley Game Space at 30 3rd St. The event kickoff starts at 10am on Sunday, which will feature a brief word of welcome from the organizers, an introduction to our team of volunteer mentors and a chance for you to meet the other participants.

The Black History Game Jam is open to participants of all ages, backgrounds and skill levels. Tickets are free, but spaces are limited, so please book your ticket early to avoid missing out on your chance to participate in the game jam. Please read all of the event info below before booking your place in the jam.

WHEN:

Sunday, February 17th 10am-6pm

WHERE:

Tech Valley Game Space (30 3rd St, Troy, NY)

Continue reading “#include <Black History Game Jam 2019>”

Lift Off 2018: Closing Ceremony

Reference materials:

This is it! On the final day of Lift Off, the group started with a Q & A on what comes next after the program. The panelists focused on various perspectives of game making, from Rebekah Arcovitch and Quinn Miller tackling the topic of professional studios, Dane Jennings and Taro Omiya on independent studios, and Frederika Edgington-Giordano on hobbyist angle. Topics covered includes where to learn more about game making, how to put together a creative portfolio, transitioning from one profession to another, and balancing one’s schedule while making games.

After a brief intermission filled with cake (see above), everyone presented their final project. The six projects were (note: all titles are tentative):

  • Arcana Unbounded
    A 2D platformer game that puts emphasis on challenging platforming and environmentally based storytelling.
  • Extreme Gardening
    An idle game where one buys a mysterious plant that attracts the local faeries. The game involves with building houses for the faeries and communicating with them.
  • The Masters: A Critical Role Fan Game
    A Critical Role game where you get to be the game master! An old-school JRPG about exploring an unfinished (in-universe, that is) fantasy world that is in need of your help to fill the details in.
  • Aururian Elegy
    A visual novel about discovering who is the culprit in a murder scene, then…killing them through a turn-based battle system.
  • Barrel
    An experimental 3D soundscape environment where interacting with various different elements in a rusting factory each plays an unusual audio.
  • Laundry Fiasco
    A game exploring the anxiety of waking up and dressing. One balances between collecting clean and dirty clothes while being chased by their monstrous bed.

The event concluded with a celebration where each mentor congratulated their mentee with a certificate. Well done, everyone!

Lift Off 2018: Diversity and Representation

Reference materials:

This week, E-sports journalist Amanda Stevens conducted a workshop on how to better improve diversity and representation in your own game. Using two examples, she ran through an exercise with the attendees to come up with characters whose backgrounds and characteristics defies pre-existing tropes. Finally, she described the importance of representation, and why it serves to flesh out and attract more audiences to one’s game, while subverting expectations and keeping it fresh to current ones. The day concluded with the usual informal presentations on everyone’s progress, and a handout describing what the final presentation from each attendee should look like.

Lift Off 2018: Software Quality Assurance

Reference materials:

This week, education coordinator Frederika Edgington-Giordano provided a broad overview of what a quality assurance does, and why they are important for the development process. Using her own experience, she provides how professionals approach the software, and what she hopes developers do with the feedback her team gives. As usual, each attendee gave updates on how they’ve progressed with their project after the talk. As the closing of the event is approaching, the focus will shift to polish and presentation.

Lift Off 2018: Workplace Discrimination and Abuse: Ways to Cope and Prevent

Reference materials:

This week, multi-talented Muse en Lystrala gave a very frank and honest talk for Lift Off Diversity Incubator attendees on workplace discrimination and abuse. Using examples she herself faced, she informed the audience when to recognize abuse, both online and offline, and what to do when you see one. As we split into our one-to-ones, each participant provided updates on how they’ve progressed with their initial prototype. The mentors, of course, helped solve the mentee’s specific problems, to better prepare for the play-testing events such as the monthly TVGS Interactive Showcase. At the end, each participant gave a brief demonstration of what they had.

#include <LGBTQ+ Game Jam 2018>

In celebration of LGBTQ History Month, we will be holding our second annual LGBTQ+ Game Jam, a day long “hackathon” dedicated to creating games, interactive artwork, and stories inspired by LGBTQ+ contributions to history and culture!

We will have Construct 3, Twine, and Ren’Py instruction available for beginners! We will also have analog game making materials for anyone who wants to make a board or card game!

DATE AND TIME

Sun, October 28, 2018
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM EDT

LOCATION

Tech Valley Game Space
30 3rd St
Troy, New York 12180

Everyone is welcome to take part in this public game making event, and first time creators are highly encouraged to participate. The atmosphere at #include events is fun and collaborative, and a team of experienced mentors will be on hand to help out any newcomers and provide guidance on how you can bring your game ideas to life.

The jam will take place on Sunday, October 28nd starting at 10am and ending at 6pm. Participants are invited to gather in the TVCOG ThinQubator at 10am on Sunday in order to join in the event kickoff, which will feature a brief word of welcome from the organizers, an introduction to our team of volunteer mentors and a chance for you to meet the other participants. Then we will get right to making games!

This Game Jam is open to participants of all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels. Tickets are free, but spaces are limited, so please book your ticket early to avoid missing out on your chance to participate in the game jam. Please read all of the event info and book your place in the jam.

Reserve your spot!