14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Project set to cultivate new designers
Gaming — it is a buzz word for innovation, creativity, entertainment and dedication, INNOV8HQ founder Heidi Renata says.
It might come as a surprise but gaming did not start as entertainment, it began in the 1950s as a scientific tool, built to test thinking and simulate systems, Ms Renata said.
"It was always about expanding minds, not just passing time.
"Today, gaming is still doing that — but at scale," she said.
Back in the 1980s, when she was growing up in Milton and playing Donkey Kong, gaming was about escape, strategy, creativity and challenge.
Gaming helped her to think differently, try new things and test herself.
That was the same spark she wanted to light with the award-winning youth entrepreneurship programme Mana Rangatahi for people aged 16-24.
On May 20, a game developer workshop series is being launched at Alexandra Community House, providing an opportunity for participants to network with others interested in game development and to listen to speakers.
The initiative is a collaboration between INNOV8HQ, Central Otago Rural Education Activities Programme (Reap), Puna Rangatahi and the Central Otago Game Development (COGD) Network.
Ms Renata was excited to provide a bridge between location and pathway development, with a collaborative approach more powerful than an individual one, she said.
"I'm really interested in making sure our youth, regardless of where they're from, get access to highly skilled pathways."
When game designer Chantal Duxfield, the co-founder of the COGD Network, moved to the area, she discovered there were a lot of very passionate and driven youth interested in learning about game development, animation and digital art.
Many finished school and headed to the cities for university, thinking it afforded more opportunities.
It was great to discover INNOV8HQ and have the opportunity to bring education and awareness to rural communities so careers could be pursued without necessitating a move to the city.
Emma McLean, of Reap, said there were many young people in the area who were passionate about gaming but they were not connected to the industry, they did not realise the pathways available for careers.
Through collaboration, there was an opportunity for them to realise their dreams.
Mana Rangatahi graduate Nikita Stone, from Cromwell, had a passion for animation and the arts.
She noted many studios were in the North Island and her big dream was to open a studio in Central Otago.
Ms Renata said there was potential if the initiative went well to transition it into greater Otago.
