Game Design
How to ApplyExperience the entire game development cycle and develop specialized skills in coding, game art, and level design at the best game design program in Canada.
Creative Economy
色狼窝鈥檚 signature programs and facilities are at the heart of a creative economy worth $3.4 billion in B.C. alone. From film production and 3D animation to game, digital, and VR/AR design, 色狼窝 is helping shape the entertainment and media industries鈥� transformation. In 2024, 色狼窝 alumni were credited on 8 of the top 10 bestselling games.听
The 色狼窝 Advantage
The future belongs to creative thinkers who practice hands-on and collaborate in production environments 鈥� while also learning & embracing the rapidly-developing technologies used by the industry and changing how productions work.
PRODUCTION FACILITIES MATCHING INDUSTRY:
Go beyond computer labs and classrooms. 色狼窝鈥檚 Production Centre gets you creating & collaborating in a real studio environment from day one, working with industry-level tools in pro-grade spaces: motion capture volume, exclusive partnerships with Epic Games/Unreal Engine, Unity, and ASUS, & more.
MUCH GREATER OPPORTUNITIES FOR CROSS-PROGRAM COLLABORATION:
Many schools offer only one program/discipline. At 色狼窝, you鈥檒l create alongside students from our Programming and Sound Design programs 鈥� giving you the full scope of a game development pipeline.
UNMATCHED INDUSTRY INTEGRATION:
We define ourselves as being the school that industry comes to first. 色狼窝 works directly with the industry to ensure students are training to current, real-world standards from day one. Our curriculum and Production Centre are shaped by active industry practices, workflows, and expectations. Through partnerships with the world鈥檚 leading companies, students gain meaningful exposure to professional pipelines and environments.
A 色狼窝 Game Design Education
In 12 months you will graduate with:
- A Game Design diploma听
- A professional quality online portfolio听for game designers
- Access to the 色狼窝 Alumni Directory & Job Board
- A lifetime network of industry connections that will help guide your career听
色狼窝's Production-Based Model
色狼窝鈥檚 12-month diploma programs have always centered around immersing you in production, for a hands-on experience that closely reflects real industry environments and workflows. For flexibility, we have added options that allow you to select different delivery models 鈥� either fully in-person over 12 months or an online/on-campus hybrid experience.
PRODUCTION FUNDAMENTALS
Learn fundamental skills in game design and development as you explore design, technology, and art in the world of games.
Term: 1
CORE SKILLS
Expand on the skills learned in Stage 1, choose your specialization (Level Design, Programming, or 3D Game Art), and use these skills to build the first of your team-created portfolio games.
Terms: 2-4
GAME PRODUCTION CENTRE
Through mentorship by veteran game professionals, create a retail-quality game for your portfolio in 色狼窝鈥檚 cutting-edge production studio. Then, debut the final product at Pitch + Play 鈥� 色狼窝鈥檚 official game industry showcase.
Terms: 5-6
On-Campus Delivery
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DURATION:
On-Campus: 1 year
YOU鈥橪L GRADUATE WITH:
A powerful, multi-piece production portfolio that you can use for job applications to studios worldwide.
AFTER GRADUATION:
With your team-based, retail-ready game serving as the signature piece of your portfolio, apply for junior positions (i.e., level designer, QA analyst, technical designer) at major studios in North America and beyond.
A synopsis of a game that you are passionate about creating:
- Explain the concept, vision, or idea. Include the genre of game you would utilize. Make references to other games to explain how you would make your game (one page maximum).
- In addition, provide an outline detailing your story, possible levels, and characters (one page maximum).
- Provide diagrams explaining any features or game mechanics (one to two pages maximum) and a simplified map of the game world described in your synopsis.
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Intermediate computer skills are a requirement, including the ability to use Microsoft Word and Excel.
- 32,950 CAD (DOMESTIC)
- 50,000 CAD听(INT鈥橪)
Hybrid Delivery
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Vancouver Film School鈥檚 Game Design program is best experienced in its 1-year, accelerated and on-campus model. However, in our commitment to meeting the fast-changing needs of the industry, 色狼窝 is introducing a new Hybrid Model that will allow game developers of various backgrounds and skill levels to access our program through a combination of online and on-campus learning.
