Course Overview

Academy Experience

Skill Level and Ages

Skills Gained

How We Teach

Our Recommendations

Camp Reviews

FAQ

Level Design – Unreal^® Development Kit

Ages 13-18

Introduction to the iD Gaming Academy

The iD Gaming Academy is a two-week, overnight, teen-only summer program held at top universities throughout the country. Learn industry-standard development applications from faculty with proven video game development credentials. Tour a big-name game studio. Expect late-night NVIDIA®-powered gaming tournaments. The pre-college curriculum is intensive, but appropriate for beginner through advanced skill levels. Graduate with a gaming portfolio and the tools to excel in the field of game development. Participants can also purchase CEU Credits (Continuing Education Units) and receive an official transcript from Stanford Continuing Studies, to boost their portfolio for college.

Images from Unreal Tournament® 3. Copyright 2011, Epic Games, Inc. All rights reserved.

About This Course / Featured Software

Use what the pros use—the Unreal® Development Kit (UDK). The Unreal® Development Kit is a fully integrated suite of cutting-edge 3D game development tools used to make many of today’s most popular computer and video games. Students taking courses based on Unreal® Engine 3 and Unreal Tournament® 3 will learn how to work with the same award-winning toolset behind Unreal Tournament® 3 and Gears of War®. From entertainment software to architectural visualization to animated content, Unreal® Engine 3 provides the platform and tools needed to develop cutting-edge 3D projects.

Harness the power of the intuitive UDK interface as you create your own levels and import custom game assets. Modify Unreal Tournament® 3 with custom maps, sculpted environments and character treatments. Learn what makes a game exciting and the strategies behind compelling gameplay as you create your own levels.

Dedicated gamers and game developers will be introduced to a variety of tactics and strategies designed by our curriculum and faculty experts. You’ll head home with considerable new game-level design skills and a better understanding of underlying game mechanics. You’ll never look at games the same way again!

ESRB Rating: M

Curriculum At A High Level

Week One: Get introduced to the comprehensive development toolset featured in the Unreal® Development Kit (UDK) and tap into the power of the celebrated Unreal® Engine. Navigate menus and brush tools, work with viewports and apply or adjust textures. Learn fundamental differences between types of games like DeathMatch, Capture the Flag, or Warfare, while learning tips and tricks for placing weapons, using vehicles, and creating bases. Finish the week with instruction about Power Cores, Power Orbs, and Power Nodes.

Week Two: Once you have reached a comfort level with the UDK toolset, begin to explore the finer points of good level design, learning effective strategies for creating compelling levels. Construct interior and exterior levels while learning texture and lighting techniques for achieving a desired mood. Storytelling comes into play as we breakdown how to use triggers and events. Wrap up the session with level refinement and polish, balancing design, overall challenging game-play and final testing. Take home your original game designs.

Other Related iD Programs

All Other Courses at iD Gaming Academy
iD Programming Academy
iD Visual Arts Academy
iD Tech Camps –Weeklong Gaming Courses

The Academy Experience

University Immersion

Teens experience independent college life in a supervised environment. This pre-college program is overnight-only, so teens stay in real college dorms, eat in dining halls and get a feel for daily life on campus. Choose the recommended Weekend Stay option to have even more time to explore campus and local attractions.

Online Portfolio Workshops

Teens spend two nights each week in portfolio-building workshops and create their own online portfolio. Finished portfolios include a bio page and samples of completed projects. This industry-standard portfolio tool is easy to update as teens delve further into their fields, developing more advanced projects over time. Establishing a portfolio sets our participants apart from their peers on college and internship applications.

Continuing Education Units

Build up your resume for college by earning Continuing Education Units. Receive an official transcript from Stanford Continuing Studies (available for purchase at all Academy locations). CEU Credits demonstrate that students have completed course content of college-level difficulty.

Gaming Tournaments

Game on! Expect late-night NVIDIA®-powered gaming tournaments with Team Fortress® 2. Other games available for recreational gameplay include Portal™ 2, Unreal Tournament® 3, Counter-Strike®, Half-Life® 2, Left 4 Dead™ 2, and more. Gaming tournaments do not infringe on instructional time.

Tour a Gaming Studio

Get a feel for future career options and meet industry professionals. Depending on session location and availability, students tour big-name studios like Hi-Rez Studios, Turbine, Inc., Electronic Arts, CipherPrime and more.

Skill Level & Ages

This level design course is for ages 13-18.

There are no prerequisites for this teen game level design camp, except for the desire to work with one of the most advanced game engines on the market.

Our ever-evolving curriculum is designed for beginner through advanced learners, allowing students to move along at their own pace with customized lessons for a fun and appropriate challenge. Instructors work closely with students and adjust the curriculum to fit their progress and their project goals.

