Melbourne is one of the leading cities in Australia with the largest number of Digital Games and 3D animation companies. Following a simulated Games Development model(written and endorsed by Industry), our Advanced Diploma students will work with industry mentors towards the development and publication (on Apple’s App Store or similar games websites) of their own Computer Game, prior to graduating with a nationally recognized qualification.

Academia's School of Games and Digital Production programs provides you with a great starting point to gain employment in the rapidly growing games, film, television, 3D content and digital production industries. Digital production skills are also in great demand in many other industry areas including Simulation, Design, Urban Planning, Defence Forces,Architecture. Bio-Technology, Illustration and Advertising.

Unlike other programming and 3D art schools, Academia’s School of Games and digitial production is focused on educating you in development of digital games across different media from PCs, to games consoles and now the ever popular mobile and slate computer devices. Working with the latest technology and state of the art computing you will interact with industry mentors throughout your computer games development project work and develop a portfolio to take to industry when seeking employment.

Begin your exciting and creative career in the multi billion dollar industry of Computer Games Development at Academia

• In addition to our largest nationality of Australian Students, Academia has over 50 nationalities attending our Vocational and English courses. Study at Academia and experience the world.
• Academia is known as a leader in quality tuition recognized by Industry and the Australian Government
• Situated in the geographical centre of Melbourne, Australia, our students enjoy being in the middle of Melbourne's central shopping, entertainment, restaurant and business district. Twice voted as the most livable city in the world, Melbourne is Australia's capital of food, fashion sport and entertainment. Clubs and bars, central markets, the main tourist district, fashionable stores, restaurants and much more are all within walking distance of our college. Being one of the most multicultural cities in the world, international students are made to feel welcome.
• All Academia Courses are Nationally Accredited
• As a mid-sized tertiary institution you will be treated as an individual at Academia with personalized care and a tailored training plan for students who encounter difficulties in progressing in certain subjects.
• Counseling staff, employment officers, student services and marketing personnel are available to assist you with your specific needs. Any personal matters are treated with strict confidentiality
• A number of Universities offer Pathways with Academia allowing students interested in continuing their education to a University Degree level or above.
• Students study a number of programming languages including Java which is becoming the most popular programming language in the world with up to 68% of developers programming in Java in the Asia Pacific Region (refer to http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Application-Development/Java-Use-Increases-Among-Developers-Worldwide-Survey-844137/ )

Academia Games and Digital Production students have access to spacious studio classrooms which provide all that is necessary to produce industry standard games, animated film and digital content.

Students work on individual multicore computers with dual monitors and high grade gfx cards and uses the same software as leading production houses. Teachers are all industry experienced and, throughout the course, students will meet and learn from numerous additional speakers and advisors from games and digital production houses.

Students who complete Diplomas and Advance Diplomas in the Art stream at Academia's School of Digital Production have opportunities to enter a large number of fields including:

• Games Development and Design
• Digital Film Production
• Visual FX
• Advertising and Illustration
• Architecture and 3D Modeling

Academia’s Industry Advisory Group consists of leading developers, Games House owners and experts in the Games and Digital Media field. Our Industry Advisory Group members are involved in advising Academia in latest industry trends in addition to ensuring our delivery model meets industry needs hence optimizing the employability of our graduates. Our Industry Advisors are also involved in reviewing student projects and as guest speakers to our student base.

Bruce Jenkins

Bruce has been involved in digital and games industries in Australia for over fifteen years. He is a former Head of School of Academy of Interactive Entertainment in Melbourne, a former Creative Services Manager for Madman Interactive and Studio Manager at Animation Works, Fluid Interactive and IconMedialab

He currently develops and manages online systems and content for the State Government, lectures at the Victorian College of the Arts and is a member of The Australian Film Institute and Open Channel. He is also producing a short animated film and developing a series of interactive and online learning tools

Amelia King
Senior Policy Officer
Department of Business and Innovation
Victoria

Amelia has seventeen years involvement in digital and screen industries in Victoria. She is a former manager of the Victorian digital and multimedia funds for Film Victoria where she led Australia in being the first agency to provide financial support for the video games industry. In 2009, she initiated the world's first summit dedicated to exploring opportunities in digital distribution. She is a current board member of the Games Developers Association of Australia and brings to the group a keen knowledge of the skill sets required by small and medium enterprises in the games and film space.

Thomas Mayer

Thomas has over seven years of involvement in the Australian and American games industry as a Programmer, Lead Programmer and now Technical Director. He has worked for ThatGame, IRGurus, Crystal Dynamics, Transmission Games and now Trickstar Games.

He has worked on numerous titles including: AFL, Heroes of The Pacific ,Heatseeker, Tomb Raider: Legend, Heroes Over Europe, Cricket 2009/2010.

Tommy has additionally performed the roles of Production Management, Recruitment, Research and Development. He's worked on a variety of platforms including Nintendo Game Boy Advance and Wii, Playstation 3, Windows Mobile. iPhone, iPad and XBox360

Neil Rennison

Neil has over ten years involvement in the games industry as artist, teacher and entrepreneur . He currently owns two games companies: Fraction Studios, an art outsourcing specialist who work with large publishers on well established games properties and Tin Man Games, an independent games developer creating new IP for Apple products. He is a former lecturer in 3D modelling and animation in the UK at Bournemouth University

He has worked on a number of titles, most notably the Need For Speed, Tiger Woods, Juiced, Racedriver and Sims series of games for a number of platforms. He is currently developing a range of Choose Your Own Adventure style interactive gamebooks called Gamebook Adventures debuting on the iPhone and iPad. To see more about both companies check out www.fractionstudios.com and www.tinmangames.com.au.

John Sietsma

John has 4 years involvement in the games industry as games programmer and lead programmer. He has worked for Transmission Games, Big Ant Studios and Tall Games and his titles include Heroes Over Europe (http://heroesovereurope.uk.ubi.com), International Cricket 2010 (http://playcricket2010.com/map.php) and Rugby League Live (http://www.bigant.com/bigant_games/view/rugby-league-live-27/). He has also worked in the field of Augmented Reality Gaming, bringing out the game Jewel Collector for the 2009 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. He now runs a single person games studio [http://www.tallgames.net/] working for clients around the world.

Justin Sneddon

Justin Sneddon is a Video Game Producer and Software Engineer with over 10 years of industry experience.He has worked for companies such as ThatGame, IRGurus, Transmission Games, Big Ant and 2K Marin.

Justin has worked as a Producer and Programmer on a number of titles, including: Heroes of the Pacific, Lucinda Green's Equestrian Challenge, Heatseeker, Heroes Over Europe, Sin City, Bella Sara, Rugby League Live and XCOM as well as a number of unannounced projects.

Prior to working in games, Justin was a Lecture at RMIT University teaching software engineering subjects, ranging from basic programming to Artificial Intelligence, at both undergraduate and post graduate levels.
http://www.mobygames.com/game/heroes-over-europe
http://www.mobygames.com/game/wii/heatseeker
http://www.mobygames.com/game/heatseeker
http://www.mobygames.com/game/lucinda-greens-equestrian-challenge
http://www.mobygames.com/game/heroes-of-the-pacific