The Da Vinci Video Game Design Club is a hands-on program where students explore the creative and technical aspects of game development. Open to all skill levels, the club provides opportunities to learn game design, coding, digital art, 3D modeling, animation, sound design, and interactive storytelling using industry-standard software such as Unreal Engine, GameMaker Studio, GDevelop, Blender, and Adobe Creative Suite.
 

By the end of the program (in May 2026), participants will have developed a playable game or a variety of polished game assets—work that can be showcased in a portfolio, college application, or future job opportunity.
 

Overview & Ground Rules

• Respect the space and equipment

  • No food or drinks near the PCs.

• Sign-in is required at the beginning of each club meeting.

• Sharing Resources

  • Take turns using the gaming PCs for Unreal Engine and access to ChatGPT.

  • Work on the same computer each time to maintain access to your Unreal Engine files (files are stored locally).

• Log into the Game Design profile when using PCs
   

Self-Introduction

Instructor: Aaron Wedra

• Background: Da Vinci Grad, part of the inaugural class (Class of 2006).

• Professional Experience: Graphic Designer, Website Designer, Marketing Pro, Event Planner, Community Advocate, Video Game Designer.

• Notable Projects:

  • Plan and organize the annual Zombie Bike Parade Festival (7 years in a row).

  • Designed the board game Coffee Time, with the Coffee Time Adventures video game in development.

• Work & Volunteer Experience:

  • Worked at the Davis Enterprise newspaper.

  • Serve as an ambassador for the Davis Chamber of Commerce.

  • Served as board member and staff at the Davis Downtown Business Association.

  • Volunteered at over a dozen local non-profits, including the Davis Odd Fellows.

  • Prior marketing director / event planner at a national non-profit.

• More at www.smartzgraphics.com

Student Introductions

• Who are you?

• What are your interests?

• Do you have any experience in art, game design, or computer science?

• What do you hope to learn from this club?

• What software do you expect to use?
   

Club Resources

Website: dvgamedesign.com

• Showcasing Student Work: Share games and preview development projects.

• Resource Hub: Access tutorials, step-by-step guides, and learning materials.

• Video Game Assets: Software, music, sounds, 2D & 3D art, textures, and more.

Club Equipment & Software

• Available on the 8 Club PCs

  • Unreal Engine

  • ChatGPT

  • GameMaker Studio

  • GDevelop

  • Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator)

  • Blender

  • Pro Tools

• Optional to Download on Personal Laptops

Club Schedule

Location Room 9 (Equipped with gaming PCs, a smart board, microphones, and more.)

• Mondays

  • 3:30 - 5:00 PM

• Thursdays

  • 3:30 - 5:00 PM

Timeline

• Approximately 20 meetings (through May)

  • We do not meet on school holidays.
     

Class Format

• Download and set up necessary software.

• Open lab time for independent and group projects.

• Smart Board demonstrations by club leader.

• Smart Board use by students (one student at a time may share workflows, techniques, and progress on games/assets).
   

Club Activities & Projects

Projects 

• Choose a development path:

  • Create a 2D game using a GameMaker template

  • Create a 2D game in GDevelop following video tutorials

  • Build your own first-level prototype in Unreal Engine

  • Contribute to a team game in Unreal Engine

  • Create 2D and 3D assets for team games using Adobe Software or Blender

• Complete guides from the club website (Optional).

• Complete video tutorial series from the club website (Optional).

Presentations (Optional)

• Analyze and present a video game through the lens of a game designer.

• Share progress on game development or asset creation.

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Gaming Day / Game Jam in May Showcase everyone’s work, and have peers play, play test or preview final video games.