Learn game design from industry-leading game designers, with mentorship from experts in the industry to elevate your skills.
Financing and flexible payment options available. Contact Us
Find out what makes an addicting game, exploring game mechanics and systems, genres, level design, and world building. Expect a mix of theory, paper design, concepting, and hands-on practice.
Financing and flexible payment options available. Learn more
Take the first step to bring your game design ideas to life.
This program is designed to give you an idea 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.
The SMU x Flatiron School difference:
Over 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 program, you have the option to continue on to Game Design Foundations I.
Industry-approved curriculum to begin your learning journey
Essentials of Game Design - 12 weeks
Before you can begin building a game, you need a basic understanding of game design theory. You'll learn 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. You'll build a design and concept, getting the hang of writing a level design specification and ensuring level functionality and other technical needs are met.
What you’ll learn:
Portfolio projects: Game pitch document, game design document, and UE gameplay prototype
Weekly breakdown:
Flexible small group classes are the best way to learn from top industry mentors in a fun, collaborative environment, while still getting plenty of personalized feedback.
Upfront
$3,600
Pay as You Go
$4,000
3 monthly payments of $1,333
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Our programs are not currently set up to accept military benefits, such as the GI Bill, as a form of payment directly from the student at this time. However, if your military benefits can be arranged to pay the school directly, this may be an option in rare cases.
No, you do not need a college degree to enroll in our programs. A high school diploma or GED is the only educational requirement. Our programs are designed to be accessible to a wide range of students with diverse backgrounds.
No, we do not accept FAFSA or traditional financial aid for our programs. However, we do offer loans for full-time students, as well as interest-free installment plans and upfront payment options for everyone else. Please contact us for more details about these flexible payment options.
Yes! Upon the completion of each program in the pathway, you will receive a Credly digital badge from SMU and a completion certificate. Digital badges can be used in email signatures or digital resumes, and certificates can be displayed on portfolio websites and social media sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.
Thousands of our community members use their program certificates and badges to demonstrate skills to potential employers — including our hiring partners — along with their LinkedIn networks. Our curriculum is powered by Flatiron School, whose programs are well-regarded by many top employers, who contribute to our curriculum, hire our community, and partner with us to train their own teams.
Nope! This program is designed for complete beginners - no experience required.
It is VERY occasionally possible to skip the essentials program and go directly to Foundations I. However, we highly recommend that most students do not skip Essentials as it covers a tremendous amount of information and skills that will be used throughout the entire career pathway program and will require some catching up if skipped.
The essentials program is still difficult and covers a ton of material that is necessary for proceeding in the following programs and won't be reviewed in Foundations. All of the future program material will build upon the essentials.
If you would like to be considered to enter directly into the Foundations-level programs, you'll be required to submit materials demonstrating your proficiency in the materials covered in the Essentials program.
Whether you want to build games, design products, prevent the next cyber attack, or create the next internet-breaking AI, we provide the training to bring your ideas to life.
Let's build your future together.
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