Course Overview
Gamer Camp Pro (also known as the Video Games Development MA/MSc) has been created from the ground up by the likes of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE), Codemasters, Rare, Blitz Games Studios and FreestyleGames to mould the perfect recruits with not just the skills, but also the experience demanded for a career in the games industry.
On Gamer Camp: Pro, there are no dry classroom lectures, isolated distance learning, lengthy dissertations or exams. Instead, you’ll eat, sleep and breathe games with intensive tuition from industry pros, before working in teams at NTI Birmingham’s city centre media studio to create a fully working game for a series if platforms, culminating in a PlayStation 3 game published on the PlayStation Network (subject to approval by Sony).
You’ll work full-time hours (9-5, Mon-Thu) over 12 months , with each team given a mentor from industry to set a development brief, monitor progress and sign-off the game once it’s complete.
Successful students will gain an MA/MSc in Video Games Development from Birmingham City University.
The course was founded by Guy Wilday, former Studio Director at SEGA Racing Studio (SEGA Rally) and Head of Studio at Codemasters (Colin McRae Rally), and taught day to day by Alex Darby (Ex-FreeStyleGames, Codemasters) and Iain Harrison (Ex-Eurocom/Free Radical).
Gamer Camp: Pro takes place over the course of 12 months. Students are split into two groups; programmers and artists, providing industry-crafted training throughout the course, tailored to your discipline.
Within the training sessions of the course, students will learn the fundamental skills used every day in the games industry.
Gamer Camp: Pro is divided into three sections:
PG Certificate PC, iPad
PG Diploma PS3® Concept, Tools and Prototype
Master PS3® Final Project
Within each section, you’ll learn the skills you need to create games as a programmer or artist for each platform from in-house staff with games and external mentors from the games industry.
Programmers will study topics such as C++, maths, debugging, coding standards and source control. Whilst Games artists training will cover topics including Photoshop, 3D Studio Max/Maya, Z Brush and source control.
Programmers and Artists will be placed together to learn in teams, but will be assessed as individuals. The teams will then be set a series of briefs to design and build games for PC, iPad, Sony PSP® and Sony PlayStation®3.
With mentoring from course leaders Iain Harrison and Alex Darby, they will work in teams to produce a 2D game, followed by a 3D console game, before a final 6 month production period where they'll produce a PlayStation3 game.
Games Artists
| Module |
Dates |
|
Art Fundamentals of Game Development
|
26th September to 27th October 2011
|
2D Game Art, Production and Delivery
|
31st October to 15th December 2011
|
| 3D Game Development (Art) |
9th January to 1st March 2012
|
| Art for Console Game Prototypes |
5th March to 17th May 2012
|
| Video Game Professional Art Practice |
29th May to 31st August 2012
|
Programmers
| Module |
Dates |
| Programming Fundamentals of Game Development |
26th September to 27th October 2011
|
| 2D Game Programming, Production and Delivery |
31st October to 15th December 2011
|
| 3D Game Development (Programming) |
9th January to 1st March 2012
|
| Programming for Console Game Prototypes |
5th March to 17th May 2012
|
| Video Game Professional Programming Practice |
29th May to 31st August 2012
|
Entry Requirements
Gamer Camp Pro is open to applicants who fit either of the following programmer or artist criteria:
Programming applicants should have, and be able to demonstrate:
- Object-orientated programming skills, preferably C++
- Experience working with Windows, Mac OS or Linux API's
- Degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics or related discipline is desired but not essential.
- we'd like to see a real time demo and the its source code
If you don't have a demo don't worry have a look at this: Don't have a Demo?
Games Artist applicants should have, and be able to demonstrate:
- Ability to draw (e.g. character design, environment design, concept boards)
- 2D & ideally 3D design skills
- Animation skills
- Must be able to present at interview a game demo or game assets and a portfolio of work*
- Degree in art, design, graphic, visual communications, animation or related discipline is desired but not essential
*Artists please note: Your portfolio should include examples of sketches and workflow, showing development of ideas, not just finished artwork.
International (non-EU) students also require the following:
- English – IELTS 6.0 (no less than 5.5 in any bands)
- Programmers should also have: BE or BTech at 55% or 50% from a 5 star University from a 4 year degree in either; Computer Science Engineering (CSE), Information Technology (IT), or Bachelor of Computer Applications.
- Artists should also have: BA in Visual Communications, Art and Design or any relevant art subject.