Pixelles facts for kids

Pixelles is a cool non-profit group in Montreal, Canada. They work to get more girls and women involved in the video game world. They want to make sure everyone has a chance to create awesome games!

How Pixelles Started

Pixelles began in Montreal around the same time a hashtag called #1reasonwhy was popular on Twitter. This hashtag was used by women in the game industry to share their stories about unfair treatment.

The idea for Pixelles came from a project in Toronto called the Difference Engine Initiative. This project, started in 2011, helped people learn how to make games. A group called Feminists in Games asked Rebecca Cohen Palacios and Tanya Short to start something similar in Montreal.

Their first game-making program was very popular, with over sixty people wanting to join. In 2015, Pixelles officially became a non-profit organization.

What Pixelles Does

Pixelles helps women learn how to make video games through special programs, game jams, and workshops. They believe that more people with different ideas will help games become even better!

Game-Making Programs

Pixelles offers special classes called "incubators." These classes run once a week for six weeks. They teach you about game-making tools and apps. You also get advice from mentors and support from other people in the group.

Anyone who identifies as female can join the incubator if they can attend the workshops in Montreal. You don't need any past experience in game development. People are chosen through an application process. For example, in 2013, ten women were picked from over sixty applicants.

At the end of each program, Pixelles holds a showcase. This is a party to celebrate the new games made by the participants. The 2013 showcase had over 150 guests! You can even play some of the games from past showcases on the official Pixelles website. Check out the games from 2013 and 2014.

Boys and men can't sign up for the main program. However, they can help out as mentors or by testing games. They can also join the "follow-along" program. This program puts the class materials and exercises online. People in the follow-along program don't attend meetings. But they can still follow the deadlines and try to make a game. In 2013, four people successfully made a game through this program.

Workshops

Pixelles also holds monthly workshops. These workshops help people learn new game development skills. You can learn about programming, 3D modeling, or game design.

These workshops are led by volunteers and last about two hours. Up to 20 people can join each workshop. They usually happen on a Thursday or Tuesday evening. Past workshops have taught people how to use Twine, how to design games, and how to program with C#.

Mentoring and Advice

Pixelles helps women connect with experienced professionals through a mentorship program. This helps them find role models and get career advice. One popular event was a speed mentoring night. Twenty professionals gave quick interviews to twenty aspiring game developers.

The mentorship program connects new or aspiring women game developers with experts. These mentors can be male or female. They come from many different areas of the game industry. Mentors can give feedback on your projects or resume. They also discuss how to succeed in the competitive game industry.

Fun Social Events

Pixelles also hosts fun social events like:

• Picnic Socials
• Game Jams (where people make games together in a short time)

Pixelles Petites

Pixelles has a future plan called "Pixelles Petites." This will be a coding camp just for young girls!

Achievements and Recognition

Many groups have recognized Pixelles for their work. They have raised money using IndieGoGo. They have also been sponsored by the International Game Developers Association Foundation and Unity. Square Enix and Edios even sponsored a group of 25 women and genderqueer game developers to attend the Game Developers Conference.

See also

• Women in computing in Canada
• Dames Making Games
• Black Girls Code
• Native Girls Code
• Women Who Code