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Start   >  Master's & postgraduate courses  >  Education  >  Master's degree in Advanced Programming for AAA Video Games
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  • Programme
  • Training Content
  • Learning methodology
  • Teaching team
  • Associates entities
  • Career opportunities
  • Testimonials
  • Request information or admission

Programme

Edition
17th Edition
Credits
60 ECTS (345 teaching hours)
Delivery
Face-to-face
Language of instruction
English
Fee
€8,300
Notes payment of enrolment fee and 0,7% campaign
Registration open until the beginning of the course or until end of vacancies.
Discounts, loans and financial aid
Start date
Classes start: 08/10/2020
Classes end: 14/10/2021
Programme ends : 05/11/2021
Timetable
Monday: 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Tuesday: 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Thursday: 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Notes to the schedule.
Taught at
Tech Talent Center
C/ de Badajoz, 73-77
Barcelona
Why this programme?
The Spanish videogame industry has become one of the engines of growth of the Spanish economy, providing multiple opportunities for all businesses and participating in job creation. Currently, Spain has 455 companies and studies surveyed, 31 % of these are established in Catalonia. This growth has accelerated in the last 5 years, which have created 52% of businesses today. This sector is formed by a broad base of small companies and very few medium and large companies.

All of this, puts the video game industry among the leading national digital content industries. Internationally, Spain is an important market, reaching fourth place at European level and the eighth worldwide.

The video game industry requires highly qualified professionals, making the existence of a primordial quality training. Therefore, from the UPC School we organized the academic offering in Animation, 3D Technology and Video games, which it's made up of the Postgraduate in Game Design & Management, the Master in Advanced Programming for AAA Video Games and the Master in Animation & Digital Arts for AAA Video Games. This training gives participants endless job opportunities in a wide range of sectors such as project management, game designer, programming, art direction, graphic design and 3D animation. The link between this training and the world of business is crucial is imperative.

In the master involving more than 50 companies that offer students lectures and conference sessions, through which pass on their knowledge and bring us closer to the reality of the sector. We must emphasize the high level of employability and the opportunity to work experience through partners. The result of all this methodology, essentially professional, the participation of Social Point through its sponsorship in the Three Headed Monkey Awards.
Project gallery
Aims
  • To implement any video game from scratch in C ++.
  • To know and implement all the aspects of a video game: technology, graphic programming, animation systems, artificial intelligence, game play systems, physics, etc.
  • To learn about the creation process of a video game, as well as about each of its related parts.
  • To identify the elements involved in video game programming and design.
They will make their own 3D video game engine in a group, the tool to deal with it, as well as an ambitious project with large teams, and they will learn to successfully carry out all the management that entails.
Who is it for?
Aimed at programmers interested in the creation of video games of any kind, complexity and platform.

Graduates in Computer Science or Engineering,  professionals with programming knowledge that show interest in the video game industry.

Training Content

List of subjects
2 ECTS 15h
Industry
  • History.
  • Industry.
  • Development.
  • Production.
5 ECTS 27h
C++ for Video Games
  • Advanced C++.
  • Developement games 2D.
  • Tile Based Engines.
  • Physics.
4 ECTS 24h
Game Design
  • Creativity.
  • Game Vision Document.
  • Game Design Document.
  • AAA Game Design.
  • Indie Game Design.
5 ECTS 27h
Level Design
  • Level Designer.
  • Navigation, Goals, objectives and rewards.
  • Design Modular.
  • Exercise Stage 3D.
6 ECTS 42h
Tech & Dev
  • Building a Game Engine.
  • QA.
  • Iteractions build.
  • Model.
  • Advanced Graphics.
  • Scripting & FSM.
  • PartSyst & Trails.
  • Shaders.
  • Augmented Reallity.
  • Sound.
7 ECTS 42h
3D Game Engine
  • Game Programming Patterns.
  • Game Engine Architecture.
  • Game objects creation.
  • Gameplay Systems.
  • Graphics Layer.
  • Physics Layer.
  • GUI Layer.
  • Audio Layer.
6 ECTS 33h
Graphics & Animation
  • OpenGL.
  • Space partitioning.
  • Visibility.
  • Models.
  • Animated models.
  • Scene tree.
  • Especial effects.
  • Shaders.
5 ECTS 30h
AI & Gameplay Systems
  • Physics.
  • Logic.
  • FSM.
  • Scripting with Lua.
  • Artificial intelligence.
  • Augmented Reallity.
  • Sound.
  • Networking.
3 ECTS 15h
Business
  • Financing and crowdfunding.
  • Models Monetization.
  • Digital -Distribution.
  • Big Data.
  • ASO.
3 ECTS 15h
Comunication
  • Elevator pitch.
  • Video and press release.
  • Webs and publishers.
  • Preparation CV and interview.
3 ECTS 21h
Studios
  • Multiplatform Development.
  • Indie studios.
  • Techincal Arts.
  • Publishers.
  • AAA Studios.
  • Social Games.
11 ECTS 54h
Project
The master's project will be carried out in groups formed by students of the Master in Advanced Programming for AAA Video Games and the Master in Animation & Digital Arts for AAA Video Games. As well as other students from music schools.

