Five Star Gift Ideas

If your son is passionate about game development and programming, there are plenty of meaningful and personal gift ideas that can cater to his interests and help him further pursue his passion. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Game Development Books: Consider gifting him a selection of books focused on game development. Look for titles that cover various aspects such as coding, game design, and storytelling. Some recommended books are "The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses" by Jesse Schell and "Unity in Action: Multiplatform Game Development in C#" by Joe Hocking.

2. Online Coding Courses: Enroll him in an online coding course or subscription service that focuses on game development. Websites like Udemy and Coursera offer a wide variety of courses ranging from beginner to advanced levels, allowing him to further enhance his programming skills.

3. Programming Tools: Invest in software tools that can support his game development endeavors. Consider purchasing licenses for popular game development engines like Unity or Unreal Engine. These platforms offer powerful tools and resources to help him create his own games.

4. Coding Gadgets: Surprise him with coding-related gadgets such as a programmable keyboard or a gamepad specially designed for programming. These devices can enhance his coding experience and make it more fun and immersive.

5. Attend Coding Conferences: Search for coding conferences or game development events that are happening in your area or nearby. Tickets to such events can be an excellent gift as they not only provide learning opportunities but also allow him to network with professionals in the industry.

6. Coding Subscription Boxes: Subscription boxes like Bitsbox or Creation Crate deliver monthly coding projects and challenges directly to your doorstep. This gift can keep his coding skills sharp and inspire creativity by providing hands-on projects.

7. Game Development Courses or Bootcamps: If your son is serious about pursuing game development as a career, consider enrolling him in a game development course or bootcamp. These programs provide immersive learning experiences with industry professionals and can significantly strengthen his skills.

8. Hardware Upgrades: If your son is working with outdated programming hardware, consider upgrading his equipment. A new and powerful computer or additional RAM can significantly improve his coding and game development efficiency.

9. Supportive Resources: Gift him coding-related resources like online communities and forums, where he can connect with fellow game developers and programmers, ask questions, and seek advice. Websites like Stack Overflow or GitHub can provide valuable knowledge-sharing opportunities.

10. Personalized Game Development Portfolio: Help your son create a personal website or online portfolio to showcase his game development projects, coding skills, and achievements. This can serve as a platform for him to present his work to potential employers or collaborators.

By choosing a gift that aligns with your son's interest in game development and programming, you can provide him with valuable tools, knowledge, and experiences that will encourage his passion and help him achieve his goals.

Or you can get him a star map with an important date you share.

Madeline Moran Weiler says about Under Lucky Stars star maps:

“The map was absolutely beautiful! My grandson was thrilled with it (it was a Christmas gift) and has already asked me if I would consider getting another one for him as a graduation gift in a couple of years.”