Local developer teaches students how to tell their stories through gaming

February 20, 2026 - 20:27

Artist and game developer Nukes de Almeida Nuku-Graves is guiding a new generation of storytellers at the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC). Following the notable success of his interactive project, Cryptid Coffeehouse, Nuku-Graves is now teaching a course focused on inclusive game design, demonstrating how gaming can be a powerful medium for personal and cultural expression.

The workshop moves beyond traditional coding to emphasize narrative and accessibility. Students learn to build digital experiences that reflect their own identities, backgrounds, and unique perspectives. This approach champions the idea that everyone has a story worth telling and that game design tools should be available to all, regardless of technical background.

Nuku-Graves’s own work, particularly the celebrated Cryptid Coffeehouse, serves as a prime example. That project blended local folklore with interactive choice-based gameplay, creating an engaging model for how personal and community stories can shape a compelling digital world. His instruction provides students with both the inspiration and the practical skills to transform their own ideas into playable art, fostering a more diverse and representative future for the gaming landscape.