This fun, in-depth course gives you a great taste of what it's like to design a video game at an AAA game company. Mentored by a professional game designer, you'll discover what makes a game 'fun' and build practical job skills in system and level design to help kickstart your career in games.
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Over the course of 12 weeks you'll learn the basics of game design through systems and mechanics; understand different job roles and team structures; deconstruct your favorite games to reveal intricate design decisions; and start designing and building your own game world!
You’ll be personally mentored by an industry expert who will show you the latest tools and techniques used by top game studios.
Expect highly personalized training with small class sizes and 1-on-1 private tuition. Classes are 100% online, so you can learn from the comfort of your own home, in your own time.
After completing the course, you have the option to continue your journey with the full Game Design Foundations.
Certificate
12 weeks
20 hrs weekly
Beginner
Basic computer skill and a passion for games
Weekly online classes, feedback and support
Unreal Engine, Photoshop
Jan 8, 2024
Our expert-led programs prepare you for an exciting career in the industry. Unleash your creative potential while building practical job skills studios are looking for.
Plan your studies around your work and family commitments
Learn from industry experts who have worked on best-selling games
Build practical and relevant job skills that studios are looking for
Pursue your passion and start working sooner with flexible payments
Before you can begin building a game you need a basic understanding of game design theory. We'll look at HOW things should be designed, WHY they work, and WHAT you need to do to make a compelling game. See how a platform can change the game design in fundamental ways, and how the differences must be adapted across genres.
Expect to play a LOT of games in the name of research. Every great designer must know how to analyze, deconstruct and understand how each game differs and why. You'll achieve this by learning how to paper design and concept, getting the hang of writing a level design specification, and ensuring level functionality and other technical needs are met.
Portfolio projects: Game pitch document, game design document, UE gameplay prototype.
*This short course is a prerequisite to the more advanced Game Design Course. It will give you the foundational skills you need to continue on your educational pathway.
Dive right into the full study pathway and be industry ready in 1 year.
To be the best, learn from the best. Game design classes are taught by mentors who have worked with major game studios all over the world.
Dept. Head of Game Design
Known for Citizens of Earth
Troy is an award-winning game designer and executive with over 25 yrs of game development experience at major companies like Microsoft, Ubisoft, Insomniac, EA, Disney, and Samsung.
Read full bioCurriculum Manager of Game Design
Known for Resistance: Fall of Man
As a triple-A game designer, Nick has worked with giants like Ubisoft Toronto and Insomniac Games on titles such as Far Cry Primal, Watch Dogs 2, Far Cry 5 and Far Cry 6.
Read full bioMentor of Game Design
Known for Watch Dogs 2
Mentor of Game Design
Known for Shadow of the Tomb Raider
Eric is a Design Manager at PlayStation's Bend Studio. He is excited to share his journey and knowledge he has gained with others.
Read full bioMentor of Game Design
Known for Days Gone
AAA Game Designer Heath has 13+ years' experience top studios in North America and Australia on The Amazing Spider-Man, Hitman, and The Tomb Raider franchise.
Read full bioMentor of Game Design
Known for Shadow of the Tomb Raider
J.J. has worked at NetherRealm Studios (WB Games), Disney Interactive and Midway Games. Titles include: Injustice 2, Mortal Kombat X, Disney Infinity, John Woo Presents: Stranglehold.
Read full bioMentor of Game Design
Known for Injustice 2
Anthony is a passionate gamer working in the industry for 10+ years. He loves sharing ideas and perspectives, and hopes his experience in the industry can help newcomers.
Read full bioMentor of Game Design
Known for Metro: Exodus
Mentor of Game Design
Known for Diablo III
Mentor of Game Design
Known for World of Tanks
Mentor of Game Design
Known for Beyond Good and Evil 2
Mentor of Game Design
Known for Watchdogs 2
Mentor of Game Design
Known for Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Mentor of Game Design
Known for Shadow of the Tomb Raider
Scot helped create the first Advanced Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, and was responsible for hits like Falcon 3.0, Crimson Skies, 007: Everything or Nothing and DMC.
Read full bioDirector of Game Development
Known for DMC
While at award-winning game studio Blazing Griffin, Michael released titles like Murderous Pursuits, The Ship: Remasted, Distant Star: Revenant Fleet and Dino Tribes.
Read full bioMentor of Game Design
Known for Distant Star: Revenant Fleet
Tim is in his fourth decade of designing and producing video games. He has a number of top-selling and award-winning titles to his name.
