A new week. A new chance to pursue your dreams… especially if they’re in the gaming industry. This is especially true right now for aspiring game makers in Africa because Xbox Game Studios Game Camp is coming to the continent, with a special online and in-person conference (in Cairo, Lagos, Nairobi, and Johannesburg) scheduled for the weekend of 15 – 16 July.
What is Xbox Game Studios Game Camp? Tapping into the idea that talent is global, the initiative looks to jump start individual and industry potential, especially in “non traditional” territories where communities, and marginalised creators, exist… but may need some extra enabling support. The events connect local game makers with industry leaders who share their learning experiences through a mix of pre-recorded (as well as live) chats, panels, workshops and presentations. You can see which figures will be participating in the African Camp by scrolling to the bottom of this page.
Game Camp was started in 2014 in Sweden, before evolving into a global programme in 2020. Fast forward a few years and over 900 campers have participated in gatherings, leading to startups and industry hires worldwide. Some other recent programmes took place in the likes of South Korea, and New Orleans and Atlanta in the US.
Closer to home, Xbox Game Studios Game Camp Africa is an Africa-wide event hosted by Xbox Game Studios in collaboration with Microsoft Africa Transformation Office. While the camp is virtual on the whole, registered campers can attend physical viewing and networking events at Microsoft Campuses in Cairo, Lagos, Nairobi, and Johannesburg – each of which can accommodate up to 100 creators. Here, attendees will have opportunities to meet with Microsoft and Xbox personnel, as well as pitch their game ideas.
Camp Africa’s two full days are themed “The Journey of a Game” and will offer multiple perspectives on game development. Meanwhile, an online learning component means that participants can complete training modules on topics aligned with their skills and interests, before and after the event.
To participate in the upcoming African Camp, game makers must be of legal age, reside in any country on the African continent, and be studying or working part or full-time in the field of software development, visual arts, 3D, music and audio, web design, narrative design, or professional project management.
Registrations are now open now for Xbox Game Studios Game Camp Africa, and close on 1 July. Applicants will know if their registrations were successful via email by 2 July. A reminder is that the conference will take place around 2 weeks later, on 15 – 16 July.
You can register for the Johannesburg event here. To apply for the other in-person African conferences, as well as the greater virtual Camp Africa, wannabe participants should visit the Game Camp online hub.