Design process
Build, save, test, study the feedback and improve. Every session turns the same game into a stronger one.
Upcoming live ARCADATHON events · Online · Ages 13+
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ARCADATHON
Become a published arcade game designer.
Develop future-ready AI skills through video game design. Start with a playable game, test it with real players, level it up and polish it for publication—all in one live day. Serious fun!
Cancel at least seven full days before the event for a full refund.
01 · WHY LIVE
Join the excitement.
Join a live event. Feel the vibe.
Support
Checkpoint restore, rescue prompts and a human facilitator when the first fix does not work.
Real players
Play other participants’ games, receive private feedback on your own and make decisions from real player data.
Published identity
Finish with a moderated release pathway, continued project access and the right to say: “I’m a published arcade game designer.”
02 · THE LIVE DAY
Design a game you can be proud of.
Begin with a complete playable game, then move through six live design sessions. Every Level Up follows the same professional rhythm: build, save, test, study the feedback, improve and save again.
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Session 1
011. Spawn
Choose the game, world, character, objective and controls. Generate a complete playable first version, save Version 0 and discover what already works.
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Session 2
022. Gameplay Level Up
Tune the controls, challenge, balance and replayability. Test other games, receive private player feedback and improve your own.
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Session 3
033. Visual Level Up
Create a distinctive world with clearer graphics, animation and visual feedback—then test whether players understand what they see.
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Session 4
044. Audio Level Up
Choose an original track from the ARCADATHON music library, create your own sound and test how the complete soundscape changes the game.
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Session 5
055. Depth Level Up
Add progression, levels, obstacles, variety and reasons to play again. Use fresh player data to decide what deserves another iteration.
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Session 6
066. Final Polish + Publish
Fix the final friction, complete one last playtest and compare the game with Version 0 before sending it through moderation for publication.
03 · READY TO ROCK · SEVEN DAYS OUT
Ready to Rock
Exactly 7 days before the event, Ready to Rock unlocks. As you have made a commitment to us, we will commit to supporting your preparation—and give you a taste of the workflow you’ll use on the day.
07DAYS
- Booking confirmedParent contact + cohort selected
- Ready to Rock availableOnboarding checks · controls · audio · ChatGPT · a taste of the workflow
- Real game lockedGame DNA and starter prompt arrive on event day
STUCKIE · PLAYER SUPPORTIf you’re stuck,
he’s your first port of call.
he’s your first port of call.
04 · BUILT-IN HELP
Meet Stuckie.
Stuckie is the built-in support guide. It starts with short checks and helps the team see when a participant needs human support.
05 · THE PEOPLE
Meet the team
ARCADATHON began with one unforgettable afternoon and grew into a carefully designed live creation experience with an international vibe.
Max 🇺🇸
The inspiration behind ARCADATHON
During a holiday with friends, Max spent an afternoon vibe coding video games with their kids for fun—and it became the highlight of the holiday. He brought the concept to Graham, and ARCADATHON was created.
Graham 🇬🇧
International educator · event learning designer · lead facilitator
Graham designed the ARCADATHON learning experience and leads participants through the event on the day.
Canant 🇵🇭 🇹🇭
Technical support during the event
Canant is our IT guy and will be there to help make sure everything runs super smoothly on the day.
05 · FOR PARENTS
Serious fun in a safe space.
An engaging day of hands-on skill-building that supports creativity, collaboration and future readiness.
Parent-led booking
A parent or guardian makes the booking and remains the primary contact.
Display names by default
Public game identity is separate from school and contact information.
Moderated release
A game is checked before it can appear in the public arcade, with withdrawal and recovery paths available.
No direct messaging
Participants test and review each other’s games throughout the event, but there is no direct participant-to-participant messaging.
06 · THE OFFER
$99 per seat
These exclusive events are limited to 20 seats each.
- Develop future-ready AI skills through video game design
- 6 live, facilitated hours with a small cohort
- Exclusive access to hundreds of original arcade-style tunes and samples
- Bring a friend for free (same location and screen required)
- Seven-day Ready to Rock onboarding
- One arcade game developed throughout the day
- Focused peer playtests and private feedback data
- Version checkpoints and stuck-point support
- A moderated publication pathway
- Follow-up access to the participant’s ARCADATHON project
07 · QUESTIONS
FAQ
Why pay for a live event if AI can make a game in minutes?
Because the first playable game is the starting line. An ARCADATHON event guides participants through a professional design process: learning how to design prompts, testing and iterating, providing and responding to feedback, and working towards a polished arcade game in a time-sensitive live event. At the end of the day, the finished game can be submitted for moderated publication in the public arcade.
Is coding experience required?
No. Participants become the game designers: they direct, test, evaluate and improve while AI handles much of the syntax. Experienced participants can push further without leaving beginners behind.
What support is available on the day?
For technical difficulties, every student has access to Stuckie, our built-in support guide. It starts with short checks and helps the team see when human support is needed.
How does the website work?
Once you create an account, you can explore the audio library. Seven days before the event, our Ready to Rock onboarding process opens. During the event, the website guides students through designing prompts, building and improving their games, and testing each other’s creations. Finished games can then be hosted on the ARCADATHON website after moderation.
Can the Bring a Friend for Free option be used for a younger sibling?
Yes. A younger sibling may join on the same screen, as long as the lead participant is aged 13 or over and remains in charge of the ChatGPT account and the game-building process.
Do we need the paid version of ChatGPT?
We recommend ChatGPT Plus for the event. You may use the Free version, but you will need to manage its usage allowance yourself. Unfortunately, ARCADATHON cannot restore or extend access if the Free allowance runs out during the event.
Can we use another AI tool, such as Claude Code?
The event workflow is designed and tested for ChatGPT. Other AI tools may behave differently, so we cannot promise the same workflow or support. Participants must meet the age and permission rules for any service they use.
How can we prepare before the event?
Seven days before the event, our Ready to Rock onboarding process opens. Students can complete a simple checklist and test the workflow so they can hit the ground running on the day.
Can I sign up for more than one event?
Yes. Each event is a chance to create a new arcade game, so joining three events could give you three games to develop and submit for moderated publication on the ARCADATHON website.
What is the cancellation and refund policy?
Cancel at least seven full days before the event for a full refund.
6 hours · A ChatGPT account is required, and we recommend ChatGPT Plus for the event. You may use the Free version, but you are responsible for managing its usage allowance and ARCADATHON cannot restore or extend access if that allowance runs out. · Cancel at least seven full days before the event for a full refund. · hello@arcadathon.com