Mission Statement

The Southwest Michigan Game Developer Association (SMGDA) is dedicated to fostering a collaborative environment for local game developers. Our goal is to support and empower creators by sharing resources, encouraging problem-solving, and nurturing innovation.

Community Goals

• Promote Skill Development: Encourage continuous learning through discussions, feedback, and resource sharing.
• Facilitate Collaboration: Create an open space for collaboration on projects, brainstorming, and peer reviews.
• Support Innovation & Creative Problem-Solving: Emphasize real-life solutions.
• Respect Confidentiality & IP: Understand NDAs and respect shared ideas.

SMGDA Legislative Goals

• Advocate for state business incentives
• Support growth of technology-focused companies in the game dev industry
• Build a tech-friendly future in Southwest Michigan!

The following is a list of professionals who would find benefit within our organization, and whose input would benefit SMGDA:

1. Programmer (Developer)

Languages: C++, C#, Python, JavaScript, etc.

Specializations:

• Scripter (Lua, JS)
• Game Engine Dev (Unity, Unreal, Godot)
• Gameplay Programmer
• AI Programmer
• Network Programmer
• Tools Developer
• Mobile Developer

2. Artist

Mediums:

• 2D Artist
• 3D Artist
• Animator (2D/3D)
• Concept Artist
• UI/UX Designer
• Pixel Artist
• Texture Artist
• Illustrator/Sculptor

Styles:

• Cartoon
• Realistic
• Pixel Art
• Abstract
• VFX Artist

3. Writer

Mediums:

• Fiction / Non-Fiction
• Screenwriter (Cinema, TV)
• Game Narrative Designer
• Dialogue / Stage Play / Technical

Genres:

• Fantasy
• Sci-Fi
• Mystery/Thriller
• Historical Fiction
• Horror

4. Voice Over

Voice Types:

• Character Actor (heroic, villainous, comical)
• Narrator
• Commercial / Audiobook VO

Accents/Dialects:

• American, British, Australian
• Spanish, French, Other Regional

Languages Spoken:

5. Designer

Specializations:

• Level / Environmental Designer
• System Designer / UI/UX
• Sound / Narrative Designer

Pre-production

• Objective: Validate the game idea with a prototype.
• Key Steps:
  • Brainstorming & Concept Narrowing
  • GDD & TDD
  • Prototype (MVP)
  • Resource Planning
• Goal: Confirm feasibility.

Production

• Objective: Create main content (levels, mechanics, assets).
• Key Steps:
  • "Beautiful Corner"
  • Full Level/Asset Dev
  • Mechanics Implementation
  • Playtesting & Iteration
  • Content Expansion
  • Refinement & Polish
• Goal: Complete and optimize core content.

Post-production

• Objective: Prepare for release, marketing, post-launch support.
• Key Steps:
  • Final Testing & QA
  • Marketing & Community Engagement
  • Publisher Outreach
  • Launch & Distribution
  • Post-launch Updates
  • Data Analysis & Review
• Goal: Successful release & ongoing support.

A More In-Depth Look

1. Brainstorming
2. Concept Narrowing
3. Detailed Concept Development
4. GDD
5. MVP
6. "Beautiful Corner"
7. Full Level Development
8. Playtesting & Iteration
9. Content Expansion
10. Publisher Outreach
11. Finalization & Polish
12. Marketing & Publication

Design

Rule of 3’s

• Visual Design: Triadic color schemes, groups of three.
• Game Design: Three core actions, three tiers, etc.
• UX: Limit steps/navigation to three for simplicity.

Programming Topics

• Procedural Generation
• Narrative & Player Agency
• Balancing & Difficulty
• UI/UX in Games
• Immersion Techniques
• Monetization Models
• The Role of AI
• Accessibility
• Multiplayer & Networking
• Ethics & Representation
• Game Engines & Tooling
• Iterative Playtesting
• Marketing & Community Building
• Rapid Prototyping
• AR/VR Trends
• Green Gaming Practices
• Business of Games

Voice Over Topics

• Voice Acting Techniques
• Improvisation
• Demo Reels
• Finding a Niche
• Microphone Techniques
• Character Development
• VO for Video Games
• Business & Auditioning
• Home Studio Setup
• Vocal Health
• Script Adaptation
• Direction & Collaboration

Artist Topics

2D Art

• Fundamentals (line, color, composition)
• Digital vs. Traditional
• Character Design & 2D Animation
• Textures & Patterns
• Color Theory & Lighting
• Environmental Design
• Portfolio Development

3D Art

• 3D Modeling Basics
• Texturing & Shading
• Character Design & Animation
• Lighting & Rendering
• Environment Design
• 3D Sculpting vs. Poly Modeling
• VR & AR

3D Models & Game Engines

1. Working with Blender
2. Unity / Unreal Integration
3. Preparing Models (Optimization)
4. Lip Sync & Facial Rigging
5. Audio for 3D Environments

Spotlight Joseph Campbell and Native American Storytelling :

The Hero’s Journey: Personal Growth and Transformation
The Hero’s Journey, as articulated by Joseph Campbell, is a narrative structure that focuses on an individual’s path of adventure, growth, and eventual return. This framework, often found in Western stories, resonates across cultures because it taps into the universal experience of overcoming challenges and emerging transformed.

