What we’re about
Want to learn game development as a beginner or looking for a new and exciting retro game dev experience with Pico 8 as a pro? Join us and make retro games with a team!
Our (oddly specific) group based in Bedlington has a goal of introducing as many people (no matter the level of knowledge) to game development using the fantasy game console and dev kit called Pico 8.
It's a beginner friendly software that can run on even the most basic of computer systems (it's designed to run much like a gameboy!) so you don't need to worry about hauling big laptops to run advanced 3D software, just a small portable windows laptop of any calibre will run what you need!
The reason it's so great for learning and play is that within just one session, you can have a fully operational "game" that you can immediately share with your friends to play via a link on their browser through "carts" which are the digital cartridges use to share and play your games.
Pico 8 software costs $14.99 as a one time purchase (we are not affiliated nor do we make any money from this sale, we will simply assist you in finding it) and you have the software for life! You can then join in and start making your very own retro style games almost anywhere.
Our group will be structured into byte sized (get it?) missions where we attempt to explore certain ideas or programming logic for each session including playing and looking at examples of other carts made by pros (p.s. the 1000's of games posted online are all free forever for pico8 users!). After this we'll start a dev session where we implement some of what we've learned to cement the logic in place before kick starting our sandboxing where we can continue either your personal projects or workshop our group projects and even plan entering game jams online!
We're incredibly excited about indie game devs and want locals who would otherwise think it's too difficult, too scary to get into or just find it all too lonely to find this group a breath of fresh air that puts the joy and play back into game dev. Indie gaming has never been bigger with smash hits like buckshot roulette and balatro dominating the sales charts against monolithic AAA studios producing games like Assassins creed. Pico 8 is like a gateway to more advanced development, but is also in of itself, an incredible piece of software with a very passionate community who discover new ways of play every day with some of the most creative use of limitations within the software to create playable experiences and share them for free with others.
We also use this group as an opportunity to recruit more serious developers or those who take a keen interest in the jam side of the group to create teams who will move on to more advanced software like godot, unity and gamemaker to create full blown games that we use to enter into game jam projects and who knows, maybe even create a studio locally!
The requirements for the group are:
- you must be able to bring a windows, linux or macOS laptop to the meeting (we have a few machines spare but these are a last resort and cannot be guaranteed)
- you must be able to purchase a license for the pico8 or already own pico8 ($14.99 for a lifetime ownership).
- Everyone is welcome regardless of age or gender however we do ask that our younger members come with a guardian where appropriate to assist with computer usage.
- You must already be familiar with basic computer usage (downloading and opening software, navigating user interfaces, browsing the internet etc.) as we do not have the capacity to teach basic IT.
- No prior experience in game dev is required and this group is best suited to beginners. More advanced techniques and issues can be discussed if the whole group desires but we cannot work with overly complex issues as a group due to skill differences.
- should the venue of of choosing have a rental associated with it, we ask our members to contribute towards this however it is not mandatory and for those who are unable to pay, you are still most welcome to come and take part. This is just so we can choose locations most suitable for what we aim to do that also have provisions such as whiteboards and power access.
We aim to meet every week but also keep in touch digitally through Discord to discuss homework, new ideas and topics for the next meet, as well as to play everyones games! We are based in Bedlington Northumberland, however we are flexible and cover the whole of Blyth, Morpeth, Cramlington and Ashington areas too if there is a desire for the group to base itself in more popular areas.
