Game Design Foundations Course | Unreal Authorized Training Centre

Uncover what makes a video game compelling and build foundations in designing game systems. Gain confidence in navigating industry-used software, including Unreal Engine and Photoshop, and explore essential game workflows.

Why study game design us:

Learn from game experts with real-world experience
Choose from private 1-on-1 or small group classes
We are an Unreal Authorized Training Center and Academic Partner
Blizzard Entertainment training partner

Using AAA case studies, learn to build immersive game levels and interfaces, combine different gameplay systems to create more engaging experiences, and discover what it takes to launch a successful game.

Get Started

Our Difference

Master Your Skills. Master Your Future.

Our mission is to ensure graduates are the best trained and best prepared for a successful career in their chosen field.

Industry Mentors Learn from the best! Our instructors are seasoned industry pros and bring real-world knowledge to the classroom, ensuring you're equipped with the skills that studios demand.

Outcomes Our goal is to make you job-ready. You'll graduate with technical skills and a deep understanding of the animation industry, making you a valuable asset to any studio.

Community Join an active community and network with peers, mentors, and industry professionals. Our strong industry connections can help you access job opportunities post-graduation.

Course Information

Everything You Need To Know

Quick Overview

Course Structure

What You'll Learn

Tuition & Payment

Qualification Industry certificate

Study Load

20hrs/week

Program Length

9 months

Delivery Mode Online live classes
Custom video lectures
Personalised mentor feedback

Skill Level

Beginner to Intermediate
No entry requirements

Start Dates

January 6, 2025 February 3, 2025 March 3, 2025

Want to take your education higher?

Did you know that the subjects you complete in the career track courses can be used to apply for credit toward our accredited degrees and diplomas in the same discipline?

The skills and knowledge you build in any industry-certificate course can be transferred into academic credits through our Advanced Standing and Credit Transfer process. So, if you decide to take your studies to the next level, know that your prior learning will be recognized.

Compare your options and find out which course is right for you.

GET STARTED

Term 1: 12 weeks

Foundations 1: Essentials of Game Design

Before you can begin building a game you need a basic understanding of game design theory. We'll look at 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.

Expect to play a LOT of games in the name of research. Every great designer must know how to analyze, deconstruct and understand how each game differs and why. You'll achieve this by learning how to paper 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

Understand what a game and game systems are and how to design them
Design compelling game systems, quests & objectives
Design core gameplay mechanics
Add visuals to enhance levels
Start learning the Unreal game engine and building simple prototypes

Portfolio projects: Game pitch document, game design document, UE gameplay prototype.

Weekly Breakdown

Introduction to Game Systems
System Design
Communicating
Visual Design
Game Genres
Core Systems
Development Process
Single Player Design
Technical Design
Level Design
Prototyping
Creating a Prototype

Term 2: 12 weeks

Foundations 2: Core Game Design Principles and Prototyping

It's very easy for game designers to get wrapped up in design theories and ideas. But most game ideas need to be touched, felt, played and tested sooner rather than later. In this term, you’ll learn how to bring your ideas to life and find out what goes into making a fun and compelling game.

Great ideas are a dime a dozen, being able to execute them well is more important. Using the concepts, processes and theories you’ve learned so far, you’ll learn how to validate and express your ideas then apply your new skills and knowledge of level and game systems design to tackle more complex level design problems and areas by creating your own playable game prototype in Unreal.

What You'll Learn

Design advanced game systems, maps and assets
Create a compelling game pitch
Use the Unreal Engine to design and build games
Whitebox a level in Unreal Engine

Portfolio project: UE beautiful corner prototype

Weekly Breakdown

Core Systems
Player Systems
Level Design
Implementing Gameplay
Systems in Levels
Whiteboxing
Combat Systems
Characters & Animations
NPCs
Advanced Level Gameplay
Detailing Levels
Polishing

Term 3: 12 weeks

Foundations 3: Professional Game Design and Implementation

Action and combat are an important part of many different games and genres. This term is about learning how to design and create great AAA combat and action games for PC and consoles. You'll take all of the theory and basic understanding of the Unreal engine which you have learned in previous terms and really learn how to apply it to make an incredible game that you can show off in your portfolio.