A video game project with its own technology is developed, implementing an engine from scratch with C ++ and OpenGL. Its own interface, Unity style, is implemented to facilitate communication between programmers and graphic designers.

The groups simulate the creation of a team, with the definition of all roles, scrum methodology, with its brand action, communication and social networks visibility.

At upcvideogames blog, you can see the projects of the master's previous editions.

The UPC School reserves the right to modify the contents of the programme, which may vary in order to better accommodate the course objectives.
Degree
Special master's degree issued by the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Issued pursuant to art. 34.1 of Organic Law 4/2007 of 12 April, amending Organic Law 6/2001 of 21 December, concerning Universities. To obtain it, is necessary to have an official university qualification. Otherwise, the student will receive a certificate of completion of the programme issued by the Fundació Politècnica de Catalunya.

Learning methodology

The teaching methodology of the programme facilitates the student's learning and the achievement of the necessary competences.

Learning tools
Participatory lectures
A presentation of the conceptual foundations of the content to be taught, promoting interaction with the students to guide them in their learning of the different contents and the development of the established competences.
Practical classroom sessions
Knowledge is applied to a real or hypothetical environment, where specific aspects are identified and worked on to facilitate understanding, with the support from teaching staff.
Success stories
Outstanding business knowledge and experiences with high added value acquired during an outstanding professional career are presented and shared.
Visits
These visits are to specialist centres, companies in the sector or outstanding and important locations in the sector, in order to obtain knowledge in situ of development, production and demonstration environments within the programme.
Problem-based learning (PBL)
An active learning methodology that enables the student to be involved from the beginning, and to acquire knowledge and skills by considering and resolving complex problems and situations.
Tutorship
Students are given technical support in the preparation of the final project, according to their specialisation and the subject matter of the project.
Assessment criteria
Attendance
At least 80% attendance of teaching hours is required.
Level of participation
The student's active contribution to the various activities offered by the teaching team is assessed.
Work out projects
Studies on a specific topic, by individuals or groups, in which the quality and depth of the work is assessed, among other factors.
Completion and presentation of the final project
Individual or group projects in which the contents taught in the programme are applied. The project can be based on real cases and include the identification of a problem, the design of the solution, its implementation or a business plan. The project will be presented and defended in public.
Work placements & employment service
Students can access job offers in their field of specialisation on the My_Tech_Space virtual campus. Applications made from this site will be treated confidentially. Hundreds of offers of the UPC School of Professional & Executive Development employment service appear annually. The offers range from formal contracts to work placement agreements.
Virtual campus
The students on this master's degree will have access to the My_ Tech_Space virtual campus - an effective platform for work and communication between the course's students, lecturers, directors and coordinators. My_Tech_Space provides the documentation for each training session before it starts, and enables students to work as a team, consult lecturers, check notes, etc.

Teaching team

Academic management
  • Alonso Alonso, Jesús
    View profile in futur.upc
    Head of Video Games Area of Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC). Assistant Professor at Computing Science Department at UPC.
Teaching staff
  • Alonso Alonso, Jesús
    View profile in futur.upc
    Head of Video Games Area of Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC). Assistant Professor at Computing Science Department at UPC.
  • Arqué Gallardo, Alejandro

    Game Designer, Square Enix.
  • Belmonte Martínez, Pablo Borja

    Founder & Creative Director, hiPolygon.
  • Boira Ricart, Oriol

    Graduate in Multimedia and post-graduate degree in Virtual Reality. More than 15 years of experience in the sector as a developer and game designer, and currently a digital product and service conceptualiser in the Catalan Corporation of Audiovisual Media. He wrote the book entitled "Vida Extra" on game design with Gina Tost.
  • Cerdà Pérez, Kevin
    View profile in Linkedin
    A professional with more than 10 years of experience in the sector, and the co-founder of BeautiFun Games, where he worked as Game Designer and writer of Nihilumbra and Megamagic. He is currently Lead Designer and Narrative Director on projects including RiME and GYLT at Tequila Works.
  • Díaz Iriberri, José

