Microsoft launches Xbox Academy development classes in Sydney

Microsoft has teamed up with the Academy of Interactive Entertainment on a series of free game development classes in Australia.

Set to run from April 10th to April 22nd, the workshops will be delivered be AIE teachers at the Microsoft Store in Sydney. AIE is a non-profit college that supports game development, animation and visual effects.

All participants will receive a Course Completion certificate and an Xbox Academy gift pack. The course will take in game design, programming and Xbox One development. The aim is to prepare school-age students with the tools and basic understanding of game concepts (including forming a pitch). The programming course will focus on Unity (where students will be taught the basics), while the Xbox One course will feature elements specific to the Universal Windows Platform. That part of the course will even allow people to put a final product onto an Xbox One for testing.

Students can even take what they've developed with them and continue to work on the projects from home (assuming they can get access to Unity and an Xbox One). According to GameSpot, 120 pupils are expected to take part.

For more information on when and where the events will take place, click here.