Indie developer
In 19 months you will learn how to program in C#, create pixel graphics and promote games. You will also understand the Unity game engine, create 2 game prototypes and take them to your portfolio. The program
is suitable even for those who have never coded or drawn - we will help you learn the profession from scratch. Afterwards you can start working on your project right away.
19 months
4,89
Average grade of lectures and seminars
Based on a survey of 327 students on 07/12/2024
Start learning a new profession with up to 45% discount and get a course as a gift!
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About the profession
An indie developer is a professional who develops games alone or with a small team. Such a professional can release a computer or mobile game without a budget and promote it himself. In indie you can build
your own business and realize any of your ideas, plus indie developers have no ceiling in income, as it depends on the profitability of the project.
Less than a year
Spent 62% of indie studios to release a game in 2022.
$9 million.
Brought its creator the indie hit Phasmophobia
5 million copies of the game
Sold out in less than a month by the creators of Valheim
Developing hypercasualties but you want to try your hand at the harder projects
Tried coding or work with game engines myself, but that proved to be too difficult
You make games, but you want to retrain yourself or you can pump yourself up and create them yourself
The course is suitable for you if you
You like old-school pixel graphics in the vein of Hotline Miami and Stardew Valley and dream of creating your own indie project
What you'll learn
Programming in C#
Learn to work with classes, structures and other entities in C#, gain experience in implementing game algorithms, learn to debug code.
Create 2D games on Unity
During the course you will develop 2 prototypes of your own 2D games at once.
01
02
Work in the pixel art technique
Create characters, items and environments. Also - intuitive interfaces and game menus.
Promote game projects
Analyze the market, find a publisher, attract investors and create trailers.
03
04
What training consists of
Feedback from professionals
One topic - one homework to master the material. You will receive feedback on all homework from a current expert with extensive industry experience.
Personal cabinet
All lectures, streams, homework, checklists and additional materials are waiting for you in your personal account on our own platform learn. school-xyz.
Learning at a comfortable pace
Lessons will be opened gradually - 1 lecture and 1 homework once a week, so that you can comfortably absorb the material and at the same time maintain the pace of learning without overloading yourself.
Training freeze
If you don't have time to watch lectures and do your homework on time - you can freeze your studies and come back to it later.
Curator support
You will have a personal tutor from the first day of your course. He or she will help to make your studies comfortable and monitor your progress on the course.
We have managed to gather the largest gamemade community in the CIS. Here you can find new friends, learn a lot of useful things about the industry from mentors and teachers, and make useful acquaintances
that will help you find a place in a game studio or gather a team for your own project.
Top 1 gamdev community in the CIS
Live chats and socializing
Connect with classmates, discuss homework, and exchange feedback.
Support
Ask anything. We believe that there is no such thing as a stupid question. We will promptly answer and solve any problem.
Moderation
For all technical and organizational questions, please contact our community manager and support team - they will definitely help you.
From self-determination to the final interview with HR experts who have helped 1000+ professionals.
We'll help you find your dream job
Understand how and how much you can earn
Figure out how much your services cost, what the price of the project depends on, and what skills you'll need to pump up.
Gather attractive resumes and portfolios
A resume will help to favorably present the best skills, but in gamemadev decides the portfolio - let's tell you how best to make it.
You'll learn how to target your responses to job openings
And write cover letters in a way that stands out from the dozens of candidates.
You'll learn how to get interviews
You will learn how to present yourself favorably and clearly indicate your salary preferences at job interviews.
Training Program
The program is designed by practitioners with years of industry experience. As a result of the training you will build a cool portfolio and get constructive feedback.
C# programming skills
103 homework
Certificate of Training
Individual homework check
5 project works and 3 projects in the portfolio
Development skills on Unity engine
Pixel art skills
Skills in market analysis and investment sourcing
You will learn the basics of programming from scratch and go from "Hello, World" to complex algorithms. You'll have enough knowledge to start working comfortably in Unity.
- Introduction, C# syntax
- Basic data types and variables
- Conditional expressions and operators
- Cycles
- Arrays
- Local functions and methods
- Object-oriented programming
You will learn how to program in C# in Unity engine, work with Fork (Git) toolkit, use classes, structures, coroutines and basic debugging of C# code.
Unit 1: C# Fundamentals in Unity
Block 2: Object-oriented programming in C#
Block 3: Approaches to code organization in C#
Block 4: Architectural approach in development
Project work #1
Implement the A* algorithm to find the path and use it to move the unit.
Project work #2
Implement a new gameplay subsystem: units run out of ammo after X number of attacks and need to return to base and reload their weapons.
Final project
Make your own project from scratch - "Console game Tanks."
