Job Shadow Video Game Designer

Program Overview

In our innovative game development program, we aim to prepare you for success through creating your own video game on a team. You'll receive valuable insight into the world of games and learn what it takes to be successful in this competitive industry. From creating your first level to presenting your game project to potential investors, our industry experts will be there to guide you every step of the way. You'll team up with your fellow classmates to get start creating your game projects, allowing you to:
• Explore the different roles in game development, and experience playing those roles in project development.
• Fast track your career in games/entertainment by building a foundation of design, programming, sales, and project management skills.
• Build in-demand employability skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, confidence and collaboration.
• Earn digital badges to display on your resume and a certificate of completion at the end of the program.

Past Presentations Have Included:

Industry Contributors

Cybersecurity Scenario Project

Game Development Team Project

Join a newly formed game development studio with your fellow classmates as you work together to create your studios' first video game project. Your team will be tasked with coming up with the initial concept for your game, building out the prototype, and presenting it to potential investors. Take up a role in the studio as a designer, programmer, or project manager to help contribute to the final video game concept launch! This real-life simulation with industry will teach you what it's really like to work in game development and prepare you for the reality of working in a studio environment.

Day 1 - Create Your Game Design Document
Day 2 - Create Your Prototype
Day 3 - Create Your Levels
Day 4 - Test and Polish
Day 5 - Game Presentations

Game Development Pathways

The game industry is a multi-billion dollar industry that has been growing every year since 2010. Gaming has increasingly become mainstream in recent years due to livestreaming and more game releases than ever before, creating more opportunities in the field for those with the right skills. With more games adopting the games-as-a-service model where a game will receive consistent updates over the course of multiple years, companies now need developers more than ever to keep their games going and develop the next big hit title. Providing a pathway to game careers is important to the industry, as it allows you to achieve your goals while bringing new ideas to the games we play every day.

Pre-Externship Parent Webinar

Parents are invited to attend a scheduled webinar to learn about how to help their child/student succeed during the Externship as well as prepare for long-term success in the game industry. We provide all the tools needed to help parents play a role in their child/students success, including:

Helping to demystify game development as career path and understand what career opportunities exist
Discussing how to support students during and after class
Providing professional insight about the game industry

Daily Itinerary

Start your journey in games with a quick program overview. Learn how to scope your game project as well as understanding what's important to consider in the earliest stages of development.

Team Game Project: Create Your Game Design Document

Meet your team and work together to name your studio, decide on a game concept and begin your game design document.

Dive into the Unity game engine as you learn the basics placing and manipulating game objects. Get an introduction to programming in Unity to apply in your game project.

Team Game Project: Create Your Prototype

Start putting the first playable version of your game together with your team, focusing on key gameplay elements and what will make your game fun.

Explore game design principles and take a critical look at popular games to see what can be learned from them. Create environments for your game to take place in.

Team Game Project: Create Your Levels

Using what you've learned, build out the main levels of your game with the help of your team. Continue to refine your core gameplay.

Understand the real-world game production pipeline and how it applies to large and small projects. Learn the importance of playtesting and getting feedback early in production.

Team Game Project: Test and Polish

Polish your game as much as possible for presentations on Day 5, fixing any critical issues found in the testing process.

Learn what it takes to sell a game to publishers and gain funding for a project. Understand the balance between creative freedom and making sure the game is a financial success.

Team Game Project: Game Presentations

Time to show off your work! Prepare a presentation with your team and show a demonstration of what you've been working on as if you were talking to potential investors.

Online Course Requirements

Computer compatible with Unity game engine
Webcam + microphone
Stable internet connection

Your Tuition Includes

Industry professional guest speakers and workshops from major game companies
Five days of game development in collaboration with your team and guidance from experts
Parent pre-externship introductory webinar into the careers and world of gaming
Pre-built game environments to help speed up your development
Digital badges and certificate of completion
Service and support from Experience before, during and after the program

Group pricing available for schools and districts. Contact Us