Take your game from idea to designing the game systems, to designing a fun level, to implementing it in Unreal so that others can play it using our custom toolkit for Unreal. You'll have all the assets and tools you need to build a game, even if you are not an artist or programmer.

What You'll Learn

Create a compelling shooter project in Unreal Engine
Design and create amazing combat in action games
Implement complex AI in Unreal
Design complex objects in the game which players can use

Portfolio projects: Shooter project GDD, and UE shooter project prototype

Weekly Breakdown

Worldbuilding
Stories to Quests
Map Layout
Combat in Levels
Landscapes
FPS Prototyping
A.I. in Levels
FPS Mechanics
Object Systems
Interactions In Levels
Implementing Quests
Player Gameplay

Monthly

Upfront

SAVE 10%

Group Class

$1,222 USD/mo

$9,999 USD

CG Spectrum’s small group classes provide an ideal learning environment for aspiring artists to grow their skills and connect with peers. With a maximum of 4 students per class, the intimate setting ensures personalized attention from experienced industry mentors.

4 students max class size

Students are assigned mentor

Group interaction & collaboration

Private 1:1

$1,711 USD/mo

$13,999 USD

Learning 1-on-1 with CG Spectrum provides personalized guidance from industry experts, tailored feedback, and flexible scheduling. This focused approach helps students master skills, build competitive portfolios, and prepare for careers in games, film, and animation.

Private dedicated mentor

Students choose their mentor

More dedicated time per week

Eric Jensen

Eric is a Design Manager at PlayStation's Bend Studio. He is excited to share his journey and knowledge he has gained with others.

Known for Days Gone

Heath Smith

Design Director at RiffRaff Games, Heath has 17+ years of game design experience at top studios across North America and Australia.

Known for Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Anthony Cardahi

Anthony is a passionate gamer working in the industry for 10+ years. He loves sharing ideas and perspectives, and hopes his experience in the industry can help newcomers.

Known for Metro: Exodus

Travis McGeathy

Known for Diablo III

Daniel Pinch

Daniel's worked on games like World of Tanks, Damaged Core, and more! He currently works at People Can Fly as a Senior Game Designer.

Known for World of Tanks

Stephan Logier

Known for Beyond Good and Evil 2

Glenn Storm

Known for Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Mathieu Bissonnette

Known for Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Scot Bayless

Scot helped create the first Advanced Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, and was responsible for hits like Falcon 3.0, Crimson Skies, 007: Everything or Nothing and DMC.

Known for DMC

Tim Huntsman

Tim is in his fourth decade of designing and producing video games. He has a number of top-selling and award-winning titles to his name.

Known for Disney Infinity

Pascal Luban

Known for Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow

Philippe Baude

Philippe is a Lead Game Designer at Ubisoft. He specializes in 3Cs, Rational Systems Design, Meta-game/Economy Design, and Designer Mentorship. He’s worked on Far Cry, Watch Dogs, and Hyperscape.

Known for Watch Dogs

Casey Bradley

Casey is a multi-disciplined designer—he creates levels, designs gameplay systems, and leads design teams. He’s operated in the industry for over a decade and currently works at Traega Entertainment.

Known for America's Army franchise

Jason Roberts

Known for Diablo IV

Ryan Laley

Known for Online Education

Roozbeh Madanipour

Known for Watch Dogs: Legion

Max Tishakov

Known for Outriders Worldslayer

Student Testimonials

Get The Education Your Deserve

"CG Spectrum's training got me hired in the industry.

