ARC Academy announces the launch of an International Distance Learning Program in the game industry
ARC Academy is a leading educational institution that aims to bridge education and careers for young talents who want to realize themselves professionally in the game industry.
For the fifth year in a row, the Academy has positioned itself on the market as one of the recognizable names. During this period, more than 175 successfully graduated alumni passed through us, with 84% of the students realizing themselves in the game and creative industries. Many remain engaged even after completing their studies, joining a considerable part of the lecturers.
We’ve long dreamed of expanding our community of students, lecturers, partners, and alumni, and we have finally succeeded. We are proud to announce the launch of our Remote Program. This program aims to unite all creative and talented people from across Europe, including those from Bulgaria, who are unable to attend in person at the campus. It offers them the opportunity to study in the field of gaming from the comfort of their own homes.
Meet the Program Director:
Milen Ivanov is the program director of the distance learning program of ARC Academy. He is a seasoned professional in the game industry who began his career 15 years ago, contributing his artistic talent to renowned companies such as “Atari” and “Arkane”. He is the founder of RyseUp Studios, an independent French game studio, which in 2023 saw significant success with the release of “Roboquest”. Millen’s diverse skill set includes environment modeling, creative direction and business development. Besides his success in game development Milen has worked as an academic tutor in prestigious art schools in France.
What are the Programs offered?
The specialties offered by the program are three in number. They are one of the main areas without which a game studio cannot function – Game Design, Concept Art and 3D Art.
Game Design
Game designers are the people who set the tone and atmosphere of a video game, they define the mechanics and rules. Their role is one of the most important for the development of any game. Depending on the specific requirements of the genre and the specifics of the respective studio, game designers are divided into different subcategories, for example, Level Designer, Mission Designer and others.
Game Design training is practically focused, aiming to prepare students to develop their skills in both scripting and the technical aspects needed to create engaging and innovative video games.
Concept Art
Concept art is an integral part of the video game and entertainment software creation process. It includes developing the design for the characters and environment, creating the atmosphere and establishing the overall visual style of the given project.
Our Concept Art program provides hands-on training, aiming to combine talent with skill. Initially, students will go through fundamental elements of concept art such as composition, perspective and digital painting. After that, they will move on to creating concept art for characters and environments and build on that in the next semesters and also learn more about things like UI/UX design and game engine specifics. The students in Concept Art will graduate with comprehensive knowledge about how their work fits into the process of game development, making them a valuable asset to any studio.
3D Art
3D artists create three-dimensional models of various objects, scenes and living characters. Using specialized software, they develop photorealistic images for movies, animations, video games, marketing materials and other applications. Our 3D Art program provides students with a wide range of skills to help them kick-start their career in game development.
In the beginning, students will gain fundamental skills in areas like anatomy, composition, and digital painting and will complement those with character and environment modeling in the later stages. Participants in the program will gain an understanding of more advanced skills like texturing and animating.
In their last semester, students from every program will form teams to create a real video game. They will work with a studio producer and also get feedback from other professionals in order to create a product aligned with industry standards.
Education from Professionals:
The lectures will be led by top professionals from the game industry, gathered from different parts of Europe. This provides an opportunity for students to gain real-world experience and industry-relevant knowledge.
What are the Advantages of the Distance Program?
Possibility of training from different points of Europe.
Education from game industry professionals.
Future opportunities for realization and creation of a network of contacts with professionals.
The lectures are adapted to the Central European time zone.
ARC Academy prides itself on providing its students with a high-quality education in the field of game development, as well as providing well-trained staff to the studios it partners with.
Join us and be part of the ARC community, whether you are on-site at the campus (Sofia, Bulgaria) or part of the distance learning program.
If you want to learn more about our specializations, the overall training, and the application process, fill out the contact form HERE, and we will arrange a virtual meeting with you to get acquainted and answer all your questions!
