Video Game

Location

Bordeaux, Montpellier, Nantes, Rennes, Toulouse
Duration

4 years of training
Target audience

People in initial training with student status
Prerequisites and admission requirements

Entry requirements: High school diploma or equivalent Level 4 qualification

See Admission and fees
Professional Certification

Title RNCP38806 – Video Game Designer – Game Designer, Level 6 (equivalent to a 3-4 year university degree), registered in the National Directory of Professional Certifications, by decision of 03/27/2024.

Certifying bodies: ETPA-Creative Schools, Creative Schools Montpellier, Creative Schools Rennes, Creative Schools Bordeaux.
Rhythm

Full-time on-site
1 to 2 internships recommended at the end of the 3rd and/or 4th year, lasting at least 8 weeks
Fees

See Admission and fees

Course presentation

RNCP level 6 qualification
Equivalent to Bac+3/4

Join the Video Game Professional Cycle to learn about the entire AAA video game production chain and specialise in the artistic (Game Art) or technical (Gameplay Programming) professions.

Our teaching method gradually builds on what you’ve learned and puts it to the test in ambitious projects that push back the boundaries of your artistic identity and make it unique.

You will design an entire final-year video game, in the same conditions as a real development studio.

Video game training:
Dare, imagine,
create your future career

This video game training program is for those who dream of bringing imaginary worlds to life and who enjoy designing captivating and immersive experiences. You are curious, inventive, and driven by a desire to transform ideas into interactive reality.
If you enjoy juggling artistic creativity and technical thinking, and know how to collaborate and rally others around ambitious projects, this program is for you.
You will develop the skills and expertise needed to build games that leave a lasting impression and captivate players.

Objectives
Acquire versatility and expertise across the entire production pipeline:
- Propose a game concept to a sponsor
- Design and prototype a game
- Coordinate the various stages of video game development
- Control the quality of the player experience
- Game Art option: Create the graphic elements of a game
- Gameplay Programming option: Create the gameplay elements of a game
Teaching methods and resources

The program alternates between theoretical courses, workshops, and masterclasses. This diversity, combined with project-based teaching, promotes enhanced learning. The team, made up of professionals, supports students on a coherent and progressive path, monitoring their projects throughout the program.
The equipment and software provided, which are used intensively during the training, guarantee complete mastery of the tools of the industry.

Validation of the training by a Professional certification

The training program is validated by professional certification RNCP38806 – Video Game Designer – Game Designer, Level 6 (Bac+3/4) registered in the National Directory of Professional Certifications, dated 03/27/2024.

Certifiers: ETPA-Creative Schools, Creative Schools Montpellier, Creative Schools Rennes, Creative Schools Bordeaux.

Professional certification is obtained by validating the following skills, including one option:

Proposing a game concept to a sponsor
Designing and prototyping a game
Coordinating the various stages of video game development
Monitor the quality of the player experience
Create the graphic elements of a game (Game Art option) OR Create the gameplay elements of a game (Gameplay Programming option)

Possibility of validating one or more skill sets.

The certification is also accessible through VAE. (Validation of Acquired Experience)

More information on France Compétences

Certification assessment procedures

Continuous assessment: ongoing evaluation of video game progress in professional conditions.
Certification assessments: professional scenarios and evaluation by a professional jury of end-of-year projects.

Teaching and assessment methods may be adapted if necessary to accommodate disabilities, in accordance with the RNCP (French National Register of Professional Certifications) standards.

Find out more about Disability and accessibility.

Key figures

99% success rate* for certification (class of 2025) *Consolidated results from the Creative Schools Network certifiers
98% of candidates taking the exam (class of 2025)
81% Overall employment integration rate* at 6 months (class of 2022) * Inclusion is calculated based on respondents, in accordance with the methodology defined by France Compétences.
60% of job placement* in the targeted profession within 6 months (class of 2022) *Inclusion is calculated based on respondents, in accordance with the methodology defined by France Compétences.