CG Spectrum helped me build the skills and connections that directly resulted in getting hired as a Gameplay Programmer at New World Interactive."

jeff-giron-headshot-zoom
Jeff G | Game Development

"CG Spectrum has exceeded my expectations in terms of quality of learning, support, and continued guidance from mentors and peers.

Also, the community at CG Spectrum is amazing! People are passionate about what they study and do. It's a great study and work environment."

AlexiosVasilakis-square
Alexios V | Game Development

"CG Spectrum is the perfect place to gain focus, understanding, an encouragement for your journey.

If you are looking for a supportive place to gain or hone skills in game design or other verticals, CGS is a fantastic and worthy place to dive in."

shaulhagen-headshot
Shaul H | Game Development

"A cornerstone for your career.

I can honestly say that even by having experience in the field, I've gained a mind-blowing volume of understanding, even when considering the most basic of aspects behind Game Design and Development! Concepts I thought I knew now look so different in a new light. Lessons are challenging, and assignments and classes engaging. A must for any professional looking to up their game a notch or 73."

fritz-m
Fritz M | Game Development

"I chose CG Spectrum because I wanted to take my learning to the next level & ensure I was working on the most efficient way to get into the industry.

Chris Swain was the guiding force that kept me headed in the right direction with his sage advice. He was also a calming presence that kept me relaxed during what was often an overwhelming experience.

Thank you Chris for being a friend, a motivator, and a teammate during my time at CG Spectrum and beyond."

luke-williford Luke Williford | Game Development

"CG Spectrum prepares you to work as a professional game designer from day one.

The most impressive quality CG Spectrum offers is a course that makes study as if you were on your first job. If you are willing to put the energy into studying and do the assignments as if you were on the job, and if you are ready to hear your mentor's suggestions and challenge yourself to push your limits, you will get an experience very similar to the workplace. "

loriscasagrandi-rounded-1
Loris C | Game Development

"My experience at CG Spectrum was second to none, and taught me so much more than I initially anticipated.

My mentor took me from being barely computer literate to an animator working at a studio in only a year and a half. The information and level of teaching at CG Spectrum will absolutely not be found anywhere else."

kieranlee-headshot
Kieran L | Game Art & Animation

"Having a mentor definitely helped! It was awesome to have someone I could reach out to when I was stuck.

Getting the weekly feedback also helped in terms of what to improve and what to focus on next. In Term 3, we learned Unreal Engine; I implemented the knowledge I gained in that course to my Advanced 3D Modeling Course to create some additional renders that demonstrated my understanding of using and integrating game-ready assets into an actual game engine.

benjamin oman
Benjamin O | Game Art & Animation

"I highly recommend signing up with CG Spectrum!

I was looking for a final push to bump my skills and finally start applying for jobs as an artist. Shortly after finishing my Advanced 3D Modeling Course I landed my first job as Junior Environment Artist, which was my dream!"

kasiap-headshot
Kasia P | Game Art & Animation

"Having someone that is part of the industry personalizing your training, and providing honest feedback backed up by years of experience is something very valuable you won't get in other Game Programming Courses.

My mentor assisted me in realizing a game prototype I had in mind for quite a long time, and that was amazing. I highly recommend anyone interested in the course to spend that extra money and go for the 1-to-1 formula, because that's where you'll see the biggest difference with other online resources."

luca-perdelli
Luca Piedrelli | Game Development

FAQ's

Questions? We Have Answers

What are the prerequisites for this Game Design Foundations course?

Age Minimum
The general minimum age to be able to enroll in our industry certificate courses is 16. We require parent or guardian consent during the enrollment process for applicants under 18.

Students under 16 will require a further assessment before they can officially enrol. This may include an interview with a course advisor and the creation of a study plan to ensure they have considered how they will manage a college-level workload.

English Proficiency
We expect our students to have a good understanding of written and spoken English. There’s no specific ’level'; however, you must be able to understand video tutorials in English (no subtitles) and speak with your mentor in English during your live Q&A session.

