Start Your Game Development Career Today!
Get personalized training from industry mentors to fast-track your career
Learn game development and real-time 3D with industry pros
Valued at $155B, the games industry is booming, and there's never been a better time to pursue a career in games.
Make the switch from gamer to developer! Whether you want to work on major AAA titles or become an indie developer, our online game dev courses equip you with the skills to pursue a career in games or real-time 3D.
Why learn game development at CG Spectrum:
- Unreal Academic Partner & Unreal Authorized Training Center
- Rookies ranked top 20 game development school
- Mentorship from pro game devs & supportive online community
- 1-on-1 or small group classes (max 4 students) & 100% online
Game Art & Animation Pathways
Establish 3D modeling or animation foundations and build high-quality 3D assets, environments, and characters using Maya, Motionbuilder, Substance Painter, and Unreal Engine. You’ll become familiar with real-time and virtual production pipelines as you learn rigging and motion capture basics, and how to set up animated characters in the engine.
CG Spectrum’s game art course gives you a solid foundation in 3D modeling and game animation, which you can use to make your own video games! Your mentor will guide you step-by-step through character and environment design, so you can start creating your own incredible art.
- Learn animation and modeling for games
- How to use a wide range of software from Maya, Substance Painter to Unreal Engine
- Build your own playable game and learn real-time workflows
Game Design Pathways
Learn to design, validate, and develop your game ideas and bring them to life in a playable game prototype. Build immersive game levels using Unreal Engine, combine gameplay systems to create more engaging experiences, and understand what it takes to create a fun and monetizable game.
Start with basic game design theory to see HOW things should be designed, WHY they work, and WHAT to do to make an addicting game. You'll learn how to pitch your game, create a game design document, and make an Unreal Engine gameplay prototype.
- Learn about core gameplay mechanics
- Design game systems, quests and objectives
- Build simple prototypes using Unreal Engine and Photoshop
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. You'll learn how to paper design and concept; write a level design specification; and ensure level functionality and other technical needs are met. A fantastic entry-level course for aspiring designers.
Using AAA case studies, you'll discover how to design more elaborate games in this fun but intensive course. Learn to build immersive game levels, combine gameplay systems to create more engaging experiences, and see what it takes to launch a successful game.
- Design advanced game systems, maps and assets
- Whitebox a level in Unreal Engine
- Create a small beautiful game prototype
Great ideas are a dime a dozen in the world of game development; being able to execute them well is more important. You’ll learn how to validate and express your ideas and bring them to life in a playable game prototype. This course includes additional 1-on-1 support from our Career Development Manager to get you ready for a career in game development.
Game Programming Pathways
Using C++, build the credentials studios are hiring for, including more advanced uses of Unreal Engine such as character animations, particle effects, serialization, loading, and streaming levels. You’ll finish the course with a playable game.
Ideal game programming course for beginners with little or no coding knowledge! You'll learn programming fundamentals using the C++ programming language and start building your first game.
- Understand programming concepts used in development
- Master the basic syntax of the C++ programming language
- Build a simple C++ game from scratch
In just 3 months, you'll be feeling more confident with C++ programming techniques, and ready to start bringing your own game ideas to life. A great introduction course to see what it takes to become a game programmer.
Learn to program games with the world’s most powerful 3D game engine, Unreal Engine. This online game programming course covers more advanced UE techniques with a focus on career development to get you job-ready.
- Create levels with materials, terrain, and gameplay elements
- Explore Unreal animation and cinematics
- Build a playable game with an interactive character
Build the skills studios are hiring for, including the more advanced uses of Unreal Engine such as character animations, particle effects, serialization, loading, and streaming levels. Once you've built a fully playable game for your portfolio, you'll receive additional 1-on-1 career support from our Career Development Manager to prepare you for work in a game studio.
Real-time 3D & Virtual Production Pathways
Dive into world-building in Unreal Engine and QuadSpinner Gaea and learn advanced texture blending, auto materials, and water systems. Learn everything from lighting, composition, and color, to blocking out, fleshing out your scene, setting up cameras, and how to use motion capture and control rigs. Graduate with a film-quality cinematic shot for your portfolio
Go from installing the Unreal Engine to creating a fully playable character within it. This short course helps beginners get the hang of working with the engine and surrounding pipelines including basic rigging, animation and motion capture.
- How to use a wide range of Unreal Engine features
- Basic animation, rigging and motion capture
- An overview of real-time and virtual production pipelines
Train to become a real-time 3D technical artist! Learn world building, lighting and camera essentials, and create a film quality cinematic shot using Unreal Engine.
- Learn world-building and virtual production techniques
- How to use cameras, lighting and digital humans in Unreal Engine
- Optimizing your scenes for render
- How to apply your skills in the real world for job roles on a stage volume.
Scot Bayless
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 bioManager of Game Development
Known for DMC
Firas Hosn
While at Ubisoft, AAA programmer Firas released almost a game a year including Far Cry 3, 4, 5, Assassin's Creed 3, Your Shape, Splinter Cell: Blacklist and Watchdogs 2 and 3.
