City of Las Vegas · Codee Locs · Technology & Arts
Today’s young people don’t just play games, they want to build them. Next Move Arcade Jam turns that instinct into a real skill set, walking students from their first line of code to a finished, playable game they present in front of an audience.
The program runs on a simple idea: gaming is the most natural on-ramp into technology careers that exists right now. Instead of teaching code in the abstract, Arcade Jam gives students something they actually want to make.
How the program works
1. The Vision
Students are introduced to coding structure and the development software, and the goals for the term are laid out. Everyone leaves the first sessions knowing exactly what they are building toward.
2. The Prototype
Students storyboard their concept, then build their first working prototype with mentor support. This is where design thinking meets debugging, and where most students discover they can solve problems they thought were beyond them.
3. End Screen
Finished games are presented to a board of community-partner judges at NBA Summer League, and the best work goes playable on the Summer League floor for fans to try.
Why it matters
Game development touches nearly every skill the modern tech workforce asks for: logic, visual design, iteration, storytelling, and the discipline to ship something finished. Students walk away with a portfolio piece and, more importantly, proof that they can build.
Next Move Arcade Jam is delivered free to participants in partnership with the City of Las Vegas and Codee Locs.
Get involved
To enroll a student, sponsor a cohort, or bring Arcade Jam to your school or community center, get in touch with our team. You can also support the program directly, every gift funds free seats for Las Vegas youth.
