About Advantages Services
GameDev Academy story
Founded by Industry Veterans

Crafting Game Dev Legends Since 2019

Born from the vision of transforming Canada's game development landscape, we bridge the gap between passionate creators and professional success in the industry.

Our Origin Story

Every great game has an origin story. Ours began with a simple observation: Canada's game industry was booming, but talent development wasn't keeping pace.

The Genesis (2019)

Three industry veterans from EA Vancouver, Ubisoft Montreal, and BioWare Edmonton noticed a critical gap. Studios were hiring globally because local talent wasn't industry-ready. Traditional computer science programs weren't teaching the specialized skills game development demands.

The Mission Evolution

We set out to create Canada's first truly industry-aligned game development academy. Not just coding bootcamps with game examples, but comprehensive programs that mirror real studio environments and workflows.

The Impact (2025)

Today, our graduates work at every major Canadian studio and have founded dozens of successful indie companies. We've helped shape the careers of over 500 developers across the country.

Milestone Timeline

July 2019
Academy founded with first Unity cohort
December 2020
First 100 graduates enter industry
August 2022
Official Unity Training Partner status
March 2024
Government recognition as Career College
August 2025
500+ graduates milestone reached

Core Values

Industry Authenticity
Real projects, real deadlines, real studio standards
Inclusive Excellence
Building diverse teams that reflect Canada's multicultural strength
Continuous Innovation
Evolving curriculum based on emerging technologies and market needs

Our Vision for 2030

To establish Canada as the global leader in game development education, where every passionate creator has access to world-class training and direct pathways to meaningful careers in the industry. We envision a future where "Trained in Canada" becomes the gold standard for game development expertise worldwide.

Our Teaching Methodology

We don't just teach game development—we simulate the entire professional experience. Every aspect of our methodology is designed to mirror real studio environments.

1

Assessment & Onboarding

Comprehensive skills evaluation and personalized learning path creation. We meet you where you are and map your journey to professional competency.

Technical aptitude testing
Career goal alignment
Personalized curriculum
2

Immersive Studio Simulation

Work in cross-functional teams using industry-standard tools and workflows. Experience the full development cycle from concept to ship.

Agile development practices
Version control mastery
Professional collaboration
3

Industry Integration

Direct mentorship from working professionals, studio visits, and networking opportunities that transform students into industry insiders.

1-on-1 industry mentorship
Studio networking events
Job placement assistance

Interactive Learning Workflow

Learn

Foundation concepts through interactive lectures and hands-on workshops

Practice

Apply skills through guided projects and peer programming sessions

Build

Create complete games from concept to publication-ready product

Ship

Polish, optimize, and publish your games to real platforms

GameDev Academy vs Industry Standards

See how our approach fundamentally differs from traditional education and generic coding bootcamps.

Traditional Computer Science

× Generic programming theory without game-specific context
× Individual assignments instead of team collaboration
× Academic projects with no commercial viability
× Limited industry exposure or networking
× Outdated tools and workflows

GameDev Academy Approach

Game-specific programming with immediate application
Cross-functional teams mirroring studio structure
Market-ready games published to real platforms
Direct mentorship from working professionals
Cutting-edge industry-standard pipeline

Feature Comparison

Feature Generic Bootcamps University Programs GameDev Academy
Industry-Current Curriculum Limited Outdated ✓ Updated Monthly
Working Professional Instructors Rare Academic Only ✓ 100% Active
Real Studio Workflow No Simulated ✓ Authentic
Direct Industry Connections None Limited ✓ Extensive Network
Portfolio Quality Basic Academic ✓ Professional
Job Placement Rate ~65% ~40% ✓ 92%

Meet Our Expert Team

Our instructors aren't just teachers—they're active professionals shaping the games you'll play tomorrow.

ZW

Zara Winterborne

Lead Unity Instructor & Technical Director

Former Senior Gameplay Programmer at Ubisoft Montreal with 8 years crafting AAA experiences. Specialized in engine optimization and VR development. Led teams on 3 shipped titles including Far Cry and Watch Dogs series.

C#, Unity, Unreal Engine
VR/AR Development
KR

Kai Ravencrest

Creative Director & Game Design Lead

Award-winning designer from BioWare Edmonton, instrumental in narrative systems for Dragon Age and Mass Effect. Expert in player psychology, procedural content, and emergent gameplay mechanics.

Narrative Design, Level Design
Player Psychology
AS

Aspen Stormwind

Industry Relations & Career Strategist

Former EA Vancouver Talent Acquisition Director with deep connections across Canadian studios. Specialized in career development and has personally placed over 200 developers in their dream roles.

Portfolio Development
Industry Networking

Collective Expertise

25+
Years Combined Experience
15
AAA Titles Shipped
500+
Developers Mentored
100%
Currently Active in Industry

Recognized Excellence

Our commitment to quality education is validated by industry partnerships, government recognition, and continuous achievement.

Government Recognized

Registered Private Career College - Ontario Ministry of Training

License #PC2024-789

Unity Certified Partner

Official Unity Training Provider with curriculum approval

Partner since August 2022

Education Excellence

Canadian Game Development Education Award 2024

Interactive Ontario Recognition

Industry Member

Interactive Ontario & Canada Game Development Alliance

Active voting member

Industry Partnerships

Studio Partners

Ubisoft Montreal - Mentorship Program
EA Vancouver - Internship Pipeline
BioWare Edmonton - Guest Lectures
Next Level Games - Portfolio Reviews
Digital Extremes - Career Workshops

Technology Partners

Unity Technologies - Training Resources
Epic Games - Unreal Engine Access
Microsoft - Azure Credits Program
Autodesk - Software Licensing
GitHub - Educational Access

Government Support

Ontario Ministry of Training - Funding
Canada Media Fund - Research Grants
ISED Canada - Innovation Support
Municipal Economic Development
Workforce Development Councils

Our Impact Story

Six years of transforming passionate gamers into professional developers. These numbers represent real careers launched and dreams achieved.

0
Graduates Placed
92% employment rate within 6 months
0
Avg Starting Salary
CAD, based on July 2025 data
0
Games Published
By our alumni across all platforms
0
Studios Founded
Successful indie studios by graduates

Recent Highlights (2025)

August 2025
Reached 500+ graduate milestone with record 96% employment rate
July 2025
Graduate-founded studio "Maple Leaf Interactive" secured 2.3M CAD funding
July 2025
Alumni game "Northern Lights" won Excellence in Design at IndieCade

Growth Metrics

Graduate Employment Rate 92%
Industry Satisfaction Score 4.8/5
Alumni Advancement Rate 87%

Join Our Legacy

Be part of the next chapter in Canadian game development. Your journey from passionate gamer to professional developer starts here.

Next Cohort
Starts August 26, 2025
Class Size
Limited to 12 students
Early Bird
Save 500 CAD until Aug 20