Key stages—such as the Call to Adventure, the Road of Trials, and the Return with the Elixir—highlight the importance of courage, resilience, and self-discovery. By stepping into the unknown, the hero confronts their fears and limitations, ultimately gaining wisdom and strength that can be shared with their community. The Hero’s Journey can teach us about the value of facing adversity head-on and the significance of personal responsibility in effecting change.

However, while the Hero’s Journey can be an inspiring model for personal growth, its focus on individualism sometimes overlooks the broader context of relationships and community. This is where Native American storytelling can offer an enriching counterbalance, providing perspectives that broaden our understanding of what it means to be a hero.

Native American Storytelling & Interconnectedness and Communal Wisdom

Native American storytelling covers a diverse range of storytelling traditions. Some of these traditions resonate interconnectedness and the communal fabric of life. Here, the focus is not on an individual’s solitary quest but on the relationships between people, nature, and the spirit world. The protagonist may not undergo a dramatic transformation; instead, they often learn valuable lessons about respect, balance, and the importance of living in harmony with the world around them.

Through these stories, we learn that heroism can manifest in many forms, such as caring for one’s community or respecting the natural world. Often cyclical rather than linear, Native stories remind us that life is a continuous cycle of birth, growth, decay, and renewal, which can deepen our respect for the rhythms of nature and our roles within it. By shifting the focus away from the individual, these stories encourage us to see ourselves as part of a larger whole and to act in ways that honor this interconnectedness.

1. Game Concept Brainstorming

Objective: Generate new game ideas through collaborative brainstorming.

Activity:
Divide participants into small groups and give each group a genre, theme, or mechanic as a starting point.
Each group has 15 minutes to brainstorm and sketch out a basic game concept on paper.
Groups then present their ideas to the rest of the team, followed by a brief Q&A.

Goal: Encourage creative thinking and collaboration, while practicing concise pitching.

2. SWOT Analysis for Game Ideas

Objective: Evaluate game ideas using a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats).

Activity:
Have each participant or group choose an existing game idea (well-known title or concept from brainstorming).
On a large sheet of paper or whiteboard, create four quadrants labeled Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.
Groups analyze the chosen game idea, filling each quadrant with insights.

Goal: Teach critical thinking and strategic analysis in game development, while assessing market viability.

3. Rapid Paper Prototyping

Objective: Quickly create and test gameplay mechanics using simple materials.

Activity:
Provide paper, markers, dice, and tokens. Participants create a tabletop version of a digital game concept.
Allow 20 minutes for groups to sketch game boards, rules, and basic mechanics on paper.
Groups playtest each other’s prototypes and give feedback.

Goal: Develop an understanding of prototyping and iterative design by quickly testing and refining ideas.

4. Design Document Outline Exercise

Objective: Practice outlining a Game Design Document (GDD).

Activity:
Present a simple game concept and ask participants to outline the major sections of a GDD (Story, Mechanics, Levels, Characters, Audio).
Groups work collaboratively to outline key details for each section, then share their outlines.

Goal: Familiarize participants with GDD structure and the importance of thorough planning.

5. Improv and Game Development (“Yes, And” Exercise)

Objective: Use improv techniques to encourage creativity and adaptability.

Activity:
In a circle, one participant starts with a game concept sentence (e.g., “This game is set in a magical forest.”)
The next person adds to the idea with “Yes, and…” continuing with new details.
Continue around the circle, building the concept collaboratively.

Goal: Build on ideas in a supportive way, promoting team cohesion and creative thinking.

6. Gameplay Mechanics Mashup

Objective: Explore creativity by combining unrelated gameplay mechanics.

Activity:
Write various gameplay mechanics (e.g., stealth, resource management, platforming) on slips of paper and place them in a hat.
Have each group draw two mechanics at random and brainstorm a game idea that uses both.
Groups present their combined mechanic game concept, explaining how the mechanics work together.

Goal: Encourage creative problem-solving and innovative thinking by blending different gameplay elements.

7. Role-Playing Market Analysis

Objective: Understand the importance of knowing your audience and market trends.

Activity:
Assign each participant a role (e.g., “Casual Gamer,” “Hardcore Gamer,” “Investor,” “Publisher”).
Present a game concept and have participants discuss it from their assigned perspective, identifying potential challenges and market opportunities.

Goal: Build empathy and insight into different stakeholder perspectives in game development.

8. Reverse Engineering a Game

Objective: Analyze existing games to understand their core components and design decisions.

Activity:
Choose a popular game and, in groups, dissect its mechanics, story, art style, and design choices.
Each group sketches a simplified version of the game’s GDD, focusing on what makes it successful or unique.

Goal: Develop an understanding of effective game design by breaking down and analyzing successful examples.