The Programme – GameForge Guild

Programme Overview

A structured beginner course that guides students from zero experience to building a completed, playable game of their own.

Level 1 of the GameForge Guild programme is designed for complete beginners aged 9–12. No prior coding experience is required or expected.

Students begin with the fundamentals of programming in Java — one of the world's most widely taught languages — learning how code works beneath the surface of the games they already enjoy. They then transition into Processing, a visual coding environment purpose-built for creating interactive projects, where programming logic becomes something they can see, test, and refine.

Each 90-minute session follows a clear and consistent structure: a focused mini-lecture, a guided build, a short brain break, and a Guild Quest challenge. This balance ensures students understand the concepts while actively applying them through hands-on problem solving.

Alongside technical skills, students develop problem-solving ability, persistence, and confidence in presenting their work — learning not just how to code, but how to think.

The programme concludes with a Week 6 parent showcase, where students present the games they have built — playable projects they can explain, demonstrate, and take genuine pride in.

£125

per student · full 6-week block

6 × 90-minute structured sessions
All session materials provided
Small group (max 8 students)
Week 6 parent showcase event
Level 1 Completion Certificate
DBS-checked instructor
Public Liability Insurance covered

Installment options are available at discretion for families who prefer to spread the cost. Fees remain payable in full, but structured arrangements can be discussed.

Apply for a Place

Guild Progression Path

Students move through a staged learning journey with clear identity, responsibility, and outcomes at each step.

Level 1 – Apprentices (6 weeks)

Foundations first.
Students learn core programming concepts, complete guided builds, and create their first playable projects. Apprentices focus on understanding how code controls behaviour, visuals, and interaction.

Level 2 – Builders (8 weeks)

From scripts to systems.
Builders strengthen their systems thinking, develop larger game loops, and begin planning features more independently. This level introduces real game engine workflows (Unity), covering 2D tile systems, 3D models, and basic animations — connecting core logic to professional tools.

Level 3 – Architects (10 weeks)

Designing with intent.
Architects work toward independent problem-solving, deeper code architecture, and polished game delivery. Students expand further into game engine workflows and production-ready build practices, learning how structured development turns ideas into finished experiences.

The Forge – Engineer Path

Graduates of Level 3 earn the title of Forge Engineer.

The Forge is a continuous weekly collaborative studio environment where Engineers build independently, share progress, refine ideas, and explore deeper challenges together. It is less classroom, more studio.

Forge Engineers present what they are working on, review their guild mates' creations, and experience the full joy of digital creation in a focused, advanced setting. Future studio visits in Brighton may also be explored as the Guild grows.

Week-by-Week Breakdown

Each week has a theme, a goal, and a hands-on build task.

W1 Week 1 – "What Is Code?"

Theme: Code is instructions. Games follow rules.

Goal: Build a Random Number Guessing Game in Java (console).

Students will learn:

What programming is and why it matters
Variables and basic data types (int, String, boolean)
Generating random numbers with Math.random()
Simple conditional logic (if / else)
Building a working text-based game with lives

W2 Week 2 – "How Games Repeat Themselves"

Theme: Games run in loops.

Goal: Introduce while loops and move into Processing to visualise x/y coordinates.

Students will learn:

While loops and loop logic
x/y coordinate systems on screen
First Processing sketch: drawing and moving a shape
How draw() in Processing is a built-in game loop
Making objects move with variables

W3 Week 3 – "From Animation to Game"

Theme: Turning movement into control.

Goal: Add keyboard input and introduce methods to organise code.

Students will learn:

Keyboard input with keyPressed()
Moving a player object with arrow keys
Writing and calling methods to organise code
Simple boundary detection (keeping the player on screen)

W4 Week 4 – "Adding Challenge"

Theme: A game needs something to challenge you.

Goal: Add enemies or falling objects, collision detection, and a lives system.

Students will learn:

Spawning moving objects
Collision detection (bounding box method)
Lives counter and game-over condition
Increasing difficulty over time

W5 Week 5 – "Score, Feedback & Polish"

Theme: Make it feel like a finished product.

Goal: Add scoring, game states, and polish the visual experience.

Students will learn:

Score counter and on-screen display
Game states: title screen, playing, game over
Adding sound, colour, or text feedback
Personal touches and customisation

W6 Week 6 – "Showcase Day" 🎤

Theme: Present what you've built.

Goal: Final game, presentation to parents, and Level 1 Certificate.

Final session: last tweaks and presentation practice
Parents invited to attend the showcase
Students demo their completed games and explain how they work
Each student receives a GameForge Guild Level 1 Completion Certificate

Session Structure

Every 90-minute session follows the same format to balance learning, building, and fun.

🧠

Focused Mini-Lecture (10–15 min)

A short, focused explanation of the week's concept using whiteboard examples and real-world analogies. Kept simple and visual.

💻

Guided Build (40–45 min)

The instructor builds alongside students step by step. Students follow along at their own pace. The goal is always a working result by the end.

🧩

Brain Break (5–10 min)

A quick prediction challenge or discussion question to consolidate learning and encourage creative thinking before moving on.

🚀

Guild Quest (15–20 min)

Faster students take their build further. Others reinforce what they've built. No one is left waiting and no one is left behind.

Available Groups

Two initial groups with sessions on different days to suit different families.

🌟 Founding Cohort – Free Intro Sessions Before Easter

Friday, March 20 – Intro Session 1
Wednesday, March 25 – Intro Session 2

Full 6-Week Programme Begins First Friday After Easter!

📅

Cohort A2 – Wednesday

Starting April 22 (6-Week Programme) · 4:30pm – 6:00pm. Location confirmed upon booking.

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Cohort A1 – Friday

Starting April 17 (6-Week Programme) · 4:30pm – 6:00pm. Location confirmed upon booking.

⚠️ Places Are Limited

Each group has a maximum of 8 students to ensure a high-quality, focused learning experience. Places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis upon receipt of deposit.

What Students Need

Minimal requirements. Just enthusiasm and willingness to try.

✅ Required

Laptop (preferably a personal/family device so work can continue at home)
Pen and pad (writing reinforces retention and learning)
Willingness to learn
Love of games and technology

If a student does not have access to a laptop, families may contact us and a spare device can be arranged where possible.

ℹ️ No Prior Experience Needed

The Level 1 programme is designed for complete beginners. Students who have used Scratch, Roblox Studio, or basic Python will find they pick things up faster, but no prior knowledge is assumed.

Ready to Sign Up?

Apply for a place on the next block. Places are limited to 8 students per class.

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