Masterclasses

The Gamebadges masterclass series consists of six free, competence-based online courses designed for educators and professionals working in the game industry. Each course focuses on a specific Skillset and supports participants in working towards Silver Level Gamebadges that recognise practical, industry-relevant expertise.

Skillset and competence descriptions are available on map.gamebadges.eu.

The masterclasses combine guided learning with hands-on work. Participants can develop and refine evidence for their Gamebadges Open Badge applications during the course, making it easier to demonstrate their competences upon completion. Together, the six masterclasses cover multiple Skillsets and 2–3 Individual Competence Badges per masterclass, based on the Gamebadges Competence Map.

All courses are organised online and will run on a rolling basis until the end of 2026.

ENROL NOW

Applications are now open. Deadline: March 9, 2026.
https://forms.gle/Q9kEprRa8diT8Qyd7

Welcome to the Technical Artist Masterclass 2 – CODING & GAME ENGINES
Teacher: Antti Veräjänkorva
See competence goals on the Competence Map (silver level)
The course is equivalent to 2 ECTS credits and corresponds to the EQF level 6.

Technical requirements:

  • Computer with a modern CPU and GPU.
  • Operating system: Windows 11, macOS, or a recent Linux distribution.
  • Graphics card compatible with Unity HDRP (DirectX12/Vulkan).
  • Minimum 16 GB RAM, 20 GB free hard drive space.
  • Full admin rights to install software.
  • Unity 6.3 LTS with HDRP (download/install prior to course start).
  • Code IDE such as Visual Studio 2026 (Windows), or an equivalent for your platform (e.g., Visual Studio Code, JetBrains Rider).
  • Blender 4.5 LTS for 3D asset review and export.
  • Affinity 3 (recommended) or alternative pixel graphics editor for texture editing.
  • Godot 4.5 (will be needed later in the course).
  • Mac and Linux users: Ensure equivalent software versions are available for your platform, or have suitable alternatives ready.

The masterclass is organised and recorded in Zoom, at 17-20 CET / 18-21 EET.

This is a preliminary schedule and is subject to change:

Thursday, 9 April 2026Version Control
Monday, 13 April 2026Maze #1
Thursday, 16 April 2026Maze #2
Monday, 20 April 2026Monster
Thursday, 23 April 2026State Machine
Monday, 27 April 2026Handle Input
Recorded sessionWin & Loose
Monday, 04 May 2026Database
Thursday, 07 May 2026Scripting #1
Monday, 11 May 2026Scripting #2
Recorded sessionDialogue
Monday, 18 May 2026REST API
Thursday, 21 May 2026Optimize
Monday, 25 May 2026Godot #1
Thursday, 28 May 2026Godot #2

Applications are now open. Deadline: 2, March 2026.
https://forms.gle/a82Jui9fYFKeoei68

Welcome to the Character Artist (3D) Masterclass 1 – SCULPTING & 3 D MODELLING
Teacher: François-Xavier Mélard
See competence goals on the Competence Map (silver level)
The course is equivalent to 2 ECTS credits and corresponds to the EQF level 6.

This is a preliminary schedule and is subject to change:

Tuesday, 31 March 2026  Introduction Lecture: Anatomy Sculpting & ModellingAccess to Pre-recorded Tutorial: Guidance for Anatomy Sculpting & Modelling assignment.
Tuesday, 7 April 2026Review & feedback:  Anatomy assignmentLecture: Clothing Sculpting & ModellingAccess to Pre-recorded Tutorial: Guidance for clothing sculpting & Modelling  assignment
Tuesday, 14 April 2026Review & feedback: Clothing assignmentLecture: Hair Sculpting & ModellingAccess to Pre-recorded Tutorial: Guidance for Hair Sculpting & Modelling assignment. 
Tuesday, 21 April 2026Review & feedback: Hair assignmentLecture: Hard Surface Sculpting & ModellingAccess to Pre-recorded Tutorial: Guidance for Hard Surface Sculpting & Modelling assignment.
Tuesday, 28 April 2026Review & feedback: Hard surface assignmentLecture: High poly & low poly ModellingAccess to Pre-recorded Tutorial: Guidance for High Poly & Low Poly Modelling assignment.
Tuesday, 5 May 2026Review & feedback: High Poly & Low Poly Modelling assignment.Course Conclusion

Applications are now open. Deadline: 6, April 2026.
https://forms.gle/6nCDuMAw63TqZeGt8

Welcome to the Character Artist (3D) Masterclass 1 – UV MAPPING, BAKING & TEXTURING
Teacher: François-Xavier Mélard
See competence goals on the Competence Map (silver level)
The course is equivalent to 2 ECTS credits and corresponds to the EQF level 6.

This is a preliminary schedule and is subject to change:

Tuesday, 12 May 2026Introduction Lecture: UV UnwrappingAccess to Pre-recorded Tutorial: Guidance for UV unwrapping assignment. 
Tuesday, 19 May 2026Review & feedback: UV Unwrapping assignmentLecture: Baking Access to Pre-recorded Tutorial: Guidance for baking assignment.
Tuesday, 26 May 2026Review & feedback: Baking assignmentLecture: Texturing Basic Colors & VolumesAccess to Pre-recorded Tutorial: Guidance for Texturing Basic Colors & Volumes assignment
Tuesday, 2 June 2026Review & feedback: Base Texturing Basic Colors & Volumes assignmentLecture: Secondary Texturing DetailsAccess to Pre-recorded Tutorial: Guidance for Secondary Texturing Details assignment. 
Tuesday, 9 June 2026Review & feedback: Secondary Texturing Detailing assignment.Lecture: Final Effects & MaterialsAccess to Pre-recorded Tutorial: Guidance for Final Effects and Materials assignment 
Tuesday, 16 June 2026Review & feedback: Final Effects and Materials assignmentLecture: Exporting & Testing AssetsAccess to Pre-recorded Tutorial: Guidance for Export and Testing assignment
Tuesday, 23 June 2026Review & Feedback: Exporting & Testing AssignmentCourse Conclusion

TBA

More information coming in summer 2026

More information coming in summer 2026

ONGOING

APPLICATION CLOSED

Technical Artist Masterclass 1: VFX & SIMULATION
Teacher: Antti Veräjänkorva
See competence goals on the Competence Map (silver level)
The course is equivalent to 2 ECTS credits and corresponds to the EQF level 6.

Technical requirements:
– PC (windows/linux) or Mac, not older than 10 years.
– Graphics card that supports Vulkan
– Minimum 16 GB RAM, 20 GB of free hard drive space
– Full admin rights to the computer.

Masterclass is organised and recorded in Zoom, at 17-20 CET / 18-21 EET.
Preliminary schedule and topics:

Monday, 12 January 2026VFX in video games
Thursday, 15 January 2026Particles in Unity
Monday, 19 January 2026Non-particle-based effects
Thursday, 22 January 2026Scripting particles
Monday, 26 January 2026Advanced effects
Thursday, 29 January 2026Advanced effects 2
Monday, 02 February 2026Raymarching
Thursday, 05 February 2026Rigid body physics
Monday, 09 February 2026Cloth physics
Thursday, 12 February 2026Hair physics
Monday, 16 February 2026Baked destruction
Thursday, 19 February 2026Scripting destruction
Monday, 23 February 2026Dynamic destruction
Thursday, 26 February 2026Skinned physics
Monday, 02 March 2026Physics optimisation

PAST