Computer Literacy
To be successful in this program, you will need basic computer skills and a computer that meets the minimum specifications (see next question).

Can I start in a later term if I have prior experience?

At CG Spectrum, occasionally, it is possible to skip ahead and start studying in later terms. We highly recommend that most students do not skip ahead as each subject covers a tremendous amount of information and skills that will be used throughout the entire program (and will require some catching up in your own time if skipped).

Term one is still incredibly challenging and covers a lot of material. It includes over 25 hours of lecture videos and there are over a dozen assignments students need to complete. All of the future course material will build upon this foundation.

The course will cover some basic concepts, teach the basics of using the Unreal Engine, teach the fundamentals of system and level design, and teach you how to deconstruct games properly and design using a systemic approach.

If you have not released an indie game or worked professionally to design PC/Console AAA games, we highly recommend you do not skip the first term. Even if you have designed mobile games, VR, or other genres or platforms of games, we do not recommend skipping it as the nuances are different in each platform.

If you want to be considered for skipping the first term, you must submit a portfolio to be reviewed and considered. The portfolio must include:

Example Pitch Deck, Game Pitch, and a Game Design Document (GDD) for a major action, adventure, role-playing, shooter or other mainstream AAA PC/console game.
Whitebox level prototype in Unreal Engine or Unity.
Example PLAYABLE level or game built in Unreal Engine or Unity. It must also be action, adventure, role-playing, shooter, or other mainstream AAA PC/console game.

This will ensure that you are familiar with the right materials, concepts, and tools to design new game concepts and build them in a game engine.

If you are unsure if your skills are sufficient, send us your portfolio when you apply, and we'll arrange for the department head to review it and, depending on the circumstances, a student interview.

What are the game design software and hardware requirements?

Software:

Students are required to use Unreal Engine, which is free to download.

We also recommend that you purchase Photoshop/Illustrator (photography plan only) for the duration of your course. Free alternatives to Photoshop include GIMP/Inkscape.

Hardware:

Students will need a dedicated graphics card and a computer that meets the minimum requirements for Unreal Engine and Photoshop.

Please note: as the software we use is regularly updated, please check the specs against the latest available version at the time of enroling.

What game design careers can I explore post-graduation?

This course gives you an excellent understanding of game design fundamentals. Depending on your level of commitment, skills, and portfolio pieces, you may be ready to start applying for entry-level artist positions.

To further hone your skills and increase your hiring potential, the Game Designer Specialization course (available early 2025) is recommended. It covers more complex techniques and includes an entire term dedicated to career development and building your portfolio to prepare you for junior game design jobs such as:

Students also gain access to additional career services to support them in their job hunt. The CG Spectrum community is another great resource—you can network and find out about game development job vacancies through graduates and mentors already working in the industry.

Discover more about these game development jobs, tips, and salary expectations on our careers page:

EXPLORE GAME DEVELOPMENT JOBS

Game Design Foundations

Start Building Your Own Games with Guidance from Industry Game Designers

Master Your Skills. Master Your Future.

Everything You Need To Know

Your pathway to the film and games industry

Want to take your education higher?

Foundations 1: Essentials of Game Design

Foundations 2: Core Game Design Principles and Prototyping

Foundations 3: Professional Game Design and Implementation

Download the Course Guide

Group Class

Private 1:1

Don't Put Your Future On Hold

Learn Directly From Film & Game Mentors

Eric Jensen

Heath Smith

Anthony Cardahi

Travis McGeathy

Daniel Pinch

Stephan Logier

Glenn Storm

Mathieu Bissonnette

Scot Bayless

Tim Huntsman

Pascal Luban

Philippe Baude

Casey Bradley

Jason Roberts

Ryan Laley

Roozbeh Madanipour

Max Tishakov

Join Our Alumni at World Class Studios

Questions? We Have Answers

Looking For Something Else?