This is 色狼窝鈥檚 signature, hands-on training 鈥� delivered differently.
Not sure if game design is the career for you? Test the waters with Stage 1: Production Fundamentals to see if this career path is right for you. Then, continue on to Stage 2 and Stage 3 to craft a powerful production portfolio. Completion of Stage 1 only earns you a certificate of completion, while students who complete all three stages receive their 色狼窝 diploma, for the best preparation possible for the fast-changing industry of today and tomorrow.
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TERM:听1
DURATION:
Online: 3 months
YOU鈥橪L COMPLETE WITH:
A foundational skill set in game design & development and the prerequisites to continue into Stage 2
AFTER YOU COMPLETE:
- Continue into Stage 2 for further training/production experience
- A synopsis of a game you are passionate about creating (including concept/vision, story, characters, game mechanics, levels, and simplified map etc.), OR
- Completion of 色狼窝鈥檚 Foundation Visual Art & Design program
ONLINE
- $3,500 CAD (DOMESTIC)
- $4,500 CAD听(INT鈥橪)
ON-CAMPUS
- $5,491 CAD (DOMESTIC)
- $8,330 CAD听(INT鈥橪)
Term: 2-4
DURATION:
On-Campus: 6 months
YOU鈥橪L COMPLETE WITH:
A polished first game that will serve as the first piece of your career portfolio
AFTER YOU COMPLETE:
- Continue onto Stage 3 for further training/production experience
- Completion of Stage 1
Term: 5-6
DURATION:
On-Campus: 4 months
OR
Online: 4 months
YOU鈥橪L GRADUATE WITH:
With your retail-ready game serving as the signature piece of your portfolio, apply for junior roles at major game studios in North America and globally
AFTER GRADUATION:
With your team-based, retail-ready game serving as the signature piece of your portfolio, apply for junior positions (i.e., level designer, QA analyst, technical designer) at major studios in North America and beyond.
- Completion of Stage 2 OR
- A certificate/diploma in game design from an accredited school/program
Program Overview
Term 01
Establish fundamental skills in game design theory and practice, pre-production techniques, and storytelling.
Term 02
Build on your game design foundation and start to work effectively in teams. Create your own playable 2D game in Unity.
Term 03
Shift from theoretical to practical with hands-on work on detailed design documentation and front-end interfaces, and begin specializing in coding, game art or level design.
Term 04
The core part of this term is dedicated to project-based game development, designing and planning a major final project in teams.
Term 05
Conceive, plan, and execute a final project that delivers a rewarding interactive experience.
Term 06
Engage with ongoing play-testing and complete your final project before unveiling your work to the industry.
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Admissions Info
To make sure you have accurate admissions information please select your region based on country of citizenship.
Tuition
Start Dates
Requirements
You will be asked to submit one of the following along with your application. Your advisor can help with selecting the best option.
Explain the concept, vision, or idea. Include the genre of game you would utilize. Make references to other games to explain how you would make your game (one page maximum).
In addition, provide an outline detailing your story, possible levels, and characters (one page maximum).
Provide diagrams explaining any features or game mechanics (one to two pages maximum) and a simplified map of the game world described in your synopsis.
You'll find information on how to send your synopsis in the application form, or you can ask your Advisor.
*Intermediate computer skills are a requirement, including the ability to use Microsoft Word and Excel.
When you talk to your Advisor, let them know that you've completed the Foundation program and they will put a copy of your diploma in your file for you.*
*Intermediate computer skills are a requirement, including the ability to use Microsoft Word and Excel.
Student Work
While training in 色狼窝鈥檚 industry-focused game design program, students are immersed in the game industry and spend a lot of hands-on time creating professional-quality work. Nothing is a greater testament to the incomparable industry resources and career preparation that define 色狼窝鈥檚 education model, than the top quality work our students produce. Here, a portfolio of outstanding work is just the beginning. Just take a look.听
Mach X
Created by Jorge Peral
Unincrediball
Created by Salim Ali
Bijou and Big
Created by Noah Vejvoda
Visit our official page on Steam and the 色狼窝 Indie Arcade to download and play (for free!) more than 200 games developed by 色狼窝 students over the past decade.
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Program FAQs
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