M.S. in Game Development

Program Overview

M.S. in Game Development

Description

The Master in Video Game Programming is designed for all those who want to specialize in the exciting field of video game programming. In this master’s degree, you will learn how to use the most sought-after tools in the industry and you will acquire the necessary knowledge to understand the fundamentals of the field.

We will teach you how to implement 2D and 3D environments, the mathematical fundamentals of graphics programming, the behavior of entities in a virtual environment, and other aspects such as player-element interaction through various input devices.

The training will be totally hands-on, both in your courses (focused on establishing and developing knowledge in tools such as C++ and OpenGL), as well as in the final project. Through this project, you will live the experience of creating your own video game in an environment similar to that found in studios, working in multidisciplinary teams under the supervision of industry experts.

Career Opportunities

• 2D and 3D environments programmer.
• Graphics Systems programmer.
• Game Engines.
• Physics Programmer.
• Game Entity.
• Game interface, Artificial intelligence and gameplay programmer.
• IA programmer.
• Multiplayer Experience programmer.
• Communication systems programmer to deliver.

Student Admission Profile

• Graduates of degrees such as Software Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering, Mathematics, Physics or with Post-secondary vocational training in Application Development.
• Self-taught individuals with solid knowledge of Programming, Mathematics and/or Physics.
• People with programming experience in C, C++, Java or other similar programming languages and who are passionate about video games.

Where Our Alumni Work

Our students are highly valued by the industry. Our Professional Development Services is responsible for facilitating student insertion into the various companies that contact us looking for highly specialized professionals.

We have students working in companies like Reflections, Rockstar North, Ubisoft, Novorama, Mediatonic, Tequila, Ericsson, Genera Games, King, Mercury Steam, PlayGiga, Splash Damage, Purple Lamp Studios, Rebellion Developments, Elite 3D, Pendulo Studios, Gameloft, Saber Interactive, Smartick, Black Forest…

Study Plan

• Location: U-tad
• Modality: In campus
• Hours: Monday – Thursday
• Duration: October-October (1,000 hours)
• Language: Spanish

Course 1

• FUNDAMENTALS
  • C++ Programming
  • Mathematics Fundamentals
  • Software Engineering
  • Architecture
  • Behaviors
• GRAPHIC PROGRAMMING
  • 2D Programming
  • 3D Programming
  • Unity
  • Unreal Engine
  • Workshop Unreal Engine
• ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
  • Scripting
  • Artificial Intelligence
• SPECIALIZATION
  • Audio Programming
  • User Interface
  • Physics
  • Online games
• PROJECT
  • Master’s Thesis

Competencies

1. Working with professional development tools and using integrated development environments, version control systems, Unity 3D, and, especially, Unreal Engine 4.
2. Working in 2D and 3D environments and understanding their mathematical foundations and the transformations needed to render graphic content on screen.
3. Working with 3D objects by rendering animations and managing transitions to achieve fluid movements.
4. Creating complex and varied game entities, with different movement systems, behaviors and Artificial Intelligence.
5. Creating game entities with behaviors and movements of varying complexity.
6. Modeling the physical behavior of game entities resulting in more believable environments for the player.
7. Creating tools for the creation and modification of content by other people in the development team of a video game.
8. Capturing and managing a player’s input data across multiple devices.
9. Programming communication systems to provide multiplayer experience.
10. Designing, developing and implementing a complete gaming environment: game server, persistent storage, web portal with events, forums, community groups, etc.
11. Creating rich and varied user experiences, providing the player with engaging character control.
12. Managing video game compatibility with different devices: computers, consoles, mobiles and Virtual Reality.

Faculty

• Javier Lucas Gómez
  • Behaviors teacher
  • Artificial Intelligence Programmer and Automation Lead at Mercury Steam
• Diego Garcés
  • Teacher
  • CG Supervisor at Skydance Animation Madrid

Students' Projects and Awards

• Intruders Hide and Seek
• BlackStorm
• Disembodied
• Greyfall

Alumni Awards

U-tad is the Spanish educational center with the highest number of PlayStation Awards, with 15 in just seven years. The first to achieve this was Rolling BOB , which won the “Innovation Award”. It was the first U-tad game to be released on the PS4 Store. We are currently on our sixth.

Other published games include Intruders: Hide & Seek (_also available on Steam), _Khara, Inglorious(originally called “Tribute of Rage” in its university days), Rascal Revolt and Windfolk , one of the stars of Sony’s Gamescamp 2020. All of these can be downloaded from the online PS Store (Rolling BOB and also have physical copies available at stores).

There is no other Spanish university center capable of producing such high-quality projects.

For the seventh consecutive year, we have been honored with the award for Best University Project at the Fun &Serious/BIG Festival’s Awards, a European benchmark in the industry. We have also been successful in prestigious competitions such as Gamelab, Gamingfest, Gamepolis, IndieSummit, Game JamOn and Indie(Mad), competing not only against other university projects, but also against commercial projects by established studios.

Internationally, we have already won four awards at the world’s leading creative festival, SXSW in Texas. We are the sole Spanish training center that has won or been shortlisted.

Students' Feedback

• Mikel Aretxabala, Gameplay Engineer at Playground Games.
• Mikel García Rincón, Physics programmer at Rockstar Games.
• Alex García Ruiz de Oteiza, Software Development Engineer II.
• Álvaro Abad Molina, Gameplay Programmer.

Program Outline

• FUNDAMENTALS
• C++ Programming
• Mathematics Fundamentals
• Software Engineering
• Architecture
• Behaviors
• GRAPHIC PROGRAMMING
• 2D Programming
• 3D Programming
• Unity
• Unreal Engine
• Workshop Unreal Engine
• ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCES
• Scripting
• Artificial Intelligence
• SPECIALIZATION
• Audio Programming
• User Interface
• Physics
• Online games
• PROJECT

Teaching:

• The training will be totally hands-on, both in your courses (focused on establishing and developing knowledge in tools such as C++ and OpenGL), as well as in the final project.
• Through this project, you will live the experience of creating your own video game in an environment similar to that found in studios, working in multidisciplinary teams under the supervision of industry experts.

Careers:

• 2D and 3D environments programmer.
• Graphics Systems programmer.
• Game Engines.
• Physics Programmer.
• Game Entity.
• Game interface, Artificial intelligence and gameplay programmer.
• IA programmer.
• Multiplayer Experience programmer.
• Communication systems programmer to deliver.