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Start   >  Master's & postgraduate courses  >  Education  >  Master's degree in Animation & Digital Arts for AAA Video Games
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  • Presentation
  • Training Content
  • Learning methodology
  • Teaching team
  • Associates entities
  • Career opportunities
  • Testimonials
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Presentation

Information 2021-2022 edition
The 2021-2022 edition of the master's degree has already begun. Shortly we will publish updated information about the new edition of this programme.
Edition
14th Edition
Credits
60 ECTS (345 teaching hours)
Delivery
Face-to-face
Language of instruction
English
Fee
€8,300
Payment of enrolment fee options

The enrolment fee can be paid:
- In a single payment to be paid within the deadline specified in the letter of admission to the programme.
- In two instalments:

  • 60% of the amount payable, to be paid within the deadline specified in the letter of admission to the programme.
  • Remaining 40% to be paid up to 90 days at the latest after the starting date of the programme.
- In four instalments, splitting the payment by direct debit:
  • 40% of the amount payable, to be paid within the deadline specified in the letter of admission to the programme.
  • The remaining 60% will be divided into 3 direct debit payments, which will be distributed equidistantly between the beginning and end of classes.
  • The student must have and be the holder of a bank account with IBAN ESXX
Notes 0,7% campaign

Registration open until the beginning of the course or until end of vacancies.
Discounts, loans and financial aid
Next course
October 2022
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
Taught at
Tech Talent Center
C/ de Badajoz, 73-77
Barcelona
Why this master's degree?
The video game industry strengthens its position as one of the Spanish economy's engines of growth, offering a wide array of opportunities for all companies and participating in job creation. According to data published in the 2020 White Paper on Spanish Video Game Development, turnover in the sector will increase at an annual rate of 17% (CARG 2019-2023) and the growth in employment is estimated at 4.5%.

There are currently 655 registered companies and studios in Spain. Catalonia and Madrid are the engines of development in Spain, accounting for 27.3% and 24.4% of the country's studios respectively. Companies registered in Catalonia account for 51% of the industry and 46% of workers linked to video games.

The video game industry is a sector vast great potential and an international outlook, which creates culture, employment for qualified young people (70% of its employees have completed university studies) and generates wealth. The video game development and production industry demands highly qualified professionals, and as such high quality training is paramount.

Therefore, from the UPC School we organized the academic offering in Animation, 3D Technology and Video Games, which it's made up of 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
Understand and master the main tools used in modelling, animation, video, post-production and level design. They will be able to create any graphic resource that can be part of a major 3D production.

They will learn to use the engines on the market for prototyping, and the university's own engine developed by the students on the master's degree in Advanced Programming for AAA Video Games. They will use these to manage and undertake an ambitious video game project in large teams.

Who is it for?

Aimed at graphic designers, animators and technical artists interested in the video games' creation, as well as 3D, virtual reality and audiovisual projects.

Graduates in Fine Arts, Multimedia, Audiovisual production. Professionals with 2D/3D design knowledge.

Training Content

List of subjects
2 ECTS 15h
Industry
  • History.
  • Industry.
  • Development.
  • Production.
5 ECTS 27h
3D Modelling
  • Polygon modelling.
  • Materials and textures.
  • Scenarios.
  • Bake maps.
  • Textured characters.
  • Optimization and exporting.


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.
  • Iterations build.
  • Model.
  • Advanced Graphics.
  • Scripting & Finite State Machines (FSM).
  • PartSyst & Trails.
  • Shaders.
  • Augmented Reality.
  • Sound.
7 ECTS 42h
Advanced 3D Modelling
  • Organic modelling.
  • Digital sculpture.
  • Retopology.
  • Lighting techniques.
  • ZBrush.
  • Substance Painter:
    • Texturing 3D assets.
    • Texturing characters.
8 ECTS 45h
Animation
  • Character animation for video games.
  • Combat and gameplay animation.
  • Rigging for characters and weapons.
  • Facial animation and lip synch.
  • Motion capture and character retargeting.
  • Animation layers.
  • Non-linear animation.
  • Camera and cinematic animation.
3 ECTS 18h
Vídeo & FX
  • Special effects.
  • Video editing.
  • Video composition.
  • Sound.
3 ECTS 15h
Business
  • Financing and crowdfunding.
  • Models Monetization.
  • Digital -Distribution.
  • Big Data.
  • App Store Optimization (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.
  • Technical 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.

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 course completion certificate of the programme issued by the Fundació Politècnica de Catalunya. (Ver datos que constan en el certificado).

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
    View profile in Linkedin
    He has more than 15 years of experience creating professional video games, he has worked as Lead Game Designer at Digital Chocolate and Gameloft. In 2014, he entered Square Enix London, where he has worked on different projects, including Life is Strange, Life is Strange 2, Life is Strange Before the Storm, collaborating with Dontnod and Deck 9, as Senior Game Designer. Since February 2021 he has joined SuperMassive Games as Game Director.

