Voyager (Ages 12+)
Game Dev Team
Online The Game Dev Team program, formerly known as GameWerx, is a separate initiative available to the Pioneer, Voyager, and Pathfinder classes. In this self-driven program, students join teams under the supervision and guidance of their Game-U instructor and work to reproduce the professional game development process, from planning to publishing – all to bring their own unique games to fruition!
Coding Elective
Online This class, designed for Voyagers ages 14+, focuses on advanced game development programming. Using professional, industry-standard tools such as Unity and Visual Studio, students learn how to design and implement the player-facing features of games, the core systems that support those features, and the frameworks to integrate everything. Under guidance from their instructor, this class covers high-level topics that include graphics, audio, physics, AI and machine learning, player input processing, complex system and environment simulations, and procedural content generation. Students work with programming languages C# and HLSL to understand the fundamentals of object-oriented programming, data structures, algorithms, and debugging. This class is perfect for older students looking to practice programming with an emphasis on real-world, game development applications!
Intro to Voyager (Ramp-Up)
Online The Voyager program begins with an 8-week introductory course, wherein students embark on an epic “Behind the Scenes” journey through eight different popular game genres! First, they’ll learn how to navigate and manipulate objects in 3D space. Each week after that, they’ll explore the fundamental design concepts that go into making each game genre function, as well as review the basics of programming using JavaScript. Get ready to ramp it up!
3D Modeling & Animation
Online What exactly do we mean when we say 3D Modeling & Animation? Simply put, we’re referring to the creation of three-dimensional assets which can be used for movies, commercials, and video games – and that’s just what students in this class learn! Our Voyagers practice how to model, texture, light, and render 3D assets – all before moving, rigging, and animating the asset for dynamic use. Work in any 3D arena overall calls for both technical and artistic skills, requiring the user to understand the complexities of the software but also develop an eye for what is visually realistic and appealing. The goal of this course is to help students build a solid foundation in 3D modeling while exploring the science – and art! – of animation.
Robotics
Online Learn engineering and robotics through virtual and, when possible, hands-on experiences with age-appropriate equipment. Participants will study the basics of robotic programming, electrical circuitry, and mechanical design – by building their own robot! After mastering the foundations, participants will be set a variety of engineering design challenges, each with their own set of circumstances and requirements for the student to overcome. These unique tasks, designed to meet the needs of all learners and interest levels, will foster mastery of engineering and the design process, as well as help develop key critical thinking and problem-solving skills applicable to all areas of life. Come on in and build!
3D Art & Design
Online With a focus on 3D Art & Design, students will use programs such as Maya and Blender to create their own 3D models, and study the entire 3D pipeline – from modeling and rigging to UVing, animating, texturing, and more, in order to make game-ready assets for programs such as Unity and Unreal. If your aim is to become a 3D modeler and animator, this class is a must! Note: Students enrolled in this class have progressed through our Voyager introduction and are now part of our weekly “Apprentice” program.
Game Design
Online Students who have progressed through our Voyager introduction then move into our weekly Apprentice program! While the primary game design instruction utilizes the popular game editor Unity, students don’t stop there – they’ll be learning about all aspects of game development! Watch them gain experience in 3D modeling using Blender and Maya, programming in JavaScript and C#, audio design via Audacity and Garage Band, 3D Printing with Makerware and Repetier, and so much more! Each week, our instructors challenge each group of students with new topics designed to keep students progressing in all areas. Our ultimate goal? For our students to gain the skills needed to become independent game developers! Come on in and start your voyage.