CIEE HS Summer Abroad: Video Game Design & Culture in Kyoto

Develop your own prototype in a gamer's wonderland!

Enter the various levels of the gaming world in Kyoto. Through hands-on classes, get an inside look at how video games are made. In just three weeks, learn the basics of storyboarding, coding, and animation. Then, create a prototype for a new video game and present it to a panel of industry experts!

Hear from engineers and designers from world-class gaming institutions. Tour video game schools, like the Ritsumeikan Center for Game Studies, and independent gaming studios to get feedback on your project. Understand the processes of effective game design and how experts leverage programming tools to make the best games!

Discover the incredible landmarks of Kyoto, like Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine, Kiyomizu Temple, and Nijo Castle; shop in vibrant downtown markets; and meet local teens, too. On excursions, get your heart racing at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka and visit Nara to explore its many historic temples and shrines, and meet the forest spirits - the friendly Shika deer! In Kyoto, you’ll experience first-hand the process of creating video games and immerse yourself in the traditions of the gaming capital of the world.