Top 10 Skills Gained

Our teen level design camps are the best in the industry, using the cutting-edge Unreal® Development Kit to go deep into the principles of effective game and strategic level design. Here are the cutting-edge skills you can expect to gain:

Conceptual Skills Development

1. Game design fundamentals
2. Strategic level design
3. 3D map design
4. Texture and lighting techniques
5. Game testing and bug fixing

Software & Hardware Skills Development

6. Adobe® Photoshop®
7. Unreal® Development Kit (UDK)

Soft Skills Development

8. Project planning
9. Creativity
10. Problem-solving

Industry Leading Curriculum & Instruction

8:1 Ratio, Guaranteed

We guarantee ridiculously small class sizes, with a maximum of 8 students per instructor. Why? Because our teaching philosophy is premised on personalization – your path, at your pace. iD's passionate, adult-only instructors guide students through customized curriculum with 1-on-1 teaching. The immersive environment (typically 5, 6, 7 or 8 students – but never more than 8 per instructor) is ideal for fostering creativity.

Two-Week Intensive Course

Our two-week courses at the Academy provide students with the right amount of time to get comfortable in their field of study and put their knowledge to use with hands-on projects. Students also have ample time to work on their online portfolios, enjoy excursions and tours of nearby facilities, relax with late-night gaming tournaments and explore campus.

Adult-Only Faculty, No Counselors-in-Training

Staff at the Academy have a deep understanding of the software, hardware and technical skills needed to succeed in their competitive industries.  They pass along their knowledge to Academy students, and are able to cover a tremendous amount of material in a two-week period. The reason?  Small ratios, innovative curriculum, an intensive staff training program, and an expectation of excellence.  The end result is an awesome online portfolio—and newfound confidence that comes with accomplishing something BIG.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are iD Teen Academies the nation’s premiere pre-college destinations to learn essential STEM skills?

iD Teen Academies offer intensive and relevant technology curriculum, taught by well-versed, accomplished faculty. The programs offer:

• Guaranteed staff ratios – maximum of 8 students per instructor
• Intensive, college-level curriculum for beginner to advanced learners
• The latest industry-standard hardware and software
• Portfolio-building workshops for iD Gaming Academy and iD Visual Arts Academy
• Software repository system utilization experience for iD Programming Academy
• Accredited Continuing Education Units Studies
• Industry-savvy faculty
• An immersive university experience
• Tours of big-name studios
• Guest speakers

How are iD Teen Academy courses different from the courses at iD Tech Camps?

iD Teen Academy courses are two-week, overnight-only programs (at most locations) for teens ages 13-18. Students in the iD Gaming Acadmy and iD Visual Arts Academy build online portfolios in addition to completing a final project. Students in the iD Programming Academy will utilize software repository systems and graduate with full access to their code. All students get the opportunity to tour a nearby studio. iD Teen Academies are more intensive, and are intended to be a pre-college experience. iD Tech Camps offers weeklong day camps and overnight camps, and is for ages 7-17.  iD Tech Camps features more traditional summer camp activities integrated into the curriculum.

Where is this course offered?

See Step 3 for location availability.

How much does this course cost?

The cost for the two-week overnight program is US $3,499. Check our site for special promotions. Continuing Education Units are available. Age restrictions apply. Weekend Stays are optional, but recommended, and cost $349 per weekend.

Are there teen summer camp savings?

• Register early to take advantage of our seasonal promotions. Registering early also helps you reserve the course and location you desire.
• Save $50 when referring a friend. Your friend saves $50 too!
• Save $50 with our sibling discount.
• Sign up for multiple sessions to save with our multi-session savings.

What are the dates of this course?

Choose a location in Step 3 to find the dates that the course is offered.

How do I know if this course is open for enrollment?

View real-time availability of iD Teen Academies and iD Tech Camps courses by selecting a location.

How do I register?

Go to Step 3 and select a location, then follow the steps to register.

What if the curriculum is too easy or too hard once the course starts?

iD Teen Academy programs are taught in small, personalized classes. Instructors are able to work closely with each student to customize the course curriculum to each student’s skill and experience level. Whether a student is a beginner or extremely advanced, our instructors find fun and challenging ways to develop their tech skills. If students have a particular goal or project idea, instructors will work with them and guide them along the way to realizing their dream.

Do I need to bring any computer equipment to camp?

No, students are provided with everything they need for their course, and each student gets their own computer for the session. Students never need to share computers.

What “off-computer” activities are there?

Our teen programs are academic camps, but we also create a fun summer experience. The intensive curriculum and lab time are balanced out with cool excursions, trips to nearby studios and fun down time activities like gaming tournaments. Students may participate in organized outdoor sports, movie nights, talent shows, campus tours and more. Since this is a teen-only program, we try to allow students as much freedom as possible in shaping their own weeks.

Do you provide transportation for students? What about Carpooling?
We do not arrange transportation for our students. For your convenience, we have created a user-friendly carpool application located in My Account (you must be enrolled to use it). All transportation to and from camp is the responsibility of the parent/guardian. There are transportation services that past students have utilized, which can be found through a web search. The iD Gaming Academy is not affiliated with any such company and thus cannot be held accountable for clients’ use of outside transportation services.

