Star Shooting
An arena survival shooter: pick one of eight pilots and hold out as the waves get meaner.
View project →Courses/Game Design
Game Design
Available nowCome up with an original game idea and guide AI to build it, then iterate until it's actually fun to play.
Students learn to come up with a game idea, guide AI to implement characters, levels, and mechanics, and iterate through playtesting until the game is fun. By the end, each student has a playable game they built themselves.
- Ages
- Ages 12 to 18
- Format
- 12 hours over 3 weekends, with small groups, hands-on projects, and mentor guidance.
- Location
- In person, venue chosen in South San Francisco or Stanford
Who it's for
Students who love games and want to design and build their own, using AI to implement their ideas while they stay in charge of the design and iteration.
What students learn
- ✓Come up with an original game idea and core loop
- ✓Apply real design concepts: game feel, difficulty curves, player motivation
- ✓Guide AI to implement characters, levels, and mechanics
- ✓Iterate on playtests to make the game more fun
- ✓Finish a playable game you designed and built
Course materials
Included with enrollment. Contact us for more info.
Learning journey
Where students start, and what they can do by the end. Every student moves through these at their own pace with mentor guidance.
Design the game, not just the idea
‘A game where you fight dragons’ becomes a core loop the student can describe: what the player does, what makes it hard, and what makes it worth doing again.
Get it playable
Characters, levels, and mechanics come together until there is something another person can actually pick up and play, however rough it looks.
Playtest and cut
Other people play it while the student watches. They learn to tell the difference between what they hoped would be fun and what actually is, then cut what is not working, including ideas they were attached to.
Finish it
The student ends with a playable game they designed and built, and can say why each part of it ended up the way it did.
In the classroom
Moments from live sessions: small groups, mentors, and hands-on work.
Student projects
Game concepts and prototypes students design and share.
Who teaches this course
Game Design is taught with real design practice in mind. One co-founder formally studied game design at Stanford; both bring build, playtest, and cut experience from industry.
Tuition
30% OFF, ENROLLING NOW
$840$1,200Save $360
for the full 12-hour course
DIRECT30Enter this code on the application form.
Available to the first 8 students who enroll.
ApplyParent FAQ
The questions families ask us most. If yours is not here, email us.
What will my child have made by the end?
A playable game they designed and built, that other people can actually play. Concepts and prototypes from previous students are on this page.
Is this real game design, or just making a game with AI?
Real game design. One of our co-founders formally studied game design at Stanford, and students work with the concepts a university course covers: core loops, game feel, difficulty curves, player motivation, and playtesting methodology, applied to a game they build themselves. AI helps implement it; the design thinking is the actual subject.
Does my child need coding or game development experience?
No. Students arrive with a game they want to exist. The course teaches them how to get it built and how to judge whether it is any good.
Does AI build the game, or does my child?
The student owns the design and the iteration, which is where games are actually won or lost. AI helps implement art, logic, and mechanics; deciding what the game should be and what to change after a playtest is the student’s job.
What if my child’s game turns out not to be fun?
That is the course, not a failure in it. Almost no first version is fun. Students playtest, watch real players, and iterate. Learning to cut what does not work is one of the main things they take away.
What ages is Game Design for?
Ages 12 to 18. The group is small enough that students work at their own level of ambition.
How long is the course, and when does it meet?
12 hours across three weekends. It is the longest of our courses because playtesting and iteration need time between sessions.
How much does it cost?
Tuition is $100 per instruction hour, so Game Design’s 12 hours come to $1,200. The code DIRECT30 takes 30% off for the first 8 students who enroll, bringing it to $840.
How is my child’s AI use supervised?
Closely, and by design. Students write their own design down before they are allowed to go to AI at all. Mentors watch how each student works and step in when someone starts accepting output instead of judging it. The habit we want them to leave with is: always think first.
How many students are in a class?
Capped at 10. Small groups also mean students playtest each other’s games, which is where the most useful feedback comes from.
What does my child need to bring?
A laptop. Students build on their own computer so the game and the project files go home with them.
Which AI tools will my child use?
The mainstream tools professionals use, such as ChatGPT and Claude, alongside AI tools for art and development. The specific mix changes as the tools change, because the skill we teach is directing AI, not memorising one product’s interface.
Where are classes held?
In person in the Bay Area, currently South San Francisco or Stanford. We pick the venue once the group forms so the drive works for the families who actually enrolled. With three weekends of sessions, that choice matters more here than on our shorter courses.
When does the next cohort start?
Once a group fills. This course spans three weekends, so we confirm the full run of dates with enrolled families before locking it in. Applying early also gives you more say in the schedule.
Who teaches the course?
One of our co-founders formally studied game design at Stanford, so the design concepts in this course are taught properly rather than improvised. Both co-founders also build real systems for a living: data and AI teams at Asana, Twitter, and Glassdoor, and production software at Arista Networks. Short intros are below; full bios are on the About Us page.
How do we sign up?
Through the application form on this page, entering the promotion code when you apply. Because this course runs across three weekends rather than two, check the dates work for your family before you commit.
Ready for Game Design?
Apply using this course's application form.