Kings in the Making: Architects of the Arcade
This October, Kingmakers of Oakland is proud to be part of Oakland Tech Week alongside over 40 incredible events celebrating local innovation! We are thrilled to invite our village to Kings in the Making: Architects of the Arcade, an intergenerational game-design hackathon bridging Ancestral Intelligence, retro gaming, and modern AI.
Taking place on Saturday, October 3, 2026 (9:00 AM – 1:00 PM) at MetWest High School, this hands-on morning sprint shifts our young men from passive consumers of technology into active creators, storytellers, and owners of digital tools.
We are calling on Black young men (ages 5–18 / K–12) to join us, roll up their sleeves, and learn alongside community mentors. Working in collaborative "tribes," students will transform physical paper drawings and story blueprints into fully playable 8-bit video games using cutting-edge AI prompt engineering and no-code tools. From character lore to custom soundscapes, youth will bring culturally grounded Oakland stories to life.
The day culminates in an interactive Arcade Showcase from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM, where families, tech leaders, and community members can play test the students' games, vote in our live showcase, and celebrate our young architects. Grab-and-go lunch will be provided!
Whether your young King is a seasoned gamer or brand new to computer science, there is a seat at the table for him to innovate, build, and shine. Space is limited, so secure your spot today.