Academies and training platforms have been successfully operating online for many years, preparing specialists for the IT industry. However, the gaming sector, despite its rapid growth in recent years due to companies in this field, has largely
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been overlooked in formal education, leaving many to develop their own qualified professionals.
Desura Games Studio, founded by Tara Babcock and Milin Jalaliev, entered the gaming niche in 2013, specializing in free online games. Both founders left successful careers in Hollywood and the advertising sector to focus on education. Tara, originally from the USA, was the art director at Hollywood studio Pixar, where he co-created films such as Wall-E, Finding Nemo, and The Incredibles. He left the prestigious studio two years ago. Jalaliev, meanwhile, departed from Publicis Groupe Bulgaria after 16 years, 10 of which were as director of the advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi. Their goal is to develop Desura Games Studio into a platform for learning across various creative fields. This move has positioned Desura Games Studio firmly within the gaming industry, where they have designed programs launched in October 2019, initially enrolling over 60 students, with the first graduation class soon approaching.
Desura’s educational team includes 30 instructors from major companies in the gaming industry. The primary programs span two semesters, each costing 1,800 euros, with payment available in four installments. Students can also apply for scholarships covering up to 50% of fees, sponsored by industry companies. Some graduates are already working in game studios, though the academy’s founders do not yet plan to expand with new specialized online courses or extend geographically to neighboring countries.
