New Bachelor’s Program in Game Design and Production Launches at ITMO

The program will train specialists who will demonstrate both high-level technical expertise and a deep command of game production processes; they will acquire a fundamental mathematical and engineering background in the fields of game experience design, interactive app development, and management. 

“What sets our program apart from others in the market is that we train not just designers who create worlds and plots – but design architects who have production competencies and can develop game experiences. Our graduates are professionals who can design games, know their rules and mechanics, and are competent in player engagement strategies; what’s more, they also have a robust technical foundation and managerial skills, so they can assemble teams and manage products on their own. These are the kinds of specialists the gaming industry needs today,” notes Vitaly Agafonov, the head of the educational program. 

The program will include several modules:

• Game design. The module will introduce students to game design, documentation, mechanics, and the design of game levels and spaces, as well as teach them to conduct game market and competitor analysis, and more. 

• Core professional. In this module, students will undergo solid IT training and learn to work with data, AI tools, computer graphics, and content, and manage teams.

• Toolkit. Within this module, students will be trained to code and incorporate algorithms, data structures, game engines, and modding tools.

• Fundamental mathematics. The module spans over six semesters and covers all the essential math prerequisites: calculus, probability theory, mathematical logic and statistics.

• Thinking. The module focuses on critical thinking and systems analysis. 

The program will be taught by practicing specialists from different gamedev studios. Students will have the chance to intern at one of the school’s partner companies: Lesta Games, VK Play, VK Education, Astrum Entertainment, Game Art Pioneers, and Watt Studio; negotiations with two more companies, Rostelecom Games and Saber Interactive, are currently underway. As the practice shows, most students who have successfully completed their internships land a senior position job afterwards and continue to grow and upgrade their level within the company. 

Graduates of the program can work as game designers, gameplay engineers (designers of game logic), producers, or project/product managers. Alternatively, they can opt to pursue careers at existing game studios or build a team and launch their own startup. 

Instead of conventional exams, students will work on practical projects and move from creating simple board games, modes, and prototypes to a full-fledged gaming project; they will be tasked with generating, designing, and launching a game from the ground up and playtesting their own product with real-life audiences.

The program is designed for technical-minded applicants who are interested in the industry of interactive media products, have experience in creating modes and simple games (both video and board ones), and are well-versed in existing projects of different genres. Applicants will need to provide USE (Unified State Exam) scores in Russian language, mathematics, as well as physics or computer science.