Summer Camp Fun at Northwestern University: Fusing Creativity and Video Games with Multimedia Fusion

Multimedia Fusion Unleashes Students’ Creativity at a Video Game Camp in Illinois

Chicago, IL For centuries, kids have loved playing games, from checkers to Monopoly. In today’s society, children are inundated with computer games and video games. This is especially true for sixth grader Henry Jones. However, Henry is not only busy playing them, but he’s also passionate about creating his own animated video games. With the help of a lively imagination and Clickteam Multimedia Fusion software, Henry has created over a dozen computer video games by the young age of twelve.

Last summer, Henry took a Video Game Creation course at iD Tech Camps, Northwestern campus, a prestigious summer camp in Illinois. As a result, what initially began as a passion, soon channeled into a creative hobby as Henry unleashed his creativity for developing games. During the weeklong course at this technology and video game camp for kids, Henry created a complex, realistic video game with everything from health meters to collision detection. He designed graphics and incorporated them into his impressive game, setting behaviors for objects and characters while creating multiple levels.

“It’s exciting how the games I play are now easy to create,” said Henry. “Multimedia Fusion makes it fun and simple to use with just a click of a button.”

Of the many video games Henry has developed, his favorite is “Metamorphosis,” where the main character journeys from being a caterpillar to a cocoon and then finally to a butterfly. Of course, all this occurs while saving the world from angry robots. In addition to this intricate game, Henry has also created one with multiple levels involving a man’s adventure in Florida where he is being chased down by pirates.

“The results are phenomenal and incredibly motivating as Henry sees his imagination comes to life,” said Henry’s father, Steve Jones. “He is always pushing the envelope,” said Jones. “And these projects have permitted him to go as far as possible with his creativity.”

This newly developed passion for video game creation has inspired Henry to apply his tech knowledge in school, including inventing a game for his Chicago area science fair project. When Henry returned from computer camp and continued developing video games fervently, it was no surprise to his father that his son might pursue video game design as a possible profession.

Henry is excited to return to iD Tech Camps where he’ll be expanding his skills with the advanced 3D Game Design course. In this class, Henry will immerse himself in a 3D world, learning to create fully integrated 3D games from scratch. Using state-of-the-art software, this aspiring game designer will create complex virtual 3D landscapes, work with existing models and skins, design levels, assign character actions, as well as create lighting and shadow effects.

“It was a stimulating, fun, learning environment that motivated him to keep learning,” said Steve. “As a parent, you can’t ask for much more.”

iD Tech Camps provides summer technology programs and computer camps, including this video game camp, for beginner to advanced students, ages 7 to 17, at 50 prestigious universities in 19 states. Students like Henry create video games, digital movies, programs, websites, robots and more. For more information about this summer camp at Northwestern and other locations in Illinois, visit www.internalDrive.com/Illinois or call 1-888-709-TECH (8324).