Unit 1: C# Fundamentals in Unity
- Introduction, C# syntax
- Basic data types and variables
- Conditional expressions and operators
- Cycles
- Arrays
- Local functions and methods
- Object-oriented programming
Block 2: Object-oriented programming in C#
- Fundamentals of OOP: classes and objects
- Class tools in C#
- Four principles of OOP: abstraction, encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism
- Unity and coroutines: mastering asynchrony
Block 3: Approaches to code organization in C#
- Class interaction: universal access
- Manual dependency management
- Single Dependency Registry: Service Locator
- Organization of large projects: Dependency Injection
Block 4: Architectural approach in development
- Language extension: working with files and libraries
- Fundamentals of architectural thinking
- Preparation for the diploma project
- Prospects of C# developer development
Project work #1
Implement the A* algorithm to find the path and use it to move the unit.
Project work #2
Implement a new gameplay subsystem: units run out of ammo after X number of attacks and need to return to base and reload their weapons.
Final project
Make your own project from scratch - "Console game Tanks."
Learn how to create game mechanics on Unity: combat, character progression, NPCs, visual effects and much more. After training you will know how to build projects for PC, optimize for mobile,
and set up analytics and publishing.
Block 1. Platformer puzzle
Unit 2: Combat and NPCs
Unit 3: UI and new game mechanics
Block 4: Advanced game mechanics and niceties
Block 5. Optimization and analytics
Coursework #1
Create a level with a puzzle-platformer of at least 6 screens (12x7 tiles) in size, and implement your own game mechanics.
Course work No. 2
Create a separate level honed for the presence of mobs, add a mob with new mechanics, and write a cover letter describing those mechanics.
Coursework #3
Create mechanics that are UI related - large inventory, store or something else. Also create a new perk - attract hook, gravity disabling field, jerk or something else.
Thesis
Self-create a full-fledged 2D Action game on 4 levels. Add to the game: 1 new perk, 1 new boss (at least 3 phases of combat, one of which should not repeat those implemented in the course). Create a cover note for the paper that explains the new mechanics and any other things the student added on their own. Describe not only the gameplay, but also the technicalities of the implementation.
Block 1. Platformer puzzle
- Getting to know Unity: creating a new project
- Creating a scene
- Bringing the stage to life
- Physics and collisions
- Tailsets and camera
- Animation
- Programming game mechanics: understand the component approach in development
- Particles and instantiation: getting to know and practicing particles
Unit 2: Combat and NPCs
- Close combat and destructible objects: implement the mechanics of cold weapons and destructible props
- Player and current session data model: let's see what ScriptableObject is and how to use it
- Mobs and basic AI: Realize a simple mob with a melee attack
- Attack Range: implement long-range attack mechanics for the character
- More mobs: based on the components developed in the previous lectures, create a mob with a long-range attack
- Data model and inventory: let's create inventory and new mechanics for gathering resources
- Sound: an overview of Unity's sound subsystems. Realization of ambient level
- Clean code. Connectivity. Cohesion. We analyze what code is good and what code is not and why. Refactoring already created classes
Unit 3: UI and new game mechanics
- Introduction to UI
- Creating a HUD
- Creating inventory and quick access boxes
- Dialogs: create new mechanics for talking to NPCs
- Localization: why do I need to localize games and how best to do it?
- Checkpoints and Pretty Things: implementing the mechanics of saving on checkpoints
- Advanced mechanics: skills. New mechanics of boosting perks
- Advanced mechanics: hero pumping
Block 4: Advanced game mechanics and niceties
- Lighting. Parsing the lighting system in Unity and its application in 2D. Realizing the "dark" level
- Camera effects. Overview of full-screen effects and their implementation
- Boss fight part 1: creating an arena for the boss and prescribing logic for the boss
- Boss fight part 2: add new mechanics to the boss
Block 5. Optimization and analytics
- Performance Analysis and Optimization: Part 1
- Performance Analysis and Optimization: Part 2
- Builds for different platforms. Break down the build process step by step. Overview of important parameters and build settings
- Unity. Analytics. Why do you need analytics in your project? An overview of application analytics tools from Unity
Coursework #1
Create a level with a puzzle-platformer of at least 6 screens (12x7 tiles) in size, and implement your own game mechanics.
Course work No. 2
Create a separate level honed for the presence of mobs, add a mob with new mechanics, and write a cover letter describing those mechanics.
Coursework #3
Create mechanics that are UI related - large inventory, store or something else. Also create a new perk - attract hook, gravity disabling field, jerk or something else.
Thesis
Self-create a full-fledged 2D Action game on 4 levels. Add to the game: 1 new perk, 1 new boss (at least 3 phases of combat, one of which should not repeat those implemented in the course). Create a cover note for the paper that explains the new mechanics and any other things the student added on their own. Describe not only the gameplay, but also the technicalities of the implementation.
Learn to draw everything you need to create a real pixel art indie game. You will create and animate backgrounds and levels, game objects and environment details, mobs and characters,
interface and menus. At the end of the tutorial you will have a complete set of game graphics.
Block 1: Pixel art basics - rules, nuances, practice
Block 2: Characters and objects - silhouettes, coloring, animation
Block 3: Interface - design of the game window, icons and menus
In your portfolio: tileset, background for the level from several layers, standby frames, walking, running and attack animations, health and mana scales, icons of health, hunger, items, inventory and windows in it, dialog box, main menu.
