McMaster Game Development Association (@MacGDA1) has launched a crowdfunding campaign on FundHamOnt to raise funds to purchase workstations for use in video game development workshops aimed at children from low-income families. Check out the details below and donate to the campaign here:

fundhamont.com/index.php/campaigns/game-development-workstations-workshops-accessible-low-income-families

Who:

This initiative is being run by McMaster Game Development Association (MacGDA) in collaboration with Golden Horseshoe Green Tech (GHGT).

McMaster Game Development Association (MacGDA) began in September 2013 in response to the outgoing number of students at McMaster University & Hamilton interested in game project development. We have greatly expanded in our short time frame, hosting various workshops, lectures and have been invited to a Hive Toronto & GHGT pop-up event.

What:

Through this campaign we are currently aiming to purchase 5 workstations (priced $550 each for a total of $2750) to be used for our workshops. The workstations will be used by low-income families at the workshops and will also be openly available for use to further develop game development skills.

Why:

MacGDA is a club dedicated to teaching, encouraging and facilitating the growth of game development skills of all people. In order to ensure that all Hamiltonians have access to learning and developing these career related skills, we hope to hold workshops targeted towards low-income families in Hamilton. This campaign is part of fulfilling MacGDA’s goal to fill the gap that currently exists with the lack of resources provided to Low Income Families in Hamilton in learning Game development skills. We hope to reduce and eliminate this digital divide that exists in our community by hosting bi-weekly workshops in East Hamilton, to teach essential game development skills through the use of Unity 3D.

How:

Everything donated will go directly to purchase laptops with the following specifications:

CPU: Intel i5 or AMD equivalent

RAM: 4gb+

SCREEN: 15.6″ +

Simple Mouse for easy navigation

If you would like to donate a laptop or any accessories (mouse, monitor, headphones etc.) please contact us at MacGDA@McMaster.ca.

Where:

The Workstations will be provided to participants at our East-Hamilton bi-weekly workshops, in which they will also be able to book time slots to further develop their game development skills.

These laptotps will then be made available & stored at the GHGT office at Rothwell Resource Centre at Robert Land.