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Learn To
Code+Draw+Design
Like A Pro
Online Game Development Classes
Many kids dream of learning to make video games, but it can be difficult to know where to start. There are numerous free online resources that students can use to self-teach fundamental concepts, but there are some skills and opportunities that can only be attained by working with a qualified instructor with real-world industry experience.
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I've been developing games for over 16 years. I've worked professionally in the game development industry, both as a programmer and as a UI/UX designer, and am the current owner of a web design company in Austin, TX. In addition, I've taught game development classes to hundreds of students at varying experience levels, from elementary school to college level.
My private Online Game Development Classes are designed to focus on your child's individual goals and help them develop real-world skills that they can use to build a top-notch portfolio of quality games. Read below to learn more about the 3 different disciplines that I cover in my classes: Coding, Art, and Design.
Game Coding
Programming games isn't just about memorizing function names. Modern games are often composed of hundreds of thousands, even millions of lines of code, and require skilled teams of programmers to keep them organized and efficient.
There's no shortage of companies teaching kids "how to code", but few of them touch on important high-level topics such as organizing large projects, coding with teams of developers, and source control. I don't just teach my students how to code, I teach them how to code as if they were part of a professional team working in the industry.
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We'll work with your choice of Unity or Game Maker to make fully featured 2D and 3D games for desktop, console, and mobile.
Unity
Game Maker
Game Art
When creating art for games, artists must consider not just the aesthetic appeal of their work, but also the limitations of the platform the game is being developed for, the time it takes to create individual assets and the budget they are allowed, and the expectations of the players. The best artists are able to balance all of these often conflicting interests while still creating amazing game art.
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During game art instruction, I not only teach students how to create higher quality work, but also how to work within deadlines and balance the wants and needs of project stakeholders, just like they would have to in the field.
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We'll create game art and textures using industry-grade tools like Photoshop and illustrator, as well as leverage the power of open-source software like Clara.io and Blender to create 3D assets.
Photoshop
Illustrator
Game Design
Games don't come together unless their designers are conscientious and forward-thinking. As part of my curriculum, I teach students how to design games from the ground up, preparing Game Design Documents, planning project scope and estimating time investment, chunking projects in to sprints, and how to communicate their vision effectively to the team they rely on to make it a reality.
Learning Steps
Learning to develop games takes time, patience, and commitment, but is also highly rewarding and can open doors to a multitude of exciting career paths, both within and outside of the field of Game Development. Find out more about the multi-step instruction process I follow below:
Set Learning Goals
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Does the student want to learn to Code? Draw? Design? All of the above? We'll start by setting realistic and measurable goals so I can build a custom curriculum just for the student.
Attend Weekly 1-on-1 Classes
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Once goals are established, I'll hold a weekly 1-on-1 virtual class over Google Hangouts so we can work together to reach those goals. We'll share screens, sync files, and collaborate on projects, all at a pace that the student is comfortable with. This is a chance for me to get a better idea of what the student's strengths and weaknesses are, as well as provides them the chance to develop their skills in a personalized and low-pressure environment. No coding, art, or design experience is required!
Develop A Specialization
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In the game development industry, games are created by teams of specialists who have spent countless hours honing their skills in a very specific specialization, such as Gameplay Programming or Concept Art.
As students advance their skills, they'll begin to develop a specialization that we'll focus on.
Attend Weekly Group Classes
Once a student has become proficient at independently creating content within their specialization, they'll be added to a group of other students with complimentary specialties to craft large-scope games that they would be unable to create on their own.
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This grants students the unique opportunity to experience a slice of what working in the field is actually like. Students may attend group classes instead of or in tandem with 1-on-1 classes, should they like to continue sharpening their skills outside of the group.
Polish and Publish Games
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By harnessing the power of their team, students will produce polished games that they can take pride in. These games can be used as portfolio pieces to demonstrate their skills, and can even be submitted to competitions or sold online! I'll work with students to establish a portfolio website to host their games on, as well assist in the submission process to any competitions or online vendors.
Schedule & Rates
Classes are scheduled and billed using the following model:
1-on-1 Classes:
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$50 / 1 hour class
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1 class / week
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4 classes / month
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Classes are billed lump sum at the beginning of each month
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Group Classes (requires 3 students):
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$25 / student / 1 hour class
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1 class / week
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4 classes / month
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Classes are billed lump sum at the beginning of each month
If you'd like to know more about my classes or are interested in signing up your child, please contact me below and I'll be in touch!