ACM Games Academy
World renowned creative industries educator ACM launches its brand new Guildford Games Academy with the offer of FREE education for those aged 16-18
Building on its 26 year reputation in wider creative industries subjects, ACM is pleased to announce the launch of its new Games Academy in Guildford, with classes starting in September. In celebration of its inaugural intake, every student will also be gifted a specialist Dell / Alienware gaming laptop by ACM to help them with their studies.
Courses are available at both Diploma and Degree levels, making ACM’s Games Academy a great alternative choice to studying at a traditional College or University. Plus, if you’re under 19, studying Games Development at ACM could be free.
Known as the Hollywood of the Games Industry, Guildford (Surrey) is home to ACM’s first and biggest campus. With over 150 jobs in gaming available right now in its immediate local community, ACM’s entry into this space will make an important contribution to the games industry in the area.
David McGreene, Head of Games Development at ACM, said: “Following the success of ACM’s BA (Hons) Games Development and Futures Degree, which offers a great alternative to studying Gaming at a traditional University, it made complete sense for us to expand into the College space, too. The launch of our ACM Games Academy, here in Guildford at the heart of the UK games industry, couldn’t be better timed, therefore. There are over 150 jobs available right now, just minutes walk from our campus. We look forward to working with Guildford’s games industry and creating the next generation of talented UK game developers, together.”
This exciting new offering means that college-aged students in the area will be able to study Games Development as an alternative to A-Level or BTEC Subjects. Whatsmore, at ACM, they’ll be able to study at this level absolutely FREE of charge, for as long as they are under 19.
Huda Mahdi, ACM’s Course Leader for Games Development at Diploma level said: “The two year course will offer a wide range of practical skill development and theoretical knowledge. The course covers the fundamentals of game design, programming, graphics and audio, business and project management, and how these disciplines all come together to create a game.”
Whether interested in Degree or Diploma level study, those interested in joining ACM’s Games Academy need only to have a keen interest in the Games Industry, as ACM’s course will provide a full introduction to the world of games development, and EVERYTHING that a would-be student needs to get learning, including a specialist gaming laptop to keep as their own.
Students will also benefit from a student membership to Ukie (UK Interactive Entertainment), the trade body for the UK’s games and interactive entertainment sector and gain access to exclusive events along with opportunities to connect to industry throughout your studies, as well as having the comfort of knowing that ACM is one of just a few institution members listed with The Independent Game Developers' Association (TIGA).
With studios like EA, Supermassive Games, Stellar Entertainment, Media Molecule, Hello Games and more calling Guildford home, students studying at ACM Guildford will be fully immersed within the Games Industry, throughout their studies, with access to world class computing facilities and industry-standard game development software such as Autodesk Maya, Unreal Engine and Unity.
ACM Games Development Ambassador, Steve Goss from Supermassive Games, said: “I am super excited to see ACM offer this new academy. Guildford is an energetic hub of games development, a place to carve out a career in the most exciting and creative industry in the world. Games development is a unique combination of creative and technical, and this course lays out all the foundations you need to take that next step and become part of a vibrant community of developers.”
During the pandemic, demand for Gaming as an at-home entertainment medium has skyrocketed. The industry is projected to be worth 7 Billion by 2024*.
If you’re interested in studying Game Development at Degree or Diploma level at ACM’s brand new Guildford Games Academy, or indeed at another ACM Campus, apply now via: https://www.acm.ac.uk/apply-now/ or book onto one of our on-campus open days at https://www.acm.ac.uk/open-days/.