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Villages
Howdy Partner! Arm your tote and check out the partner stalls at the NIDC Villages
If you don’t already know about this hidden gem of the maker scene then take this opportunity to get a taste of what Farset Labs has to offer. Farset will be bringing a selection of toys to the NIDC Maker Village for you to try your hand with.
Farset Labs is a community funded and volunteer operated charity, opened in 2012. Home to a creative community of technological tinkerers, Farset houses a workshop kitted out with an ever-growing list of facilities (including 3D printing, laser cutting, and electronics tools), an event space, and co-working facilities. Be sure to visit them in the NIDC Maker Village to learn all about their full calendar of upcoming events
Farset Labs
Think fast, create faster! In this action-packed workshop, you’ll design and build your very own video game in record time. Using GameMaker, you’ll learn how to:
🎮 Bring your character to life with keyboard controls
🚧Add hazards and tricky obstacles to dodge
🏆Create a winning moment to celebrate victory!
At the end, the top games will be showcased on our website for everyone to play!
🎨Design Your Own Game Character!
With Procreate on iPads
Every great game needs an unforgettable hero (or villain!). In this creative session, you’ll:
✏️Explore shape theory to design characters that pop
👤Learn why silhouette is key to great design
Master the Procreate app to sketch, colour, and finish your unique character
The best designs will be featured on our website—your art could inspire the next big game!
Kippie
⚡Speed Game Making! ⚡
For ages 8+
Have you ever dreamed of riding a real-life Dragon? At NIDC, this is your opportunity to seize the reins and take flight over the breath-taking Mourne Mountains of Northern Ireland with Genysys Engine’s ground-breaking AI Dragon Simulator.
This is Not a Theme Park Ride
Forget predetermined paths and scripted events. Unlike conventional simulators that follow a fixed story, the Genysys Engine’s experience is built around a fully autonomous AI character.
Your dragon has its own life: its own instincts, needs, and emotions, which determine its flight path and behavior in real-time. This is a genuinely non-linear, unpredictable adventure.
Sit on a dragon saddle, put on the VR headset, and grab the reins. You can try to guide your companion over the stunning digital replica of the NI landscape, but whether it listens is entirely up to its mood!
Your Emotions Control the Flight
This is the ultimate test of partnership, where how you feel is just as important as what you do:
● The Reins of Command: You can attempt to steer your dragon with the reins,
dragon spike and your feet. However, handle them with care! Just like a wild steed,
aggressive or erratic pulling of the reins can cause your dragon to become angry,
stubborn, and completely disobedient.
● Emotional Voice Recognition: The system picks up on your emotions. If you are
gentle, encouraging, and soothing, your dragon may reward you with smooth sailing
and a responsive flight.
● The Dragon Fights Back: Be warned: a powerful, autonomous creature does not
tolerate disrespect. If you become frustrated, swear angrily, or call your dragon
names, it will react! You might find your dragon roaring in defiance, ignoring your
commands, or even playfully retaliating by temporarily blinding your vision with a
mischievous puff of smoke while it laughs.
Live Environment. Live Challenge.
You will be soaring over a stunning, digital twin of Northern Ireland's environment, created using our groundbreaking research in GIS landscape generation. This level of detail offers an unprecedented level of realism. The simulation is even linked to real-time data, so the weather inside the game can mirror the world outside! Let's hope the skies are dry and clear—clear skies make for a happier, smoother flight.
Genysys Engine
Become The Dragon Rider
Using a Micro:bit and a Bitbot with a marker, create robot art by programming the Micro:bit to drive around a canvas with other robots. All programming in this workshop uses MakeCode, a super simple graphical Scratch-like code editor.
Unicorn Horns 🦄
In this workshop you will hack the Neopixels (multicoloured LEDs) on a Circuit Playground to create a colour changing Unicorn Horn! All programming in this workshop uses MakeCode, a super simple graphical Scratch-like code editor.
Raspberry Jam
Creating Art with Robots 🤖