As part of its Changing the Game initiative, it was announced recently that the AMD Foundation is funding, “Game On!,” a four-week, project-based internship experience in which 20 high school students in Austin, Texas, design and produce socially conscious video games. Game On! is a program put on by the Digital Media Council, one of the industry councils that are a part of the Skillpoint Alliance.

Students in the Velocity Prep: Game ON! program select issues that affect their local community and develop socially-conscious video games that teach or raise awareness about these issues.  Supported by Austin’s Gendai Games and a team of volunteers from the Chamber of Commerce, the City of Austin, the Digital Media Council and others, students are trained to create their own 2-D video games using Game Salad (http://gamesalad.com/), a game development tool designed for new and experienced game developers alike.

There might still be a need for volunteers who are subject matter experts; people who can present on problems that affect our community, what causes the problems and what the possible solutions for the problems are (and even might be in the future). Also, game developers interested in helping students develop games, testing and providing feedback are needed. If you would like to volunteer, contact Joey Harding,  the Game On! program coordinator, at joehharding@gmail.com.

This is a great way for members of our interactive community to contribute to the well-being of our larger community. Our hats are off to the folks at the AMD Foundation, the Digital Media Council and the Skillpoint Alliance for giving back in such a meaningful and effective way.