Game Production Diploma Training Program

Program Overview

The DAVE School Game Production Diploma program prepares students for success in the thriving game industry. The 12-month program covers advanced techniques in game production, including asset creation, lighting, and environment management. Students collaborate on pre-production techniques for a genuine game of their own design, gaining hands-on experience in the field. The program culminates in an in-house game release that becomes a component of their demo reel.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

Overview

Game production involves conceiving and developing entire universes and their inhabitants from the ground up, as well as creating immersive experiences that can execute and adapt to the demands of user gameplay in real-time. The DAVE School Game Production Diploma program is designed to prepare students for success in this thriving industry.

Objectives

The Game Production Diploma Program, like the Visual Effects Production Diploma, spans 12 months and offers scheduled commencements each Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall. The program takes place entirely on-ground in Orlando, Florida. During the final three months, students collaborate under the direct supervision of their instructors on pre-production techniques for a genuine game of their own design.

Program Description

• Introduction:
DAVE School students begin with a thorough introduction to the principles of hard surface modeling (vehicles, buildings, armor, etc. ), and progress to the art and science of texturing, lighting, and "look development." They are first given a comprehensive introduction to the concepts and terminology of Game Production, then get their first real taste of real-time Game Engines by learning Unreal Engine, the driving force behind so many blockbuster game titles.
• Advanced Techniques:
Game production students work with their instructors to cover advanced modular asset creation, texture, and material creation, real-time lighting and environment management, game interactions, game physics, FX, prop and world design, camera control, and even the use of Unreal for Virtual and Augmented Reality.
• Collaboration and Project Work:
Game Production is a collaborative endeavor. Being on campus allows our students to work together under the direct guidance of their school instructors. During the final three months, they will join forces on the pre-production techniques of a real game of their own making, seeing it through the Alpha, Beta, and Gold Production levels. Projects will consist of advanced lighting and software techniques, with milestones along the way, all directed towards a final, in-house game release that becomes a component of their demo reel.

Outline:

Course Schedule

• Fundamentals of Asset Creation & 3D Design (DAVE 110)
• 3D Animation: The Art of Motion (DAVE 210)
• Game Asset Creation & Immersive Techniques (GAME 310)
• Real-Time Technologies & Studio Production (GAME 405)

Individual Modules with Descriptions

• DAVE 110 Fundamentals of Asset Creation & 3D Design:
This Game Production course provides a comprehensive understanding of 3D modeling and digital sculpting techniques needed to construct objects for feature films and video games. Students will have a concrete knowledge of hard surface and organic modeling techniques, UV mapping, digital sculpting and how to bring these assets into a real-time pipeline.
• DAVE 210 3D Animation: The Art of Motion:
This course provides a thorough understanding of computer animation. Students will have a solid understanding of camera and vehicle animation, parent/child hierarchies, character rigging, character animation, facial animation, lip syncing, and motion capture for film and gaming and how to bring these animations into a real-time pipeline. Prerequisite: DAVE 110
• GAME 310 Game Asset Creation & Immersive Techniques:
Interactivity is an art form and, in recent years, advanced quickly into rapidly becoming the industry standard. It requires a combination of art, technical and organization skills. In this course you will learn to make interactive game assets and work with them in a real-time rendering environment and pipeline. Prerequisite: DAVE 110, DAVE 210
• GAME 405 Real-Time Technologies & Studio Production:
This studio residency course prepares the student for a career as a game artist. Students will be introduced to advanced pipelines and production workflows, including creative problem solving, employer expectations, and the importance of teamwork as you prepare your portfolio. Prerequisite: DAVE 110, DAVE 210, GAME 310