The curriculum

A 4-year course, validated by a Level 6 RNCP qualification (equivalent to Bac+3/4)

Year 1 Acquiring the
fundamentals Discover
Year 2 Deepening the
fundamentals Discover
Year 3 Year of
specialisation Discover
Year 4 Year of professional training
and certification Discover

Year 1 Acquiring the
fundamentals Discover
Year 2 Deepening the
fundamentals Discover
Year 3 Year of
specialisation Discover
Year 4 Year of professional training
and certification Discover

Course content

Image culture

Solid analysis through understanding the place of video games in art history and acquiring a documentation approach.
English

Understanding and presenting a game project in English.
Drawing and Plastic Expression
Digital painting
2D - 3D - UI computer graphics
Concept Art
UX
Sculpt 3D

Design 3D characters using anatomical principles and specialized software.
3D Animation Rig

3D animation techniques and principles of character animation (walking, running, jumping, death, acting, etc.). Rigging techniques, facial rigging, animation management, and advanced animation blends.
2D animation

2D animation techniques and principles of character animation. Animating a 2D interface and using FX to enhance an animation.
3D modeling

Learning a 3D modeling tool to create a complete object, using shaders, etc.
Game Design

Understanding the mechanics of a game: gameplay loop, narrative elements, 4F, 3C, in order to successfully complete a game design project. Theoretical structures, creative techniques, and analytical tools for video game development.
UNITY Programming - UNREAL
Tech Art

Know how to implement assets into the game engine to ensure gameplay and artistic quality in staging, lighting, and surfacing.
Game creation projects
- Completion of two short semester projects on a topic of their choice.
- Final project: Experiment with the production pipeline as a group, design a mini game from start to finish as a team, including prototyping, R&D, vertical slice, etc.
Professionalization

Developing an innovative and responsible creative approach: Introduction to AI, Game Jam, cultural conferences, introduction to eco-design, meetings with professionals
Bloom Skills Passport

Develop a reflective approach to your skills (technical, creative, and behavioral). Begin creating portfolios based on the work you have produced during the program.
Research and Innovation

Develop monitoring and research applied to innovations in the sector (AI, real time, multiplayer, etc.). Integrate an eco-responsible approach.
Specialty Gameplay Programming

Advanced programming in Unreal Engine with learning how to create nodes for visual scripting, etc.
Specialty Art
- 3D computer graphics, 3D sculpting
- Artistic Direction
- Tech Art Option

Rates

Check out the tuition fees for enrolling in ESMA's Video Game Design program.

Register Tarifs 2026 - 2027

Years 1 to 4

For one year

6 680 €

Registration fees

200 € /year

Register Tarifs 2026 - 2027

Integrate Video Game Training

For Who ?
For all video game enthusiasts who love technical challenges and pushing themselves creatively.

The first year of the Video Game professional program can be integrated subject to the following conditions:
- A high school diploma or equivalent level 4 qualification (all fields)
- Review of the student’s academic record and a motivational interview (minimum coding and/or drawing level required)
Why ?

This four-year program offers students a comprehensive overview of careers in video games. It equips them with the skills they need to enter a rapidly growing, dynamic cultural sector that is constantly on the lookout for qualified and passionate talent.
Because they have learned to develop a unique artistic identity, ESMA students are able to enter the video game industry either as part of a team or as freelancers. With their comprehensive training, they become versatile video game professionals, with a focus on technical expertise in Game Art or Gameplay Programming.
How ?
- 1st and 2nd year: acquisition of fundamentals
- 3rd year: in-depth study of the chosen specialization
- 4th year: creation of a final project judged by experts in the field
These four years focus on acquiring skills in three main areas: image, technology, and design (design of game mechanics and narrative).

Immersed in the reality of a studio, students develop their individual skills (organization, communication, interpersonal skills, autonomy, etc.) in project and team management.
- Courses over two semesters and a mandatory eight-week internship at the end of the second or third year
- A coherent teaching approach, structured progressively and transversally, with numerous projects to apply all the skills learned during the courses from the first year onwards
- Conferences, workshops, and masterclasses to build your own network and develop your professional project in contact with renowned creators
- The fourth and final year of study is devoted to the collective creation of a video game presented to a jury of international professionals, with each team member contributing specific skills related to their chosen specialization in the third year

Our campuses are waiting for you

Business sectors and opportunities

Sectors of activity:

The main sector recruiting certification holders is the video game industry, which can be broken down into three categories:

Video game development studios
Serious game development studios
Game publishers

Other sectors are involved to a lesser extent.

Types of jobs available:

The certification provides access to jobs directly involved in video game design:

Design jobs: Game Designer, Level Designer, Economic Game Designer, Technical Game Designer
Image jobs: Game Artist, Environment Artist, 3D Artist, 3D Animator, 3D Modeler, VFX Artist, Tech Artist, Technical Animator
Technology professions: Gameplay Programmer, Game Programmer, Game Developer
Support professions: QA Tester

With experience, certified professionals can progress to Senior and Lead positions.

See career opportunities