    He is a full member of The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) since 2017 and got nominated to Best Game Designer in the Game Dev Heroes Awards of 2019.
  • Bauzou, Aurélie
    View profile in Linkedin
    Master of Science in Management, specialized in Human Resources from the EM Lyon Business School. Co-founder and managing partner of Power Up Talent, recruitment agency specialized in the video games' industry. With a total of 12 years of experience, 7 years recruiting in the gaming sector, both in-house at Scopely and at agencies. Background in organization and management consultancy firm.
  • Belmonte Martínez, Pablo Borja

    Lead 3D Artist at Omnidrone. Art Director at LastBlast. Founder and Creative Director at hiPolygon.
  • Boira Ricart, Oriol

    Graduate in Multimedia and post-graduate degree in Virtual Reality. More than 15 years of experience in the digital industry,  working on a video games projects, as a developer and game designer. Currently, a digital product and service conceptualizer in the Catalan Corporation of Audiovisual Media. He wrote the book entitled "Vida Extra" on game design with Gina Tost and "Programación de páginas web con Flash, PHP y MySQL".
  • 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.
  • 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
    Started working in GameBoy and GameBoy Advance games for United States indie groups, like Super Fighter Team. Composer for Yume (Freak Frog) soundtrack at Desarrollador.es nominee, 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 Degree in Video Games. He has 15 years of experience in the video game 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
    View profile in Linkedin
    He has 8 years of experience in the sector, he is 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
    Associate Producer at Ubisoft.
  • Gómez Nicolás, Carlos
    View profile in Linkedin
    More than 15 years of experience in the field of animation and webseries creation, he studied Graphic Design at IDEP - Higher School of Image and Design. Founder and CEO of Nikodemo Animation and Cálico Electrónico S.L, CDO BX multimedia specialist at Telefónica and creative director for Átomo Network (Mexico). Currently, founder and CEO of the Nikotxan studio and animator and illustrator at the internal Hub Studio 24 at Telefónica. Creator of Cálico Eletrónico and Pésame Street and, at the moment, producing 'Bienvenidos a Yonkiland' with artist Kidd Keo.
  • Herrero Domingo, Raúl
    View profile in Linkedin
    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 on 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 and training centres.
  • Nafria Nagore, Ramon
    View profile in Linkedin
    Business Developer at BadLand Publishing.
  • 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, Artificail Intelligence and project management as the Development Manager and Development Director at Ryse: Son of Rome.
  • Pons López, Juan José
    View profile in Linkedin
    Graduated in History from the University of Barcelona (UB), Master in Libraries and Heritage Collections (UB), currently studying Anthropology at the Rovira i Virgili University and Psychology at the Open University of Catalonia (UOC), and is carrying out the research PhD in the Humanities and Communication program at the UOC. He has 20 years of experience creating professional video games, as a Game Designer and Creative Director at companies like 3peppers Games, Flashfutura, TMT Games or Arhat Games. He had participated in the development of video games: DugeonDome, Inopia, Escape from Tenopia Island and The Dive. He has an extensive experience as a professor and lecturer at national universities.
  • 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
    View profile in Linkedin
    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
    View profile in Linkedin
    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

  • Concept Artist.
  • Technical Artist.
  • Animator 3D.
  • Lead Artist.
  • Character Artist.
  • Level Designer.
  • Generalist 3D Artist.

Testimonials

Testimonials

Before enrolling I was an amateur videogame programmer and thanks to this master's course I was able to find a job within the sector. I wanted to shake up my professional profile and this is why I took this course. The programme was key to giving me a solid knowledge base and was very compelling for my professional future. The general view of this sector, with two points of focus for both technicians and artists, was also valuable because it gives artists the things we need to be able to discuss things in a more fluid way with the technicians and vice versa. This sector is growing quickly and needs well trained professionals.

David Teruel Gameplay Programer, Ubisoft

I chose the UPC for my training in video games, as I had previously taken the bachelor's degree course in Photography and Digital Creation and the postgraduate course in Advanced Audiovisual Postproduction at the university. Halfway through the degree course, I started to become more interested in the area of digital creation, and I began to carry out projects with programmers at the FIB. That was when I began to immerse myself in the world of video games, and started taking part in Game Jams. I created my own portfolio with the games I produced, but even so, I felt I needed a qualification to end up specialising in this sector. It was at this point when I decided to do the master's degree in Animation, Digital Art and Video Games at the UPC School. Thanks to that training, I got the chance to do an internship as a QA Tester at Digital Legends, the company where I now work as an artist. Doing an internship as a QA Tester was a great experience, in which I learned a lot and it helped me to carve out a place in the industry.


Clara García   Game Artist, Digital Legends Entertainment

Testimonials<

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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:
    • Application 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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