Today at the Louisiana Entertainment Summit, Microsoft’s Xbox Game Studios announced it will host a hands-on game development camp in New Orleans, beginning April 21, 2020. The Xbox Game Studios Game Camp Powered by Unity is open to aspiring game developers of all skill levels, including artists, musicians, project managers, and many other disciplines.
Microsoft created the Xbox Game Studios Game Camp Powered by Unity to inspire adults in greater New Orleans to realize their potential in the gaming industry through unique learning experiences from industry leaders. Camp details and application information may be found at xbox.com/gamecamp. The six-month event will be conducted in partnership with Louisiana Economic Development, Greater New Orleans Inc., the New Orleans Business Alliance and the New Orleans Bioinnovation Center.
Game Camp Protocol
Game Camp participants will break into teams based on aligned interests and preferred development platform, and will work together in a shared studio space to create games under the guidance of Microsoft and Unity mentors. Xbox Game Studios and program partners will facilitate workshops on various game development topics throughout the program. Game Camp will conclude with a Sept. 24 Games Expo in which participants will share their games with established industry professionals.
The Xbox Game Studios Game Camp is powered by Unity, creator of the world’s leading real-time 3D development platform. As part of Unity’s participation in Game Camp, the company will be providing access to Unity licenses for each developer to use, ongoing on-site technical support and access to Unity’s team of experts via in-person workshops.
inXile Games, part of Xbox Game Studios, launched a studio in New Orleans in 2015 and currently employs more than 40 people locally. Jeff Strain, studio head for Xbox Game Studios’ Undead Labs, also recently announced plans to personally fund and create a vocational school focused on video games in the area.
State, regional and local economic development organizations in Louisiana have fostered a business environment that supports a strong technology and gaming ecosystem. Today’s announcement highlighted the third annual Louisiana Entertainment Summit in Baton Rouge, where featured speakers and panels of industry experts discussed video game, motion pictures and music production in the state.