Indie Game Academy

We covered a wide range of topics during the lesson, yet it was all paced in a way that felt achievable. Gaining at least light exposure to most disciplines of building a game is very valuable. The instructor was incredibly knowledgeable and helpful and patient. The TA was also very knowledgeable and eager to help debug. Other instructors provide content and homework for individual verticals, such as Visual Design, Audio Design, Project Managment, etc. The homework was so engaging that I wish I'd had the bandwidth to do every vertical! 
I took the Level 1 class before this, where I released my first indie title. Highly recommend doing that one first if you are new to games. With this second level course, we each built our own versions of the same game alongside the teacher, and I will be using this project as a base for my second indie title. 
If you are someone who struggles with self-imposed scheduling and deadlines, I highly recommend both Level 1 and Level 2. Also the networking is amazing!

I've participated in two Level 1 classes over the course of 2024 and it's genuinely such a delight to be a part of the classroom. The energy is enthusiastic and joyful, the team meeting place (Gather) is an absolute BLAST, and I've learned so, so much more about the game design/development industry. The knowledge about the comings and goings of the industry is up-to-date, and there's a plethora of knowledge to gain about various disciplines like visual art, narrative design, programming, game design, etc. There's even a section dedicated to resumes, portfolios, and networking! The instructors are people you can rely on for quality advice and connect with outside of the course as well. I already have a degree in animation (concentrated in game design) from a 4-year college and one course with IGA was basically the equivalent of that, which is mind-boggling. This course is excellent for those just starting in game dev, those looking to make a career change, and even those with lots of experience who need a refresher. I'm very proud to be a part of such a tight-knit and helpful community throughout my journey, and to have the opportunity to make a difference in others' lives with a helping hand. My only nitpicking critique is that the course is fast. It's essentially a speedrun of the aspects of game development. Later courses like Level 2 and Level 3 allow for more time and care on larger projects, but I also believe the swiftness of Level 1 helps students with releasing a game in spite of perfectionism. The discord server is at your disposal for communicating with staff and students alike, for recieving/giving help, and holding each other accountable with your projects (and participating in the many, many game dev-related events they host). I can vouch that joining Level 1 was the best thing I did for myself in regards to networking and strengthening my skills!

I recently participated in the Indie Game Academy Level One bootcamp, and it was an incredible experience from start to finish. The instructors were not only knowledgeable but also genuinely passionate about game development. They were always ready to help, whether it was diving into complex topics or guiding us through the nuances of game design. Even though I’ve spent years playing games, I was a complete beginner when it came to Unity, the software we used throughout the bootcamp. The instructors made the learning curve manageable, and I came away feeling confident in my new skills.

The format of the bootcamp was another highlight. Spread over two days during a single weekend, it was intense but entirely worth it. The Gather space where we met added a layer of immersion and fun, making the entire experience feel more like a collaborative adventure than a traditional class. Willem, the host, brought great energy and humor to the sessions, which kept things lively and engaging.

One of the best new additions to the bootcamp was the chance to contribute to a Collection, which is now available on Itch.io. It’s incredibly cool to have a game we made during the bootcamp online for everyone to see. This not only gave us great exposure but also allowed us to apply what we were learning in a practical, creative way and see how our work fit into the broader game development process.

Overall, the bootcamp was an excellent introduction to game development, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to break into the industry, especially if you’re coming in with more experience as a player than as a developer. The mix of hands-on learning, expert instruction, and the supportive community made it a standout experience.

The boot camp was two days full of fun and excitement as we learned the basics for making a 2D platformer in Unity! Not only that, we also got to engage with not just the instructors but also our fellow peers as we learned together about the various faces of the Game Development Industry such as: Game Design, Narrative Design, Production/Management, Resumes, Portfolios, and Networking. 

I came out at the end of the course with a playable level for 2D platformer, an expanded network of fellow devs of various levels, richer in knowledge, and far more motivated to pursue the art of game dev!

I look forward to trying out more Level 1 courses from IGA and then hopefully also later moving up to Levels 2 and 3!

In my opinion, anyone who is looking to get into game industry but they are overwhelmed by all the aspects of it and just the layout of the engine. I would recommend this course to them. In this course, they build up your confidence, they try to make the engine less scary through workshop, they share so much learning resources and career paths. Also the environment of the class room was so constructive and friendly I had a great time there. If you want to start making games and don't know how, consider doing this course, and in no time you'll be making your own simple games.

This class was so amazing! So helpful! And so much fun! I'm working towards being a game writer, so Gadot was not on my radar as something I should learn, but I'm so glad I did! I now have a basic understanding of how to make a 3D game so my portfolio doesn't have to be filled with text-based games. The instructors were so knowledgeable and I'm really happy I got to ask questions and learn all that I can from them. The other students really made the class, too. They were all so welcoming and knowledgeable in different fields so it was really cool to work with them in a way that highlighted all our different skills. If you can I highly recommend you take this class if you're looking to learn more about game development and the gaming industry. 

I took this class after IGA Level 1.  IGA Level 2 was worth every penny.  Besides making a game, I learned so much about each of the game industry verticals.  In terms of game programming, I learned industry best practices: everything from source control with Git, software architecture planning, project management, audio, and asset management.  I learned how to use common programming patterns in game design, developing game state managers, and more.  In the end, I am really proud of the game I developed and will be featuring it on my portfolio.

If you want a supportive environment where you can design games with other creative, motivated individuals, and where you'll learn real world skills, join IGA and take Level 2! 

I firmly believe the magic of the Indie Game Academy goes beyond the stellar staff, community, and guests that reside within its digital walls. It's that magic that created the happenstance for me to grow with and grow to know the fantastic headmaster, Willem Delventhal, and the amazing team at IGA!

My discovery of the academy was little different than the curiosity of a product that leads to investigating it. I was simply browsing Instagram those three years ago when, of all the ads I could have seen, I saw one for IGA. I took a chance to look into it deeper and booked a call with the man I'm grateful and honored to call friend today. He told me about his mission to bring the joys and guide rising talent through the mystic maze that is Game Development as a career. I expressed my wanting to "live to create" and enrich people's lives through what I could build. 

After he gave me a chance and I was admitted to my first cohort, the 2021 Fall IGA Level 3 Cohort, it was a joyous experience I fondly recollect to this day. I and many others were assorted into "House" teams as the theme of the program shared resemblance with the wizarding houses of Harry Potter and the classes of medieval fantasy Roleplaying games. Through a 3 month process of collaboration, ticket management, feature prioritizing and triaging, publishing steps, and a great presentation to a panel of Game Developers employed under major development studios we of House Rogues made and published to the Google Play store our game, RoStation!

Following that Cohort I was given an invitation to return again for the 2022 Fall IGA Level 3 Cohort, but as a Project Manager instead of a Programmer. During my time there I collaborated with a team of 3 wonderful people including myself. It gave me a great deal of perspective of what happens on the "other side" of the team and humbled me to better respect how my Project Manager helped me and our team during my former cohort. With our combined efforts, inspirations, and great talent House Rogues once again designed, built, marketed and published Rise N' Grind! An adventure platformer with a coffee barista theme.

All this to say, if you're looking to make a career investment for yourself and want to share your creativity, passion and grit for Game Dev with many like-minded students, then look no further than the Indie Game Academy!