    Doctor in Computing from the UPC. He is currently engaged in research in the field of graphic computing, and is a lecturer at the University of Vic. He was a post-doctoral researcher on the European Commission's Marie Curie scholarship programme in the Visual Computing group of CRS4 (Italy). His research focuses on the visualisation of scientific data, parallel computing and programming GPUs, and the design of applications in virtual and augmented reality environments.
  • Estorach Cavaller, Vanessa
    View profile in Linkedin
    Consultant and expert in mobile technology, leading the Mobile and Digital transformation. I have been working on the mobile industry since 2010. I was the co-founder and CMO of LetsBasket, a basketball tracking app. In 2014, I co-founded Women in Mobile (WIM), an initiative with the purpose of increasing the visibility of women in tech. In 2015, I have received the Dona TIC Award.
  • Font Moragas, David
    View profile in Linkedin
    Composer & Programmer. Started working in GameBoy and GameBoy Advance games for US indie groups like Super Fighter Team. Composer for Yume (Freak Frog) soundtrack at Desarrollador.es nominée, composer and sound engine programmer for One Sequel (Digital Legends), Best 3D IMGA and Best Mobile Game Award at Desarrollador.es, composer for Furby Island. Best IP-based game IMGA and Best Mobile Game Award at Gamelab, sound designer and editor for Kukoo Kitchen (QuestTracers), Best Sound and Best Finish ArtFutura Awards, specialized audio analysis programmer for Dance Fabulous (Digital Legends).
  • Fuentes de los Santos, Carlos
    View profile in Linkedin
    Computer Engineer and Master's in Videogames. He has 15 years of experience in the videogame industry, as the Gameplay Programmer at Pyro Studio and the Senior Gameplay Programmer, Lead Programmer and Engine & Animation Programmer at Digital Legends.
  • Gálvez Guerrero, Javier

    He has 8 years of experience in the sector, and has been a producer and story designer at Mango Protocol, an independent studio that has created the videogame series Psychotic Adventures (MechaNika, Agatha Knife, Colossus Down).
  • Gil Ramos, Sebastián
    View profile in Linkedin
    Junior Associate Producer at Ubisoft.
  • Herrero Domingo, Raúl

    More than 20 years of experience in the videogame industry, programmer in the Commandos saga by Pyro Studios, where he led the development of this saga for consoles. Head of Projects at Arvirago, Production Director at Digital Legends Entertainment, where he worked in AAA projects, highlighting Respawnables and Afterpulse. Currently, he specializes in the analysis of video game data, he is CEO and founder of Katoid, where he has promoted and directed the "F2P Campus" accelerator of free-to-play video game companies that has some of the best international experts in this area. In the field of teaching, he teaches and lectures in various universities, congresses, training centres, etc.
  • Landa Bonilla, Unai
    View profile in Linkedin
    A video game developer with more than 20 years of experience developing video game technology on multiple platforms (PC/Consoles/mobiles). He has been with Digital Legends, where he currently CTO, for the last 12 years. He previously worked at NoriaWorks, Pyro Studios and Trilobyte.
  • Nafria Nagore, Ramon
    View profile in Linkedin
    Business Developer at BadLand Publishing.
  • Pereiras Bernárdez, Elías

    Freelance videogame programmer & developer.
  • Pillosu González, Ricardo Javier

    He has 15 years of experience creating professional video games at companies like Pyto Studios and Crytek. He has held technical positions such as gameplay programmer, AI and project management as the Development Manager and Development Director at Ryse: Son of Rome.
  • Pons López, Juan José
    View profile in Linkedin
    He has 20 years of experience creating professional video games, as a Game Designer and Creative Director at companies like Flashfutura, TMT Games or Arhat Games. He had participated in the development of video games: DugeonDome, Inopia, Escape from Tenopia Island and The Dive.
  • Ripoll Tarré, Marc
    View profile in Linkedin
    He has more than 15 years of experience in the 3D design sector. Founder and Lead Designer at The Game Forger S.L., a company that creates video games in virtual reality. Extensive experience as a professor and lecturer at national and international universities.
  • Sanchez Martinez, Antonio
    View profile in Linkedin
    Computer Engineer. Post-graduate degree in Advanced Project Management and Master¿s in Video game Design. More than 15 years of experience designing, developing and managing projects involving multimedia, gaming and video games. Founder and director of Rosebud Games since 2009. Producer of "Football Superstars" video game in Nottingham, UK from 2007 to 2009. Mention to the Best Technology in Video games at the ArtFutura Fair 2003.
  • Santamaria Pena, Ramon

