Mission and Vision
The Mission
Bitmask Games is dedicated to the benefits of gaming together and in person, both through collaborative play and through technical education. Video games are much more than a passive leisure activity. They are a unique and complex form of communication that supersedes the bounds of culture and language. At Bitmask Games, students learn how to synthesize logic and creativity through a single medium that is the practical application of all academic subjects combined, and a holistic sort of art form that encompasses every other. The studio offers classes, courses, talks, workshops, camps, and enrichment activities, both in studio and around the community, to help game lovers young and old learn how to turn their passion into a creative outlet.
The Vision
VWith over 85% of American teens heavily engaging with this medium (Pew Research Center; Gottfried, 2024), games touch and influence the entire generation. In fact, 40% of American teens not only play, but build their identity around being “gamers”. Unfortunately, the nature of this passion can often be a solitary or strictly virtual activity, wasting the potential application for education and community building that this shared interest can provide.
Having taught video game design and development for close to twenty years, I’ve seen first hand the benefit that a collaborative approach to video games can have on young people. A curated space allows for interpersonal growth, content contextualization, teamwork and problem solving, and the opportunity to share new experiences with like-minded peers in a safe and public setting. It’s no mystery why schools and libraries are integrating E-Sports leagues, after school game clubs, and academic courses that teach game development. The vision for Bitmask Games is grow and become a space that extends that intent as a dedicated community center and place for technical education for students of any age that are passionate about video games.
The Values
At Bitmask, everyone is invited to be part of the game. Like with music lessons, students come to learn bringing with them varied backgrounds, experiences, learning styles, aptitude, and ambitions. We aim to support every individual student to reach their next plateau and continue to grow.
Gaming is for everyone, and Bitmask Games welcomes the breadth of diverse learners equally. The only thing that is not tolerated in the studio is intolerance itself. This tapestry of perspectives and ideas helps in the studio's determination to become a place to explore empathy, acceptance, community, and connection through creation and collaboration.
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