Block 1: Pixel art basics - rules, nuances, practice
- Aseprite
- Color theory in pixel art
- Backgrounds and textures of the future game
- How to draw large and small objects with perspective
Block 2: Characters and objects - silhouettes, coloring, animation
- How to turn pixel silhouettes into recognizable characters
- 3 levels of animation complexity
Block 3: Interface - design of the game window, icons and menus
- User-friendly game interface
- Skill and item icons
- Sketching the game menu, taking into account the player's focus of attention and proper composition
In your portfolio: tileset, background for the level from several layers, standby frames, walking, running and attack animations, health and mana scales, icons of health, hunger, items, inventory and windows in it, dialog box, main menu.
You will go through all stages of game creation - from pre-production to release and post-release support - from the management point of view. And you will learn the structure of a modern game
company together with specialists from different departments.
Block 1: Pre-production
Block 2: Game Project Management
Block 3: Game Studio Pipelines
Block 4. Monetisation and analytics
Block 5. Project pitching and fundraising
Block 6. Marketing
Block 7: Publish and support the game
Block 1: Pre-production
- Generate ideas for plot and mechanics
- Concept document for the game
- Making a simple prototype for playtests
Block 2: Game Project Management
- Project plan
- How to assemble a team and organize people's work
- Task trackers and Git repositories
Block 3: Game Studio Pipelines
- How a game studio is structured and how to align the process in each department
- Writing documentation
- Specifics of work of key employees
Block 4. Monetisation and analytics
- Required documents
- Mechanics of monetization into the project
- Connect the analytics system and improve the project based on its data
Block 5. Project pitching and fundraising
- Pitch game and team portfolio for investor presentation
- Contract with the publisher
- Preparing to enter a crowdfunding platform to raise finances
Block 6. Marketing
- Project marketing plan
- Teaser and trailer
- Design of the game page in social networks
- Media announcements of the game
- Setting up advertisements for promotion
Block 7: Publish and support the game
- Publish the game on popular online marketplaces for PCs and mobiles
- Requirements for release on consoles
- Plan activities to support and promote the game after release
Course authors
Authors' portfolios
Our instructors have a lot to learn. They have real studio experience and cool projects under their belt. And they also have a good understanding of how processes work in teams.
Adam Obrien
Managed the creation of more than 10 games.
Game designer
Brandon Anderson
Unity Lead at mobile and social game development studio.
Unity Team Lead
Henry Hill
Middle Unity Developer.
Middle Unity Developer
Pay for the program, get a free AI workshop and learn how to use neural networks in 2D, game design and narrative.
AI master class as a gift
In the master class, you:
- You'll figure out how to use AI to create concepts, generate mechanics, and come up with a character's backstory
- You will learn to work with interfaces, customize them and write promts of different complexity
- Understand what a concept document is for and make your own for your game
Summary
after training
Portfolio
Position
Indie developer
Expected salary
From ₽150,000
Skills
- Know how to work in C# and with the Unity engine
- Object-oriented programming
- Developing melee and ranged mechanics, working with lighting
- Bilds for download on Steam, App Store or Google Play
- Create smart NPCs with different behaviors, animations and dialogs
- Development of game interfaces and visual effects
- Pixel art
Knowledge of programs
Certificate of Training
Will be a great endorsement of your skills and will help you when applying for a job.
A working prototype of the 2D platformer
A prototype of the game "Tanks"
Several levels and a boss
Pixel art set
Cost of training
Basic
- Recorded lectures and live streams
- 2 game prototypes in C# for portfolio
- Personalized feedback on homework.
- Private chat room for socializing
- Diploma or training certificate
Bonus:
- +30 days to finish homework.
- Job search assistance
150$
Optimal
- Everything included in the "Basic" tariff
- Gift course "Outblock. Level Design"
Bonus:
- 8 individual consultations with a mentor
- Workshops
- Master Classes
- Career counseling
- Test interview
- A library of test cases from gamemade studios
250$
Individual
- Everything included in the "Optimal" tariff
- XYZ+ Knowledge Library for 3 months
Bonus:
- Weekly meetings with a mentor on course topics
- Personalized mentor on each module
- 8 review sessions to code your projects
- Consultation with a top market expert
500$
Popular
If you are a hr-manager, responsible for buying courses in a company or just work in a company, there are special conditions for you:
Corporate training
- Individual discounts for course purchases
- Certificate of Completion
- Operational work with invoices and acts
- Additional support from mentors
Frequently Asked Questions
No skills are required, we have specially prepared a program for beginners so that you will not have difficulties
Yes, we have specially designed a program for beginners. You will learn how to code in C# and develop games in Unity from scratch and get the knowledge you need for further development.
Unity version 2021.3 is needed for learning step #1
For Step #2 - 2019.4.21.
For Step #2 - 2019.4.21.
Match current Unity system requirements. Operating system Windows 7, 8, 10 - 64-bit versions only; Mac OS X 10.12+; Ubuntu 16.04, 18.04, and CentOS 7. GPU: graphics card with DX10 support
(shader version 4.0).