3D Game Development and Level Design

Price: Starting at $399
Age: 13 - 17
Skill Level: Beginner–Advanced

About This Course

Go from game-player to game-maker with Unity and C#. Games bring friends together, and Unity bridges the fields of art, code, and design. You can piece together different level elements, building a world of your own. Then with C# coding, you'll add rules and structure, showing players how to interact with your creation. As you put it all together, you’ll realize you’re doing more than just making the next popular battle royale or fast-paced arcade game. You’re designing incredible experiences for yourself and the people you want to play with, and joining a community of millions of developers using Unity and C#!

Tools: Unity, C#, Visual Studio Community Edition

Topics Covered

Use game objects, models, and levels to create game environments
Program interactions with C#
Think in 3D to create interactive experiences
Develop coding and design skills

Sample Schedule

Here’s a sample of what a week in the course could look like. Please keep in mind that students will progress at varying paces; this is a general outline of key material and the overall student experience.

Monday: Create Prefabs Through Projects

Students will navigate the Unity interface and learn how to create prefabs through projects like building a 3D computer desk or a car. Next, they’ll customize these projects by adding colored materials.

Tuesday: Layer Coding Elements with C# Basics

As they progress, students will layer coding elements by learning the basics of C# and how to implement code into Unity. They will learn how to implement variables, conditional statements, and more.

Wednesday: Program Basic Character Movement

Combining their new skills, students will program basic movement for a character in a 3D platformer game. They will customize their projects by creating 3D models in MagicaVoxel that can be imported into Unity.

Thursday: Code Game Functions in Unity

To refine their projects, students will code different game functions in Unity by utilizing the coding fundamentals they've learned and the different MagicaVoxel assets they've created. They will add features like collisions and triggers that allow the player to navigate a level, avoid obstacles, or collect items.

Friday: Complete Projects, Add Features & Playtest

To wrap up the week, students will complete 3D platformer projects, add additional features to their games, and/or work through level design and playtest their peers’ projects.

Course Formats

Virtual Camp

Ideal for kids and teens who thrive in a high-energy, team-oriented environment! Meeting Monday through Friday, campers spend 2 hours together with their peers and instructors and 2 hours working independently on their project. Not your average online learning, our virtual camps include the games and challenges that make iD Tech camps core memory makers.

Private Lessons

Ideal for kids and teens who thrive in a focused, 1-on-1 setting, need flexible scheduling, or both! Your child will unlock new skills at their own pace, led by an experienced mentor who is dedicated to their success. These 8, one-hour lessons feature customized curriculum and are available to be scheduled 24/7.

Portfolio-Boosting Transcript

At the conclusion of your child's course, they will receive an official iD Tech transcript outlining the skills they learned over the course of the week.

Learn from the best.

Passion for tech. Unmatched expertise. Personality that brings out the absolute best in your child. With 23 years of experience, we know there's no replacement for the best teacher. It's no surprise that iconic companies like Google, EA, Microsoft, and Disney hire the same talent we do. Our iD Certified instructors possess the whole package of skills that top employers seek.

100% USA-based, adult instructors
Recruited from top universities like Stanford, Caltech, and NYU
Rigorous background and reference checks
Robust training programs and certification
Adherence to American Camp Association accredited guidelines

Instructor Highlights

Chris M.

Software Engineer
at Google

Instructor Highlights

Chris M.

Software Engineer
at Google

“My time as an iD instructor was really formative. I stayed with STEM in college as a Computer Science and Electrical Engineering major, and now I’m working at Google in Chicago. If you find yourself thinking about STEM-related things outside of school, follow that passion. Major in it. Keep pursuing it.”

Instructor Highlights

Aspen C.

Associate Designer
at Bethesda Softworks

Instructor Highlights

Aspen C.

Associate Designer
at Bethesda Softworks

“The spirit of innovation and creativity I felt around my students while teaching Unity led me toward my career as a professional game designer. My time at iD Tech taught me that no dream is too big, and that brilliant ideas can come from anywhere.”

Instructor Highlights

Brian M.

Software Engineer
at Disney

Instructor Highlights

Brian M.

Software Engineer
at Disney

“The opportunity to create an environment of collaboration, inclusion, and creativity was a truly special experience. The skills I honed while teaching at iD Tech led me to my software engineering roles at ESPN and the Walt Disney Company.”

Select your online format

Private Lessons $449

8 lessons on your schedule

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is level design?

In game development, level design sets up the gameplay, and involves everything from mission design to map and stage layout. Good level design is immersive. It's challenging enough to be engaging, but not too challenging that it's impossible. It drives players to keep playing to get better at the game. Each level should leave players feeling like they've progressed, either in their skill or in the story.

Why should my child learn level design?

As video games get more and more advanced, they’re beginning to look as visually sophisticated as blockbuster films. That means there is a lot going on behind the scenes! By combining a gamer’s eye for design and game mechanics with Unity programming, kids can level up their STEM skills.

What college and career opportunities can this course lead to?

As of last year, the total market value of the gaming industry was $151.06 billion dollars, with steady growth predicted through 2027. This is just one indicator of exciting things to come in the gaming universe, and even more so in terms of job opportunities and careers in this field as designers, engineers, studio executives, and more.

Is this course suitable for all skill levels?

Yes, this course is designed for beginner to advanced students. Our small class size ensures that each student receives individual attention and has the freedom to learn at their own pace.

What is the online camp experience like?

While we are proud to offer world-class experiences on many of the world’s most prestigious university campuses, we also recognize that many families need the flexibility of quality virtual learning! It’s with these families in mind that we’ve adapted the core elements of our flagship camps to an online format with our Virtual Tech Camps.

Like our on-campus programs, Virtual Tech Camps feature structured small-group sessions led by expert instructors. Each week includes live teaching of our signature, cutting-edge curriculum, plus peer collaboration, social time, and independent project work. To complete the experience, our Virtual Tech Camps incorporate all the magic of summer camp including games, challenges, and legendary iD traditions!

What are the technical requirements for this online course?

To run an online course with iD Tech, students will need a Mac or Windows computer (no Chromebooks, unless otherwise specified), a webcam, and a stable internet connection with access to Zoom video conferencing. Any course-specific installation requirements will be communicated after registration.