Webster University

11/18/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/18/2024 10:30

Webster University Joins Epic Games as an Unreal Academic Partner

Webster University Joins Epic Games as an Unreal Academic Partner

November 18, 2024

Webster University has officially been recognized as an Unreal Academic Partner by Epic Games for its Games & Game Design and Film, Television, & Video Production programs. This prestigious affiliation underscores the University's commitment to providing students with cutting-edge skills that align with the demands of today's media and technology industries. Unreal Engine, developed by Epic Games, is one of the most widely used platforms in gaming, film, architecture and beyond, offering unparalleled capabilities for creating immersive, high-quality digital experiences.

As an official Unreal academic partner, Webster University and its students gain exclusive benefits, including access to comprehensive teaching materials and case studies, opportunities to connect with other academic partners and the ability to showcase student work on professional platforms. These resources equip Webster University students with practical, hands-on experience in Unreal Engine, making them highly competitive in the job market.

Unreal Engine's versatility and industry relevance make it a crucial tool for creative professionals across various fields. From video games to Hollywood films and architectural visualizations, Unreal Engine enables creators to bring their visions to life with photorealistic graphics, real-time rendering and powerful virtual production tools.

Unreal Engine being used for architectural visualizations.

At the core of this exciting new partnership are the hands-on, immersive courses taught by Matthew Burton and Josh Johnson. In World Design, Matthew Burton guides students through the fundamentals of virtual world-building, emphasizing environmental design, asset management and terrain sculpting using Unreal Engine. This course provides students with the foundational skills to create dynamic, engaging game worlds, and students can showcase their final projects on platforms like Itch.io, gaining real-world publishing experience.

Professors Josh Johnson and Matthew Burton on Fox 2 discussing virtual production using Unreal Engine.

Meanwhile, Josh Johnson's Unreal Engine for Filmmakers class offers students an in-depth look into virtual production techniques. With over 16 years of experience in the film industry and credits on films like A Ghost Story and Hocus Pocus 2, Johnson teaches students how to use Unreal Engine through the lens of a filmmaker. They learn to utilize Unreal Engine for virtual cinematography, creating realistic virtual environments and animated short films. Students gain experience in skills that are essential to the future of filmmaking, including motion capture, 3D modeling and the use of advanced lighting systems.

Webster's focus on real-world skills and industry-standard software has already opened doors for students, many of whom have contributed to the success of Nine PBS's award-winning children's show Teaching in Room Nine. Andrea Hammond, a recent graduate, joined the team at Nine PBS using the skills she gained in World Design and Unreal Engine for Filmmakers to create visually engaging and educational content for young learners. Alongside her, other Webster students from the Game Design, Film, Television, & Video Production, and Animation programs applied their expertise in Unreal Engine to bring dynamic and immersive elements to the show, demonstrating the versatility of this technology in educational media and beyond. Together, these students exemplify the power of collaborative learning, bridging the gap between entertainment and education through their work.

Webster students help create the Nine PBS' show "Teaching in Room 9" using Unreal Engine.

As an Unreal academic partner, Webster University will continue to expand its curriculum to reflect the latest advancements in Unreal Engine. With upcoming resources, events and exclusive partner benefits, Webster University faculty and students will be at the forefront of interactive 3D and virtual production, ready to make their mark across industries.