How an Idea Became a Game in Just One Afternoon

How does an idea turn into a playable game in a single afternoon?

On January 28, 2026, a game development workshop was held in Hall Atom at the Palace of Science, organized by the student organization Proton. I volunteered at the event as a demonstrator, helping participants during the practical part of the workshop.

From Basics to a Playable Game

The workshop was divided into two parts.

The first part focused on the theoretical foundations of video game development. Participants were introduced to core programming concepts used in games, including game loops, basic logic, and how different elements inside a game interact with each other.

In the second part, participants worked in the Godot Engine and built their own simple video game. Step by step, they implemented movement, basic mechanics, and interactions. By the end of the session, everyone had a small but functional game.

As a demonstrator, my role was to assist with debugging, explain concepts in more detail when needed, and support participants when they got stuck. Most issues were small but important learning moments, especially for those using a game engine for the first time.

Opening the Workshop to a Wider Audience

This workshop was an important milestone for Proton. In cooperation with the Palace of Science, it became the first Proton workshop open to the broader public.

Among the participants were students from the Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad, which made the event especially meaningful. Opening the workshop to a wider audience brought together people with different levels of experience and interests, creating a more dynamic learning environment.

Support and Collaboration

The event was made possible with the support of the Palace of Science, which has been actively supporting the growth of the student and academic community through collaboration with Proton and similar organizations.

Technical support during the workshop was provided in cooperation with the KST. Their help ensured that everything ran smoothly and that participants could fully focus on developing their games.

Final Thoughts

In just a few hours, participants moved from learning basic concepts to building their own playable projects. The workshop showed how accessible game development can be when theory and practice are combined in the right way.

Volunteering as a demonstrator gave me the opportunity to contribute to that process and support others as they created something of their own. It was a reminder that sometimes one afternoon is enough to turn an idea into a working game.

Check out the photos from the even by clicking this link!