3D Game Design with Team Fortress 2
Game Modding with Team Fortress 2 for Teens
Course Description
Bring your level design skills to the next level at Vision Tech Camps using Team Fortress 2, a multiplayer video game published by Valve Corporation. Using the Source 2 engine and the Hammer Editor, design environments and create custom gameplay for your own maps for Team Fortress 2. Balance your maps for competitive multiplayer by choosing spawn locations, game objectives, health pickups, chokepoints and share your levels with others!
Use the incredible Source 2 engine, the engine that has made games as popular and diverse as Team Fortress, DOTA, Half-Life, and Portal! Whether it is creating fantastic landscapes, slick buildings, or futuristic textures, you’ll be astounded by the graphical variety you can create with Team Fortress 2. Using the Hammer Editor, you will learn to design maps for multiple game modes including Capture the Flag, Payload, and Control Point.
At the end of camp, you will take home your levels and a Steam Account with access to Team Fortress 2.
Information
Use the Source 2 Engine
Use the incredible Source 2 engine, the engine that has made games as popular and diverse as Team Fortress, DOTA, Half-Life, and Portal!
Build Inspiring Levels
Whether its creating fantastic landscapes, slick buildings, or futuristic textures, you’ll be astounded by the graphical variety you can create in Team Fortress 2!
Utilize the Hammer Editor
Learn how to use the Hammer Editor, one of the most advanced level-creation tools on the market!
Game Design Skills Learned
Campers learn to:
- Using the Source 2 gaming engine
- Understand Team Fortress 2 mechanics
- Introduction to 3D viewports
- Game Design & Level design principles
- Creating instances and prefabs
- Using materials
- Level Design using the Hammer Editor
Prior Game Design Understanding
This camp requires no previous experience in game design. Students should have an understanding of algebra. Students do not need to have played the game of Team Fortress 2 before, but students preparing for camp may wish to install Team Fortress and play it before the camp.
Equipment and Software Used
In this camp, each camper will have access to a custom-built, high-end computer and a large monitor. Students will be using a variety of tools to help them learn to program, including Team Fortress 2 and the Hammer Editor. At the end of the week, students will need to use Team Fortress 2 at home to play and edit their games at home.
Sample Day
Each day at Vision Tech Camps is carefully planned to ensure a personalized learning experience and to ensure that each student meets their individual goals. Our flexible schedule provides time for group instruction, one on one attention, project completion, and teamwork exercises.
7:30 am: Extended Care Check In
Early check-in for campers who have chosen the AM Extended Care Option – students can choose from a variety of pre-camp activities.
8:30 am – 9:00 am: Rolling Drop off
Check-in and pre-camp activities, including introductions & hardware & computer distribution
9:00 am – 9:15 am: Welcome and review of daily schedule
Students connect with instructors, ask questions, and instructors go over the course outline
9:15 am – 10:30 am: Core Tech Modules
This hour is reserved for work on course skills and may include small group learning, individual learning, or class-wide instruction depending on the particular tech modules being taught
10:30 am – 11:00 am: Break
Students can spend their free time having snacks, drinks, continue working independently, play, reading, or relax on the sofa
11:00 am – 12:00 pm: Core Tech Modules
This hour is reserved for work on course skills and may include small group learning, individual learning, or class-wide instruction depending on the particular tech modules being taught
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm: Lunch Break
Kids & teens who have ordered our Meal Plan will be provided their hot lunch. Other students may bring their own bag lunch and eat outside under the supervision of camp staff. Students may utilize nearby parks to play and experience the outdoors.
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm: Core Tech Modules
This period is reserved for work on course skills and may include small group learning, individual learning, or class-wide instruction depending on the particular tech modules being taught
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm: Break
Students can spend their free time having snacks, drinks, continue working independently, play, reading, or relax on the sofa
3:30 pm – 5:00 am: Core Tech Modules & Wrap Up
This period is reserved for work on course skills and may include small group learning, individual learning, or class-wide instruction depending on the particular tech modules being taught. Kids & teens wrap up the day’s projects.
5:00 pm – 5:15pm : Pick up Time
Parents pick up kids & teens who are not enrolled in extended care.
5:15pm – 6:15pm: Extended Care Pick Up Time
Students in extended care are picked up
Vision Tech Camps Instruction
Real Instruction. Quality STEM Summer Tech Projects
We believe that learning technology should be part of kids & teens summer camp experiences. Summer tech camps offer kids a relaxed and fun way to explore their tech interests and gain an edge for college or university. At Vision Tech Camps, we pride ourselves on building STEM curriculum with concrete learning goals, where teachers initially lead students through lessons with a projector, followed by students doing their own projects on their computers. This way, kids & teens learn the basics and go on to explore their interests, resulting in tech projects that students are proud to call their own at the end of the course.
Beginner through Advanced Students
Our STEM summer camps are designed to accommodate a wide skill range, challenging the most advanced students, while encouraging beginners to take that first step into the field. We achieve that through hiring instructors who are tech savvy, and a technology curriculum that is adjustable for all skill levels. In addition, our low student-to-instructor ratio, which is kept at 8:1 instructor to student ratio – *not* a staff ratio, allows plenty of personalized one-on-one attention during the summer course.
Comfortable & Private Facilities
Since we own our two tech camp facilities at Danville & Saratoga, students feel comfortable and at ease at our facilities. As these are our permanent summer camp locations, we are able to minimize technical difficulties ahead of time and provide the most advanced tech hardware, custom-built computers, and professional grade software to our campers for a more enjoyable summer tech camp.
The Best Computer Camp Instructors
Vision Tech only hires the most passionate and caring instructors who are also experienced in the individual course material they are hired to teach. We train each instructor personally and instill them with Vision Tech teaching practices and values, ensuring that all students have fun in our summer camps, learn skills, and most importantly are inspired to continue their journey long after they have left our summer tech camps.
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