Science & Tech · AI · 3 hrs ago
Bundaberg children use AI to create video games
About 20 children joined game-making workshops in Bundaberg, Queensland, last month.
They used AI to turn spoken or typed instructions into racing, quest and trivia games.
The children also 3D-printed consoles and wired their own controllers as part of the workshops.
The approach let them focus on ideas and game design without first learning to code.
Australia’s games industry generates about $600 million in revenue each year, but few titles come from regional Australia.
AI could open game-making to more people, though copyright rules for the technology still need to be worked out.
About 20 children aged eight to 13 took part in video game development workshops in Bundaberg last month.
They used artificial intelligence to turn spoken or typed instructions into games, without needing to code.
Participants also 3D-printed consoles and learned to wire their own controllers.
The games included racing, quest and trivia titles.
Organiser Don Meadows said game design is its own discipline, while a Queensland University of Technology lecturer said copyright rules for AI still need work.
- Who
- About 20 children aged eight to 13 took part, alongside workshop organisers.
- What
- They used AI to create video games and made and wired controllers.
- When
- The workshops took place last month, according to an article published on November 3, 2026.
- Where
- Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia.
- Why
- Organisers wanted to make game design accessible and encourage children’s creativity.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The idea began with David Quarrell's 16-year-old son, Oscar, who was able to talk to AI.
Participants 3D-printed a console and learned to wire a controller.
The children brainstormed game ideas and instructed AI to create them.
- Participants
- About 20 children
- Age range
- Eight to 13
- Location
- Bundaberg, Queensland
- Game types
- Racing, quest and trivia
- Australian games industry revenue
- About $600 million each year
What people are saying
Game design is game design. Game design isn't animation or coding or these other things. It's its own discipline.
There's a lot of copyright legislation that still needs to be worked out
It removes all of the inhibitors like understanding code
It's quite a wonderful thing, watching your imagination … come to life in a game.