    a professional with more than 15 years of experience developing video games. Software Engineer and Technical Designer at Electronic Arts i Starloop Studios. Founder of the company emegeme, where we have published several products for mobile devices, and the company raylib technologies, where we develop video game technology. Professor and coordinator of video game projects for 6 years. Creator of raylib, an open source tool for the development of video games and graphic applications.
  • Torrents Poblador, Pere

    Economist, he has developed his professional career in the areas of business development and business management in the video games' industry, especially for mobile devices. Currently, he is Head Operations at Scopely and professor at Polytechnic University of Catalonia, in business and finance subjects, in Degrees and Masters in Video Games and Master in Big Data Management.
  • Tost Faus, Georgina
    View profile in Linkedin
    Bachelor's degree in design, specialising in audiovisuals from ESDi Higher School of Design (URL). She is currently Director of Marketing and Operations at the video game company IGG, and a journalist specialising in technology, video games, the mobile economy and start-ups for various media outlets including TV3, Catalunya Ràdio, Onda Cero, TVE and Diari Ara. She has been a mentor in video game companies and technology start-ups, and wrote the book entitled "Vida Extra" on game design with Oriol Boira.

Associates entities

Strategic partners
  • Digital Legends Entertainment, S.L
    • Provides teachers and lecturers.
  • The Game Forger, S.L.
    • Provides teachers and lecturers.
Collaborating partners

Career opportunities

  • Gameplay programmer.
  • Game Engine programmer.
  • Tools Programmer.
  • Q&A Lead.
  • Level Designer.

Testimonials

Testimonials

I wanted to get some training to be able to work in the industry because doing it by yourself is very difficult. My goal was to be able to find a job at a videogame company either here in Spain or abroad. In the end I found a job in Barcelona. This course gave me a lot of really useful theoretical knowledge that helped me start working. I especially liked the length of the course and the genuine interest that professors showed in helping us find work.
José Antonio Camacho Game Designer, Digital Chocolate
My academic training was in the area of Electronic Engineering but I was more interested in professional opportunities in the videogame area because I think it is more interesting and fun. In this Mater's course I learned fundamental concepts that have helped as a very useful starting point. I combined this course with my final project for the degree and focused my professional career towards this sector. Thanks to this Master's course I got a job in Madrid working in programming and design and now I have specialised in design management.

Ramon Santamaría Technical Designer, Plunge Interactive

It is not very easy to get specialised training in the videogame industry because of the lack of centres dedicated to providing this kind of knowledge. In this Master's course at the UPC School I learned general knowledge about programming, modelling, animation and all kinds of techniques used by professionals. During this Master's course professors develop videogames in teams and this was an incredible experience. You can learn a lot, but most of all you have to emphasise the quality of the contacts that you can make: currently I am working at BeautiFUN Games, a company made up entirely of former students from this Master's course. We hope to launch our fist videogame in the winter of 2011.

Kevin Cerdà Game Designer, BeautiFUN Games

Request information or admission

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  • If you have any doubts about the master's degree.
  • If you want to start the registration procedure.
How to start admission
To start the enrolment process for this programme you must complete and send the form that you will find at the bottom of these lines.

Next you will receive a welcome email detailing the three steps necessary to formalize the enrolment procedure:

1. Complete and confirm your personal details.

2. Validate your curriculum vitae and attach any additional required documentation, whenever this is necessary for admission.

In addition to your CV, the UPC School will also require you to submit the following documents for preregistration on this Master's degree:
    • Acceptance letter.
    • Portfolio. You have to describe the projects where you have been involved, specifying the technology and tools used and a link where we can view these projects.
    Once the registration process is finished, we will send you a skills document that you will have to return filled out. We will also inform you how to perform the access test (online).

3. Pay €110 in concept of the registration fee for the programme. This fee will be discounted from the total enrolment fee and will only be returned when a student isn't admitted on a programme.

Once the fee has been paid and we have all your documentation, we will assess your candidacy and, if you are admitted on the course, we will send you a letter of acceptance. This document will provide you with all the necessary information to formalize the enrolment process for the programme.




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