Read full bioMentor of Game Design
Known for Disney Infinity
Mentor of Game Design
Known for Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow
Mentor of Game Design
Known for Watch Dogs
Mentor of Game Design
Known for America's Army franchise
Mentor of Game Design
Known for NetWits
Mentor of Game Design
Known for Diablo IV
Mentor of Game Design
Known for Online Education
Mentor of Game Design
Known for Dreamwalker
Mentor of Game Design
Known for Watch Dogs: Legion
Mentor of Game Design
Known for Outriders Worldslayer
Mentor of Game Design
Known for The Callisto Protocol
The most affordable way to learn from top industry mentors in a fun, collaborative environment, while still getting plenty of personalized feedback.
Progress faster and enjoy more flexiblity with private mentorship. Ideal for busy schedules, career-changers, or artists upgrading skills or changing specialties.
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For this game design course, you will need basic computer skills and a computer that meets the minimum specifications (see next question).
Software:
Students are required to sign up for an educational license of Maya during their studies.
Unreal Engine is free to download and use and is also required for this course.
Hardware:
Students will need a dedicated graphics card, and a computer that meets the minimum requirements for Unreal Engine, Photoshop and Maya.
At CG Spectrum it is VERY occasionally possible to skip the initial Introduction to Game Design Course and start studying in the 9-month full Game Design Foundations. We HIGHLY recommend that most students do NOT skip the Essentials Term as it covers a tremendous amount of information and skills which will be used throughout the entire program and will require some catching up if skipped.
This introductory course is still incredibly difficult and covers a LOT of material. It includes over 25 hours of lecture videos and over a dozen assignments students need to complete. ALL of the future course material will build upon this foundation.
The course will cover some basic concepts, teach the basics of using the Unreal Engine, teach the fundamentals of system and level design, and teach you how to deconstruct games properly and design using a systemic approach.
If you have not released an indie game or worked professionally to design PC/Console AAA games, we highly recommend you do NOT skip the Intro term. Even if you have designed mobile games, VR or other genres or platforms of games we do not recommend skipping it as the nuances are different in each.
IF you want to be considered for skipping the introduction term, you must submit a portfolio to be reviewed and considered. The portfolio must include:
This will ensure that you are familiar with the right material, concepts and tools to both design new game concepts and build them in a game engine.
If you are unsure if your skills are sufficient, send us your portfolio and we'll arrange a review by the department head and a possible student interview, depending on circumstances.
This short game design course will get started on your journey, but in a highly competitive industry, knowing the basics is not enough.
Continuing your studies with the 9-month Game Design Course will better prepare you for a job in the industry.
The full 9-month course covers far more complex techniques and includes personalized career services and 1-on-1 time with our Career Development Manager which can help when applying for junior game design jobs such as:
Discover more about these game development jobs, tips, and salary expectations on our careers page:
CG Spectrum prepares you to work as a professional game designer from day one.
The most impressive quality CG Spectrum offers is a course that makes study as if you were on your first job. If you are willing to put the energy into studying and do the assignments as if you were on the job, and if you are ready to hear your mentor's suggestions and challenge yourself to push your limits, you will get an experience very similar to the workplace.
CG Spectrum is the perfect place to gain focus, understanding, an encouragement for your journey.
If you are looking for a supportive place to gain or hone skills in game design or other verticals, CGS is a fantastic and worthy place to dive in.
I would recommend CG Spectrum to anyone interested in what the school has to offer.
I am really impressed with CG Spectrum: from the classwork, the feedback, the lively student portal as well as all the help provided from all other teams like financial as well as student support.
CG Spectrum is helping me grow as a game designer and as a person.
Both my mentor Andrejs Verlis and Dept. Head, Troy Dunniway, have been so encouraging and empowering. It doesn’t even feel like school. I’m finally seeing so many of my interests culminate, and I’m excited to leverage the great networking and career development here for a beautiful future.
All-encompassing 'under the hood' vocational platform for aspiring AAA designers.
The course spells out all the skills you need to succeed in a AAA studio and then gives you the resources to do it for yourself. My mentor takes great interest in steering and supporting me through the design of my own major game concept. I recommend this course to anyone who is up for the challenge of learning to conceive and design their own games, then bringing them to life as working prototypes.
The community at CG Spectrum is amazing!
People are passionate about what they study and do. It's a great study and work environment.