Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Burton.
Hi Matthew, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, you could tell our readers some of your backstories.
After the Michael Brown incident, our co-founder Jeff Lyes identified a need to create positive relationships between police officers and young people in St. Louis. In 2017 Jeff approached Pixel Press, where I worked as a Software Developer. We formed the idea to use video games to encourage engagement and participation between youth and law enforcement. Using Pixel Press’s app, Bloxels, officers, and youth worked together to design video games at various events hosted by Gateway Game Jams. Since its inception, the organization has been hosting game jam events, the first of which was in 2018. The initiative also served as an opportunity to introduce young people to different areas of technology, such as coding, game design, animation, and cyber security, potentially leading to careers in these fields. Additionally, through participating in these game jams, youth could develop their technical skills in areas such as game design and coding and improve their people skills by working collaboratively with officers and other young people.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
Engaging participants has been a minor struggle for us, as video games tend to captivate individuals and generate enthusiasm at our events. Our game jams have been well-received by young people and law enforcement alike. Additionally, we have been fortunate to attract guest speakers from diverse technology-related fields, including coding, game design, cyber security, air traffic control, and geospatial. Once we explain our mission and the positive impact of our events, guest speakers are usually willing to collaborate with us.
Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us a bit more about your work.
Over the past eight years, I have been fortunate to pursue my passion for game development and design, resulting in the creation and publication of ten titles on the iOS and Google Play app stores. With a degree in Computer Systems from Maryville University in 2013, I began self-publishing games and mobile apps, which have been featured in IndieGame and “Stuff” Magazine.
In 2016, I had the opportunity to join Pixel Press in St. Louis as a Software Developer, where I was privileged to work with clients like Mattel, Cartoon Network, and Disney/Star Wars. My contributions to developing the educational software program “Bloxels” were recognized with the New York Toy Fair “Toy of the Year” award and coverage in publications such as Kotaku and Polygon.
It is an honor to teach video game programming, Extended reality, emerging technologies, and team collaboration and help students achieve their goals in this exciting field. At Webster University, I am grateful to share my knowledge of game design, coding, and production through the Game Design Program. I am also proud to have co-founded the organization “Gateway Game Jams,” which focuses on three important missions:
- We aim to provide youth insight into careers in growing and exciting technology.
- We build positive relationships between first responders and youth from under-resourced neighborhoods.
- We aim to develop people skills and technical skills through game design.
Through video game design, we have created an avenue for police officers, tech professionals, and youth from under-resourced areas to work together to build video games, develop soft skills and technical skills, and gain insight from thriving tech companies in the St. Louis area.
Let’s end by discussing what matters most to you and why.
Our organization is committed to two fundamental principles: building positive relationships between under-resourced youth and first responders and providing exposure to the exciting fields of technology and education on pursuing a career in these fields. Building bridges between law enforcement and young people is crucial for creating safer communities and positive interactions. By offering opportunities for young people to engage with law enforcement in a fun and constructive setting, we aim to foster mutual respect and understanding. Additionally, we are passionate about introducing young people to the possibilities of technology-related fields and providing them with the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue careers in these areas. By doing so, we aim to empower the next generation of tech leaders and help bridge the digital divide in under-resourced communities. These two values are at the heart of our mission and drive everything we do.
Pricing:
- There are no fees to participate in our Game Jam events
Contact Info:
- Website: gatewaygamejams.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gatewaygamejams/
