Press Release - Technovation Montreal announces the creation of a brand new program - Gameable - aimed at demystifying the video game development process while developing video game design skills in young girls aged 13 and 17. An initial pilot cohort of 30 participants aged 15 to 17 will launch on February 18. Interested youth can register at the following address: https://www.technovationmontreal.com/gameable.
The six-month program (February to June) will allow the girls to discover all facets of video game creation: from ideation to the realization of a prototype, including playtesting. Accompanied by industry professionals, participants will have the opportunity to learn more about the world of video games, develop their technical skills by learning programming and using software specific to the creation of a video game, and develop interpersonal skills such as collaboration, team spirit and communication. The after-school program is offered free of charge to students in the greater Montreal area.
Anyone can create games!
There is a great deal of interest in video games among young people between the ages of 13 and 17. However, the reality of game development is still unknown to the public. There is also a low representation of diversity (women and people from diverse backgrounds) among game development students.
According to the Entertainment Software Association of Canada study, only 23 % of the video game industry in Canada is female. Yet they make up approximately 51 % of gamers.
"The Quebec Video Game Guild is very pleased to collaborate on this initiative, which will have a direct impact on representation within our industry. Encouraging young girls to pursue a career in video games is a concrete way to ensure a diverse workforce," says Béatrice Desjardins-Gagnon, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisor at the Quebec Video Game Guild.
"Exposing young girls to the passion for this profession and showing them the creative and diversified job opportunities available to them may encourage them to consider this promising career for Quebec," said Stéphanie Jecrois, co-founder and executive director of Technovation Montréal.
The idea for the Gameable program was born in 2021. Ambre Lizurey and Brian McWilliams, both volunteer mentors at Technovation Montréal, accompanied a team of Technovation participants in the creation of a video game prototype.
The project entitled Spectrumis an educational mobile adventure game that educates users about the impact of their actions on the environment.
"Gameable's goal is to demystify the reality of the video game industry and engage the next generation, with the ultimate goal of increasing the representativeness of diversity within the industry over the long term," said Ambre Lizurey, Director of Operations at Electronic Arts, and Brian McWilliams, Technical Director, at Affordance Studio, co-creators of the Gameable program.
The Gameable program is made possible by the support of government institutions and Montreal companies that invest in the entrepreneurial and technological education of youth: the Ministry of Economy and Innovation of Quebec, Electronic Arts, Affordance Studio, The NAD School, Behaviour Interactive, Ubisoft Montreal, Reflector Entertainment, LaSalle College, The Quebec Video Game Guild.
About Technovation Montreal
Technovation Montreal is a non-profit organization that aims to encourage girls to develop their entrepreneurial spirit, leadership, technical skills, and ability to generate positive social impact through technology. The organization offers interactive learning programs in which girls ages 8-18 learn to use cutting-edge technology to solve real-world problems.
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