Virtual Humanity– How the Game Development Club Is Connecting People, One Game At A Time

 The Game Development Club discussing their future projects. Photo taken by Mrs. Boettcher. 

By: Sofia S.

When the pandemic struck in 2020, 11th grade student Olivia P. found herself with little to do at home—like so many of us. This unexpected solitude sparked a newfound passion within her: she began learning to program, driven by a desire to forge virtual human connections through gaming. After the pandemic, Olivia embarked on a journey to turn this passion into reality by starting the game development club.  

The club is focused on bridging diverse fields such as the arts and sciences for a common goal: making a game.   

“I’ve always believed that game-making is a great way to express creativity,” said Olivia. “Creating games is essentially about building entire worlds, with opportunities to craft storylines and visual elements, as well as programming.”  

Most members, ironically, have no actual experience in coding. The club focuses more on finding yourself through creativity rather than on technical skills.  

“I’ve never actually made a game myself,” said 11th grade student, Miu M, “I just wanted to try something new.”      

A club member, who wished to remain anonymous, reflects, “with a student leader rather than a teacher driving the club, I feel a closeness and friendliness with Olivia that I don’t think that’s possible with a teacher.”    

When I asked them about their relationship with other members, they pondered, “We are all friends here. Olivia genuinely cares about every member and is always looking for ways to connect us.”  

Connection is a big deal in the club; it’s a great way of meeting people who share an interest in creativity and originality.   

The club aims not only to forge connections within itself, but also to reach out to the entire AISG community. After speaking with the leader of the former game development club, Olivia felt inspired to create a game that would be showcased to the entire school, spreading a positive message about mental health. 

“When I first started the club, I reached out to the previous leader, who told me they had created a game to raise awareness about mental health. I was truly inspired by their work and decided I wanted to create something similar,” said Olivia.  

Currently, the club members are brainstorming ideas for implementation, drawing inspiration from past efforts while also planning adjustments to better align with the needs and values of the AISG community and our lifestyle. “Our club is supportive, fun, and chill. Making games is fun, and it’s a chill environment because you don’t have to do a lot—you just need to be creative,” Olivia said when asked what she would say to potential new members. “Just give it a try! We don’t bite! We’re a really chill club. You can join us for a few days and see if this club is the right fit for you.”   

If this interests you, the club meets every Monday after school to engage in further discussions regarding this project. For further information, contact Olivia at 14parks@aisg.org.