From Arcades to Roblox: Game History

Analyze, and discover how video games — and the reasons we play them — evolved from arcades to Roblox.

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Ages:

  • 9 - 15 years old

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Locations:

  • Huntingdon Valley

  • King of Prussia

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Schedule:

  • Huntingdon Valley:

    • Monday - 6:30 pm

  • King of Prussia:

    • Thursday - 6:30 pm

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Price:

  • $200 per month
    (3 months course)

Duration:

  • 75 minutes

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Close-up of a PlayStation logo on a black device viewed through a magnifying glass.
Photo of vintage arcade games.

What Kids Will Learn

  • Explore the history of video games, from arcades and early consoles to Roblox and modern platforms.

  • Play and analyze classic games to see how design choices influenced fun, challenge, and storytelling.

  • Learn about Quantic Foundry’s gamer motivation profiles, and discuss what motivates players to enjoy different kinds of games.

  • Understand how cultural shifts and technology shaped the evolution of games.

  • Develop critical thinking by comparing player motivations across genres and eras.

Why Game History is Great for Kids

  • 🕹 Learn Through Play
    Students experience games firsthand, not just through lectures — from retro arcades to today’s digital platforms.

  • 📚 Understand Media, Culture & Players
    Video games reflect society, and learning about gamer motivation profiles helps kids understand why people play.

  • 🎮 Inspire Future Creators
    By studying both history and psychology of play, kids learn how to design games that connect with different audiences.

  • 🤔 Critical Thinking
    Students analyze how game mechanics, motivations, and cultural context interact — building strong analytical skills.

Who’s Teaching This Class

  • A man with dark brown hair and a serious expression looking directly at the camera, wearing a black shirt, in front of a cream-colored paneled wall.

    Egor Fesenko

    Robotics World Champion with NASA project experience and a degree in Game Development

FAQs

    • Best suited for ages 9+ who can discuss ideas, analyze games, and reflect on different motivations.

    • Yes! We use safe, age-appropriate re-releases and emulators of classic titles so students can experience them directly.

    • We’ll introduce kids to Quantic Foundry’s research, which explains why different players enjoy different games — like competition, creativity, story, or community.

    • It’s lecture and discussion-based but highly interactive — students play games, analyze them, and connect design to motivation and culture.

    • It’s okay to miss a session, but please note that for course-based classes (like Game History or PC Building), missed classes cannot be rescheduled or credited. These programs are designed as a step-by-step course, and each week builds on the previous one.

      Attending regularly is the best way to stay on track and get the most out of the program. Thank you for understanding and helping us keep courses running smoothly for all students.

Interested in this class?

This program isn’t running yet, but we’re building an interest list. Once we have enough families sign up, we’ll open a session and contact you with schedule and registration details.

Joining the list does not commit you — it just helps us know which classes to launch first.

What Parents Say

  • "My kids are obsessed with Roblox, and now they understand how their motivations fit into a bigger picture of game design. They even explained it to me."

    — Olga G., parent