Talbot Heath School | 3D Computer Games and Animation Club - Summer 2024
Course Description:
This five-day course is the perfect introduction to the world of game development and character animation! Students will be given the option of either creating a game during the week or concentrating on learning to animate a 3D character. They can even tackle both options if they prefer.
Hosted at Talbot Heath School in Bournemouth (BH4 9NJ), this introductory course for boys and girls (from any school) is aimed at all ages and ideal for beginners – absolutely no prior experience is necessary.
Game Creation
Using the world-famous Unreal Engine – the same software used to create games such as Fortnite and TV shows such as Star Wars: The Mandalorian – students will learn how to make their very own 3D game in just a few days, from a choice of 3D platformer, Racing Game or Shooter.
The first two days cover foundational skills: the Unreal Engine and its key features are explored through a series of small, incremental tasks that cover key learning outcomes and allow students to complete their first 3D game using the Fortnite world or customised assets. The remaining days allow for the creation of a more feature-rich and graphics-intensive game, complete with environments, sound, lighting, animation and AI (artificial intelligence), with a strong focus on learning while playing. Our expert staff will guide the construction of the core gameplay elements, but students will also be encouraged to explore, experiment and extend the game in any way that they choose.
Students will be able to either create their own bespoke level using our customised world or if they prefer, can create their own Fortnite map.
Character Animation
Using industry-standard 3D software, students will learn how to animate several characters, introducing the theory and practices associated with character animation and performance.
The first two days cover foundational skills: the 3D application software and UI, animation workflows, basic physics, giving an object the illusion of weight, how objects move through space and applying our knowledge via a Bouncing ball exercise.
The remaining days allow for the creation of more complex body mechanics, including walks and jumps, and navigating around obstacles. Our expert staff will introduce observation techniques and the art of animating whilst encouraging students to explore and experiment with the tools.
Students can also export their characters into the Unreal Game Engine for lighting and shot setup.
“My son absolutely loved the course! Because there was a ‘partial’ world set up it meant he could really make visible changes and see how his coding impacted. The instructors were attentive and let the students go at their own pace - I would certainly recommend this course to anyone interested in coding and gaming!”
Alison
Parent, Bournemouth
“I did the 2-day game development course and really enjoyed it. I love gaming but had never done any game development before the course. I learned loads including creating character controls, developing NPCs, sizing characters and creating scenes. By the end of the course I had developed a game and I would definitely recommend this course to anyone interested in gaming“
James
Student aged 13, Bournemouth
“I have really enjoyed cgApprentice, and have learned a lot about the Unreal engine and how to design video games with it. It is a pleasant and enjoyable place to learn and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to make their own games“.
Murphy
Student aged 15, Bournemouth
Course dates
One event is available:
Event One – 29th July to 2nd August 2024 | Students aged 8 to 16
Course Cost
This five-day course costs £285, including a certificate of completion
–> Book your place using this link <–
https://forms.gle/8RYfS3q6D9xMxp5v7
You will be taken to a form where you can add the participant’s details and find payment instructions. Any questions, please email info@cgapprentice.com
Topics Covered
• Using the Unreal Engine (standalone) or Unreal Engine for Fortnite • UI and Navigation • Sound • Animation • Visual Programming • Puzzle Creation • Physics Simulations • Materials • Lighting • Spawning enemies and allies • Dataflow • Datatypes and Conversion • Input • Variables • Incrementing • Functions • Arrays • Loops • Packaging a game for Windows 10/11 Computer •
Hardware and Software
Talbot Heath’s existing Windows PCs will be used to run the game engine and Fortnite, pre-loaded with all the necessary software, scene files and assets. The primary software used will be the Unreal Engine for Fortnite and Fortnite, which is free to download and use – so pupils can continue to explore their new skills at home!
About cgApprentice
cgApprentice is dedicated to bringing world-class education in animation, games and VFX into British schools. Our courses are written by leading educators, and we are the proud recipients of an Epic MegaGrant, awarded by the makers of the Unreal Engine in recognition of our innovative and inclusive approach to learning.
Timetable
Monday to Thursday | Friday | |
|---|---|---|
Morning Session 01 | 09.00 - 10.30 | 09.00 - 10.30 |
Morning Session 02 | 11.00 - 12.30 | 11.00 - 12.15 |
Afternoon Session | 13.30 - 15.15 | --- |
Pickup Time | 15.30 | 12.30 |
Unreal Engine is the world’s most open and advanced real-time 3D creation tool. Continuously evolving to serve not only its original purpose as a state-of-the-art game engine, today it gives creators across industries the freedom and control to deliver cutting-edge content, interactive experiences, and immersive virtual worlds.
The Unreal Engine is used in several creative sectors, Computer Games, Architecture, Film and Television, Training and Simulation and Automative & Transportation.
Create cutting-edge interactive and immersive gaming experiences with the world’s most open and advanced real-time 3D creation platform. Designed for teams of all sizes and titles of all genres, Unreal Engine is behind some of the most successful games of all time.
https://www.unrealengine.com/
arVEE is our virtualised computer environment, allowing students to immediately access virtual workstations on the cloud, reducing the need for costly IT infrastructure. In this scenario, we can provide a virtualised high-end workstation to the students at the touch of a button; all they need is a low-end Windows PC or Mac and an internet connection.
The virtual environment can be run via a small application installed on the machine, or run via a internet browser, offering a secure environment that respects the need for privacy, safety and data security.
Our virtual environment spec is normally as follows:
- Windows 10 Operating System
- NVIDIA T4 Tensor Core GPUs for lightning-fast graphics
- 16 or 32 GiB RAM
- Cloud-based storage
- Simple client or Internet browser access to our learning infrastructure
- Safe and secure sandbox environment
With arVEE, partner schools can use their existing suite
of Windows PCs and Macs to easily and remotely access
cgApprentice’s fleet of high-powered workstations. These
workstations are optimised for intensive graphics work and
game development and come pre-installed with the latest
industry-standard software.
arVEE can be accessed via a small downloadable client, or via your computer’s browser. To ensure a real-time experience, we advise a 5 Mbps connection.
From there, our classes and learning materials give step-by-step guidance on how to create complete 3D games, along the way covering a range of valuable topics and subject areas, from maths and coding to colour theory and design language.
cgApprentice classes are written by internationally – renowned educators with a proven track record and a wealth of experience – their students have gone on to work on amazing projects including Skyfall, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Red Dead Redemption 2 and Blade Runner 2049.