Group Classes

Frequently Asked Questions

• Who are the Instructors?

  We’re dedicated professionals with decades of experience making games for some of the top names in the industry, including LucasArts, Microsoft, Sony, EA, and Activision. More importantly we’re also parents. Our classes are designed to nurture your child’s unique interests, personality, and imagination.

• How are classes structured?

  Each class starts with a 5-10 minute lesson from the instructor, followed by a 5-10 minute exploration period, during which the instructor will show examples from other games and discuss them with the class.

  The next 30-40 minutes will be spent on hands-on learning, with each student working toward the completion of his or her individual project. During this time, the instructor will visit with each student to answer questions, provide feedback, and offer advice.

  At the end of each class, the instructor will conduct a brief class discussion, set goals for the next class, and outline extra-credit assignments that can be completed by the students at home.

• How large are the classes?

  Game-U is built on the idea of personalized attention for every student. Class size may vary, but we’ll always keep classes small enough to ensure that every student gets quality one-on-one time with an instructor.

• How will I know what my kids are working on?

  We encourage our students to share everything they accomplish at Game-U with their parents. Parents are always welcome to stop in, observe class, and talk to the instructors.

  At the completion of every 4 or 8-week course, students will have a new project to add to their Game-U portfolio. We want parents to explore and enjoy these finished projects with their kids. We think you’ll be impressed by what they’ve accomplished!

• Does my child need a computer?

  Yes! We’ve designed our courses to work on both PC (Windows) and Mac computers. Your child will need a PC or Mac for their classes.We recommend that your computer has a minimum 8 GB of RAM, with an i5 processor or higher and at least 20 GB of free storage space.
  System requirements may vary based on the class level.
  Chromebooks and school-issued computers are NOT recommended since they often won’t be able to run or install the programs needed to take the class.

• Does my child need to know computer programming?

  Not at all! Students don’t need any prior knowledge of programming or game design. Game-U courses are designed to be welcoming for the absolute beginner.

• Will my child be playing games all class?

  Not at all. There’s no unsupervised playing of outside videogames during class. Any games demonstrated in the classroom will be part of an instructor lesson. Students will have time to test the games they build themselves, and we do encourage sharing and collaboration among students as they test and refine their ideas.

• Is there homework?

  We’re not big on the word “homework,” but we definitely encourage our students to spend time outside of class working on their projects. Every week, we’ll outline extra credit quests that can help students earn Game-U Achievements and add more depth to their course projects. Every time a student completes a course, challenge, or achievement, they earn Game-U Experience Points (XP). These points are redeemable for cool prizes, and give students access to more advanced challenges and classes.