IGDA welcomes students interested in game development
By Hailey Duncan
KU’s International Game Developers Association (IGDA) welcomes students looking to explore the fundamentals of programming, art and writing within video games. The club meets every Thursday from 5 to 6 p.m. in AF 101.
The club operates in a presentation-style format. Each week, an IGDA member presents on a different topic related to game development. While executive board members often lead the sessions, any member is welcome to sign up and share their own presentation.
Past presentation topics include: “How to Write a Video Game Narrative” and “Character Design.” Future topics include: “Introduction to Programming” and “How to Write Effective Choices in Video Games.”
Image Credit: Anna Romanoski
IGDA also hosts guest speakers every semester. On Oct. 2, the CEO of Stumbling Cat Studios, Renee Gittins, spoke about her experience in the video game industry as well as her role in creating the game Potions: A Curious Tale.
Additionally, IGDA hosts a game jam every semester, where teams design a game centered on a theme within a limited timeframe. This encourages teamwork and enforces communication skills amongst club members.
“You’ll never walk out of a meeting knowing less than you did coming in, and you might even walk away with the beginnings of an awesome idea for a game that you can always find help with making a reality with our club,” IGDA’s club secretary, Kevin Kershaw, said.
The IGDA broke its record for new member sign-ups at KU’s 2025 fall Involvement Fair, leaving newcomers eager for upcoming meetings.
“I think the sign-up record is awesome. I’m really glad that we’re gaining new members who are interested in game development and want to hone their skills and learn more,” Kershaw said. “I hope we can teach them something new, and learn something from them as well.”
For more information, visit the club’s Engage page.