6-Month Short-Term Master’s Program
Foundations of Video Game Design
The master’s program is designed for those who want to enter the world of video games, whether starting from scratch or building on their initial skills, with a hands-on approach focused on creating their first complete interactive project.
Course Description
The Master’s Program in Videogame Design & Development introduces students to the main tools and methods used in the contemporary video game industry.
The program integrates the following into its curriculum: game design, art production, and technical development, with a particular focus on the logic of real-time engines and the creation of interactive experiences.
Throughout the course, students learn the basics of video game design and its practical implementation, working on levels, characters, and game mechanics until they create a complete prototype for their portfolio.
Learning Objectives:
Fundamentals of Game Design and Gameplay
Introduction to Level Design
3D Modeling and Assets for Video Games
Texturing and Shading for Video Games
Principles of Real-Time Rendering
Using Unreal Engine for Interactive Projects
Basic Principles of Interaction and Scripting
Organizing a Video Game Project for a Portfolio
How to participate: In-person or hybrid? Choose the option that's right for you!
In-person
The traditional format involves daily in-person attendance in the classroom: the instructor is always present, leading theoretical sessions, labs, and real-time practical reviews.
This format fosters direct collaboration with classmates and faculty, provides immediate access to equipment, and offers an immersive experience in professional study environments.
Hybrid
To offer greater flexibility, a Hybrid track is also available that combines online learning with in-person participation: there will be workshops with guest speakers or specific hands-on sessions that can be attended in person.
ALL LESSONS AND WORKSHOPS ARE RECORDED AND MADE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS.
Student Gallery
Course Structure
FORM
FIELD OF STUDY
OBJECTIVES AND RESULTS
Foundations – 6 months
Fundamentals of Game Art and 3D Development
Introduction to the video game production pipeline and the fundamental principles of game design. Students learn the basics of modeling, texturing, and lighting for environments and characters, and begin creating assets optimized for game engines such as Unreal Engine. They study the principles of gameplay, level design, and real-time lighting.
Final Project
Specialization
In the final phase of the course, students develop a complete video game project that integrates all the skills they have acquired and is designed to be included in their personal portfolio as their first structured project in the field of CGI & VFX. vertical slice
FOUNDATION – 6 Months
Introduction to Video Game Production: Development Pipelines, Roles, and Workflows.
Fundamentals of 3D Modeling: Creating Assets, Environments, and Interactive Objects in Maya and Blender.
Texturing and Shading: PBR Materials with Substance Painter and Achieving a Realistic Look.
Lighting and Color: Principles of Photography and Lighting for Gaming Environments.
Unreal Engine – Basics: Interface, Asset Import/Export, and Project Setup.
Game Design and Gameplay Fundamentals: Rules, Pacing, and Balancing the Gaming Experience.
Level Design and World Building: Designing Interactive Spaces and Narrative Pathways.
Introduction to AI in Game Development: Generating Concepts, Environments, and Materials.
Cinematic Sequences and Interactive Storytelling: An Introduction to Real-Time Sequences.
Vertical Slice: Creating a small playable scene or environmental demo.
Objective: To acquire the artistic and technical foundations of video game production and to understand the complete structure of an interactive 3D project.
OPPORTUNITY to continue with another 12 months of advanced classes
At the end of the 6-month basic course in video games, students who wish to delve deeper into these disciplines can continue their education by enrolling in the advanced courses of the Studio Production Master’s program. This allows them to complete a comprehensive 18-month program designed to train professional game artists.
ANNUAL EVENTS
The Rookies - Game of the Year
For their final project, students will be divided into groups to design and produce a short demo. These demos will then be uploaded to THE ROOKIES platform, offering students their first real opportunity to get noticed by professionals around the world.
The Night of the Golden Dragons
An exclusive event organized in conjunction with the Venice Film Festival, celebrating the best graduation projects and student productions.
An evening dedicated to creativity, featuring screenings, awards ceremonies, and opportunities to engage with guests from the VFX industry.
Milan Games Week
Participation in Milan Games Week, offering students the opportunity to showcase their projects and connect directly with studios, publishers, and industry professionals.
JUDGES OF THE ROOKIES
Every year, the projects submitted by Side Academy are evaluated by an international jury of professionals selected by The Rookies, composed of artists, game designers, and supervisors from the world’s leading production studios.
The judges include representatives from companies such as Naughty Dog, Riot Games, Epic Games, Blizzard, and Sony Santa Monica, ensuring an evaluation standard in line with the current landscape of the video game and CGI industries.
Side Academy is a The Rookies-certified school.
Software & Tools
Unreal Engine
Maya / Blender
ZBrush
Substance 3D Painter / Designer
Houdini
Marmoset Toolbag
MetaHuman Creator and Photogrammetry
FAQ:
Absolutely! All courses start with the basics, so no artistic or programming skills are required. We want to train new artists regardless of their educational background.
With the HYBRID format, we allow those who need to take the course ONLINE to also have the option of attending certain in-person labs, workshops, or events.
We recommend having a PC or Mac at home that can run professional software, so that students can continue working on their projects from home. For those taking the online course, you’ll also need: an internet connection, a graphics tablet, a microphone to communicate with instructors, and headphones. The webcam, on the other hand, is optional.