NFTS Enhances Gaming Curriculum with New Animation and Indie Game Development Programs

The National Film and Television School has expanded its gaming portfolio by introducing two new courses: an MA in Animation for Film and Games and a certificate in Indie Game Development. The MA program leverages the school's established reputation in animation, focusing on training the next generation of creative technologists. In contrast, the Certificate in Indie Game Development is designed for aspiring game developers, covering essential areas such as game design, technical development, marketing, and distribution. According to André van Rooijen, head of Game Design and Development at NFTS, the school's cross-disciplinary approach allows students to collaborate with other departments, resulting in games with distinctive personalities. This approach is expected to flourish with the upcoming expansion of Beaconsfield Studios in 2026, featuring state-of-the-art computer labs, collaborative spaces, and virtual production facilities. Emmanouil Agianniotakis, an NFTS alumnus and lead designer at nDream's Studio Elevation, credits his time at the institution for providing invaluable experiences, including interactions with a diverse group of students and opportunities to work with various disciplines. He emphasizes that while free resources like YouTube can teach game design, traditional education, like that offered by NFTS, provides unparalleled benefits, including access to a wide range of skills and resources that are difficult to find outside of an institutional setting.