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Training
Video Games

Develop your artistic and technical skills with a comprehensive 4-year course after the preparatory year, combining theoretical and practical learning to make you an expert in video game design and production.

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  • PERIOD

    1 year full-time classroom training

  • HOURS OF LESSONS/YEAR

    800 hours of teaching

  • assessment

    Continuous assessment, evaluation of projects and knowledge
    Assessment of projects and/or end-of-year exams for promotion to the next year

  • Prerequisite

    Bac 1 (type Prépa Entertainment) or equivalent level 4 qualification in applied arts

Year 1

Video Game Professional Cycle

The Cycle Professionnel Jeu Vidéo (Professional Video Game Cycle) is a Bac 4-level qualification that teaches students key skills in modelling and game design, enabling them to understand the entire video game development process, from ideation to production.

Between theory and practice, experiment with professional techniques and design the future landscape of the video game industry!

At ESMA we take
success seriously.

  • 100% Success rate (2023)

  • 81% Overall job entry rate at 6 months (2022)

  • 82% Rate of entry into the target occupation after 2 years (2021)

What does the first year involve?

Get ready to make your first video game!

After acquiring the fundamentals and creative acculturation in the preparatory year, year 1 of the Video Game Professional Cycle focuses on exploring the core skills needed to excel in the speciality.

Between artistic creation and technical mastery, you will learn about game mechanics and gameplay, narration and storytelling, but you will also experiment with the ABCs of programming and production software.

Ready for the challenge?

Discover the associated professions

Our teachings

  • Image culture

    Solid analysis based on an understanding of how video games fit into the history of art and the acquisition of a documentation approach.

  • English

    Understand and present a game project in English.

  • Autonomy development laboratory

    Support in developing a work methodology, defining their artistic personality and discovering softskills.

  • Design

    Learning the basic principles of analytical drawing (shapes and volumes, observation drawing, perspective, construction methods, etc.)

  • Digital painting (Concept Art / Environment)

    Using and understanding digital tools to move from analytical drawing to concept art.

  • 2D computer graphics

    Mastering the Photoshop interface and tools, making the link with 2D animation and creating user interfaces.

  • Animation 2D

    2D animation techniques and the principles of character animation. Animating a 2D interface and using FX to dress up an animation.

  • 3D Modelling

    Learn how to use a 3D modelling tool to create a complete object, use shaders, etc.

  • Game Design Fundamentals

    Understand the mechanics of a game: gameplay loops, narrative elements, 4Fs, 3Cs, in order to successfully complete a game design project.

  • Programmation gameplay

    Student 2D game project with Unity 3D: to learn the basics of algorithms, how to organise a project, how to use a video game creation engine, etc.

  • Special weeks

    Workshops on various themes, game jams, cultural conferences, exchanges with professionals and/or former students, seminars, etc.

Your objectives

  • Understanding shapes and volumes through the practice of drawing
  • Develop your sense of observation and improve the accuracy of your representations, particularly through digital painting
  • Understand the fun mechanics of a video game
  • Get to grips with 3D computer tools and software
  • Acquire the fundamentals of project management (specifications)
  • Discover the issues of user experience and user interface (UX/UI)

The achievements
of students

When they outdo each other, it doesn't go unnoticed!

Any other questions?

For further information, please contact the campus education officers.

The curriculum

Video Game

A preparatory year for the RNCP Level 6 qualification (equivalent to bac+4)