Read full bioDept. Head of Game Programming
Known for Assassin's Creed 3
Troy Dunniway
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 bioDept. Head of Game Design
Known for Resistance: Fall of Man
Simon Warwick
Simon has been working in the game industry since 2005, and was credited as the only technical cinematic animator for Batman: Arkham City at Rocksteady Studios.
Read full bioDept. Head of Real-Time 3D
Known for Batman: Arkham Knight
Deepak Chetty
Deepak is the Producer for film, TV, and virtual production at Epic Games' Unreal Online Learning platform and is sharing his real time production expertise with students at CG Spectrum.
Read full bioMentor of Virtual Production
Known for Gen: Lock
Moura Melondeau
Moura is a Senior Game Designer at Ubisoft Montreal where she was involved in the world, ingredients, various systems and social stealth of Assassin's Creed Valhalla..
Read full bioMentor of Game Design
Known for Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Ming Zhang
With over 6 years of experience in the game industry, Ming has worked for Ubisoft, Activision, and Gameloft. He has also applied his programming skills in a wide range of areas.
Read full bioMentor of Game Programming
Known for Tom Clancy's EndWar
Bryan Griffiths
After 20 years in the industry, AAA game expert Bryan has worked on titles like Too Human, X-Men: Destiny, Rollers of the Realm, Debris, and now Far Cry 6.
Read full bioMentor of Game Programming
Known for Far Cry 6
William Faucher
William is a Real-time TD and Unreal Artist. He shares his passion for Unreal Engine with artists and creators through his highly popular tutorials.
Read full bioMentor of Real-Time 3D
Known for Unreal Engine Education
Carl Shedd
Carl has worked in the industry professionally for over 17 years. He started his career at Gearbox Software and is currently a World Building Director at Gearbox Software.
Read full bioMentor of Virtual Production
Known for Borderlands franchise
Tim Huntsman
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
Eric Jensen
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
Michael Cameron
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
Anthony Cardahi
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
Elias Jacobs
From indie dev to AAA dev, Elias is an animation programmer at Build a Rocket Boy Studio where he's working on soon-to-be-released game, Everywhere.
Read full bioMentor of Game Programming
Known for Past Cure
Will Masek
Will teaches Game Programming and Design at an undergraduate level in the UK and undertaking contract work to keep close ties with a number of developers and studios.
Read full bioMentor of Game Programming
Known for Sniper Elite III: Afrika
Rob Brooks
Rob has developed games and experiences for a number of platforms from mobile and desktop to virtual reality. He specializes in creating gameplay mechanics and quick-fire game prototypes for a number of video game companies.
Read full bioMentor of Game Programming
Known for Dev Enabled
Heath Smith
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
Jon Robins
Jon currently works as a Lead Character Technical Artist at Striking Distance Studios where he loves solving problems and helping teams in as many ways as he can.
Read full bioMentor of Real-Time 3D
Known for Marvel's Avengers
Daniel Punch
Daniel has experience in game development as well as other applications. He contributed to Marvel Super Hero Squad and was a member of the Need for Speed: No Limits team.
Read full bioMentor of Game Programming
Known for Marvel Super Hero Squad
I can't speak highly enough about the school.
When I came to CG Spectrum I had 20 years of live entertainment experience, and they seamlessly transferred me from physical to virtual production.
An amazing journey!
This course is a complete package with the goal of helping us conquer our dream job! I didn't expect to find a C++ programming course aimed at the gaming industry and of such quality. The big difference the guidance of a high-level professional: Bryan Griffiths in my case! In addition to masterfully explaining technical questions, he shares immeasurable knowledge of the industry.
I couldn't be happier that I started my 3D art journey here.
I have progressed in just nine months from being a complete beginner to creating work I am actually proud of showing. My mentors showed interest in my progress and I received honesty and kindness in their critique that pushed me to become better. Even after graduating, they are still there if I need help. One of my favorite aspects is the community, full of like-minded people willing to see your work and share feedback. Once you get access to that community, you can be there for life!
If you like games and coding this is a course you don't want to miss!
I started with no previous programming experience and I am already coding my own games from scratch. Firas is an incredible mentor who has encouraged me to stay curious and think outside the box. His support has exponentially increased my progress!
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.
I was hired by Ubisoft!
It’s your career success that matters. I applied to some companies with my updated reel and got hired by a studio named Dwarf-Labs where I did some animations for a CG commercial. Then I was hired by Ubisoft where I worked on one of their biggest franchises, Assassin’s Creed Syndicate!
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 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's training got me hired in the industry.
CG Spectrum helped me build the skills and connections that directly resulted in getting hired as a Gameplay Programmer at New World Interactive.
Having a mentor definitely helped! It was awesome to have someone I could reach out to when I was stuck.
Getting the weekly feedback also helped in terms of what to improve and what to focus on next. In Term 3, we learned Unreal Engine; I implemented the knowledge I gained in that course to my Advanced 3D Modeling Course to create some additional renders that demonstrated my understanding of using and integrating game-ready assets into an actual game engine.
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 enrolled looking for a career change...
I didn't have any knowledge about digital arts. Now I can accomplish my dream of creating cinematics within fantasy worlds to tell stories or apply any artistic idea and make it happen with all the new tools under my belt. If you have passion, and need time flexibility, consider joining the amazing community and start your new journey exploring, exchanging, sharing and, most importantly, learning.