Who should I contact with questions or concerns?
Contact our Client Services Department at 1-888-709-TECH (8324) or 1-408-871-2227. You can also email us at info@internalDrive.com. And, if you’d like a brochure sent to you, please click the brochure link. To register, go to Step 3 and select a location, then follow the steps to register.

Our Recommendations

This teen FPS summer camp (First Person Shooter) is a great step if you are considering studying game design or computer science in college, or if you want to explore these fields for a potential career direction. Learn the basics of game design from top instructors with industry experience!

Other Courses and Programs

To view all courses offered at the iD Gaming Academy, click here.
You may also be interested in the teen-only iD Programming Academy or iD Visual Arts Academy.

If you are interested in weeklong tech camps, as opposed to our Teen Academies, please jump to iD Tech Camps for a complete list of related courses and programs, which include:

Autodesk® Maya® – 3D Modeling & Animation (iD Tech Camps)
3D Game Design – Racing Games (iD Tech Camps)
3D Game Design – Role Playing Games (iD Tech Camps)
FPS Game Design – Unreal® Development Kit (iD Tech Camps)
3D Game Modding – Portal™ 2 (iD Tech Camps)
3D Game Modding – Portal™ 2 & Half-Life® 2 (iD Tech Camps)
Game Design for iPhone® & iPad® I (iD Tech Camps)
Game Design for iPhone® & iPad® II (iD Tech Camps)

Game Design Camp Reviews

What Parents Are Saying

“I have been extremely impressed with the professionalism of the staff, who achieved this while still maintaining a fun environment!
Andrea R., parent, Level Design – Unreal® Development Kit

“Got my son thinking about college and helped him put together his portfolio – a web-site – very helpful!Maria B., parent, Level Design – Unreal® Development Kit

“Son had a terrific week. He is happy, relaxed and enthusiastic about returning next year. Particularly enthusiastic about his instructor.Poe C., parent, Level Design – Unreal® Development Kit

“My son’s instructor appeared to be a great and very qualified UDK instructor. I was really impressed with her and the technical level of interaction she had with my son. Bryan K., parent, Level Design – Unreal® Development Kit

“This was my son’s first time away at an overnight camp. He was very comfortable with the facilities, the staff and housing. I would recommend the camp to other parents who may be cautious placing their child in someone else’s hands for two weeks.Kelly L., parent, Level Design – Unreal® Development Kit

What Academy Students Are Saying

“The instructors were great, always able to answer questions and very knowledgeable. Michael C., student, Level Design – Unreal® Development Kit

“It was a great learning experience and a great way to meet others with the same interests as myself. It was very easy to make friends as well. I had fun the whole time I was here. Kevin W., student, Level Design – Unreal® Development Kit

“Being a 6 year veteran of iD Tech Camps, my experience this year at iD Gaming Academy proved to be even better. It put me further in touch with career options in gaming. Hal H., student, Level Design – Unreal® Development Kit

“A great time doing something I love. I would come again.Eric L., student, Level Design – Unreal® Development Kit

“Camp was fun; instructors were friendly, nice and very helpful. An overall good experience where I learned a lot of good stuff.
Calvin C., student, Level Design – Unreal® Development Kit

Tuition & Hours

	HOURS	MEALS	TUITION	WHAT'S INCLUDED
iD Gaming Academy Ages 13-18	Sunday 6:00PM to Friday: 3:30PM	Includes all meals and 24/7 supervision.	US $3,499	Each 2-week session includes computers & peripherals, software, instruction & supervision, camp t-shirt, outdoor activities, games and gaming tournaments, team building & life skills development, official iD diploma, free year-round online workshops and more. Tuition also includes all meals, housing, supervision, and extra time for social activities. Also included are the Studio Tours and excursions. Tax is included with the prices listed. Prices are quoted in $ U.S.
Weekend Stays Ages 13-18	Friday: 3:30PM Sunday: 3:30PM	Includes all meals and 24/7 supervision.	US $349	Stay the weekend and game with us!
iD Tech 365 All Ages	Online 24/7 365 Days a Year	n/a	$179/year	The perfect add-on to our summer programs. Learn online before & after camp.

Note: Minimum deposit of US $500 is required at time of registration.

Continuing Education Units (teens only) are available for purchase.

All prices are quoted in U.S. Dollars and include all taxes.

Select a location for availability and dates

Location	Geography	Nearby Airport(s)
Emory University	Atlanta Area	Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport
Harvard University	Cambridge Area	Boston Logan International Airport
Lake Forest College	Chicago Area	O'Hare International & Midway International Airports
Stanford University	Palo Alto Area	San Francisco, San Jose & Oakland International Airports
Texas Christian University	Fort Worth	Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport
Vassar College	Poughkeepsie	Stewart International Airport
Villanova University	Philadelphia Area	Philadelphia International Airport
University of Denver	Denver	Denver International Airport