From Players to Creators

Exploring Game Development at Kilvington

At Kilvington, learning extends beyond traditional subjects to reflect the skills, interests and future opportunities shaping our world. One example of this is the growing interest in Game Development, which students can now explore through both a new Year 9 elective and our Game Development Club, open to students in Years 7–12.

New Year 9 Game Development elective

Launched this year, the Year 9 Game Development elective introduces students to how games are created, moving them from simply playing games to designing and building their own. The subject channels a familiar interest for many young people into creativity, technical skill and critical thinking.

Students learn the foundations of coding, digital design and problem-solving while developing their own game concepts. Through the design process they prototype ideas, respond to feedback and refine their work, gaining insight into the iterative process that underpins real-world game design.

Australia’s game development industry is vibrant and growing, with internationally recognised titles such as Hollow Knight (developed in Adelaide by Team Cherry) and Untitled Goose Game (created by Melbourne-based studio House House) demonstrating that successful games are being created right here at home.

Skills in coding, design and interactive media are increasingly in demand across many industries, making this an exciting and highly relevant area of learning for students.

Learning beyond the classroom

As part of the elective’s opening unit on game narratives, the class recently visited the Game Worlds exhibition at ACMI in Melbourne. The exhibition provided an opportunity for students to explore the creative and technical processes behind well-known games while gathering inspiration for their own projects.

Year 9 student Hannah Chalmers particularly enjoyed the freedom to explore the exhibition and discover how some of her favourite games were developed.

“We were given two hours to explore at our own pace, with questions to help us find inspiration for our upcoming 2D platformer project,” she said.

“I loved learning about what goes into making some of my favourite games, seeing flowcharts from the planning stages of Hollow Knight: Silksong, and playing a preview of Guardian Maia, which is based on Māori culture.”

The exhibition also allowed students to explore how games have evolved over time.

“It was really interesting to see games from different eras and genres, starting with Zork, which was a pioneering text-based game from 1977,” Hannah said. “I’m really excited for Game Development this year, especially since it’s the first time it’s been run.”

For Viraj Martyn, the visit highlighted the incredible variety within the gaming world.

“We were immediately surrounded by an enormous variety of games from many genres, eras and styles,” he said.“There were story-driven adventures, indie games and pixel-style games that showed how gaming has changed over time.”

The interactive nature of the exhibition made the experience even more engaging.

“The game Celeste was especially popular, and many of us tried the speedrun version. Everyone kept trying to beat each other’s score, which made it even more fun,” Viraj said.

The experience also reinforced the excitement students feel about creating their own games.

“We get to design and create our own games this semester, which should be exciting for us ‘game developers’. It was a fantastic way to learn about everything that happens behind the screen while still getting to play.”

Game Development Club

Students interested in Game Development can also explore the field through the Game Development Club, which runs on Monday afternoons during Senior School lunch and is open to students in Years 7–12.

The club provides an opportunity for students to experiment with ideas, collaborate with peers and build skills in coding, design and storytelling.

Together, the new elective and the club reflect Kilvington’s commitment to providing students with both strong academic foundations and opportunities to explore emerging fields, helping them develop skills that will be valuable in a rapidly evolving digital world.