How does LIVE learning work?

At a Game-U studio, students join an instructor in a classroom to complete a project, learn a new skill, or undertake a fresh challenge. In a LIVE class, students will do the same - but virtually! Through their LIVE subscription, they can register for upcoming livestreams, watch software tutorials, rewatch previous livestreams, and more. All LIVE classes can be completed right from the student's home computer.

What do LIVE students learn?

Our instructors have an amazing set of skills to share, online and in class. LIVE students will "sit down" with these instructors virtually to complete projects in game design, coding, animation, and 2D and 3D art. Want to learn how to draw manga? Looking to make a 3D model in Blender? Trying to figure out Unity or Unreal? LIVE classes will help with that!

What software do I need to participate effectively?

Available LIVE classes will specify what software is required to complete the lesson. Most software used, such as Blender, Unity, Krita, PyCharm, or Visual Studio, is either open-source or has community versions available that students can download for free.

Other software, such as GameMaker 2, Photoshop, Illustrator, or Substance Painter, usually have free trials available. Once the trial period expires, it is up to the student to decide if he or she would like to purchase a subscription or license for the software.

A LIVE subscription does not include software.

Can I use a Chromebook or a MacBook Air to participate?

While you can watch livestreams on a Chromebook or MacBook Air, these computers have severe limitations on installing software.

To complete the majority of the projects taught in the livestreams, a student would need a more powerful computer that has sufficient hard drive space and RAM to run software like Unity, GameMaker 2, PyCharm, Krita, and Unreal Engine 4.

Do students and instructors still interact, or are students on their own?

A key part of in-studio classes at Game-U is the interaction between an instructor and his or her students. Questions, examples, help, and direction give students clarity and allow them to deepen their understanding of the topic at hand. Interaction doesn't go away in a livestream class! 

Through YouTube's chat feature, and with guidance from a moderator, livestream students can get help, ask questions, and learn from other students' questions. Students will also have access to a LIVE Discord server where they can receive troubleshooting help.

How does billing work?

Subscription payments are charged monthly based on the day you subscribed.

How do I sign into YouTube so I can participate in the livestream chat?

YouTube is owned by Google, so if you are logged into your Gmail account, you will be able to participate in the YouTube chat.

I watched a LIVE class and it suddenly stopped streaming. How do I get back to the lesson?

While the LIVE team makes every effort to ensure livestreams don't "go down," mid-class, there are occasionally outages that we cannot control.

In the event of an outage, the LIVE team works as quickly as possible to get the livestream back up and running. Sometimes, you just need to wait a moment or two; other times, the instructor will need to end the current livestream and start new livestream in order to continue the lesson.

As a student, you have several reconnection options when a livestream is interrupted:

• Go back to the livestream page on the LIVE site and refresh the page. Click "Open Stream on YouTube" to open the livestream again
• Check your email for an updated LIVE Alert with the new livestream link
• Check the LIVE Discord server for an alert message with the new link
• Message a channel in the LIVE Discord server to get in touch with an instructor

Once the livestream is over, the livestream recordings will also be edited so that you can watch the whole class in one video. Simply check back on the livestream page later on to pick up where you left off!

What is Discord?

Discord is an app that allows gamers to communicate through voice and text during gameplay. Discord members, such as Game-U LIVE, can host their own servers to allow communication between members.

LIVE strongly recommends that students use Discord, if needed, to receive troubleshooting help. Discord allows for easy sharing of files (such as screenshots of the problem), voice chats, and more. Discord is free to join and the invitation link is available on LIVE's main navigation menu.

Is Discord safe?

While online interaction nearly always carries some risk, Game-U LIVE's Discord server is as safe as we can make it. Rules are clearly outlined and instructors will enforce them, banning violators if necessary. The server also scans all messages for inappropriate content and has guards against spamming and bots.

Besides these protections, Game-U LIVE also recommends students configure their own accounts with strong security settings. Please see the following Discord guide: https://blog.discordapp.com/parents-guide-to-discord-c77d91793e9c.

Since Game-U LIVE's Discord server is publicly accessible and we cannot control whether or not members direct message each other, it is important for students to also secure their own accounts. If any student encounters behavior that violates Game-U LIVE's server rules, that student should immediately report the activity to our instructors.

Do students have to use Discord?

While it is not required for a student to use Discord, it is beneficial. Discord is Game-U LIVE's primary tool for troubleshooting. If a student is having trouble during a livestream, a moderator can direct him or her to Discord to receive more focused, one-on-one help. Since Discord allows file sharing and voice chats, this makes the troubleshooting process much more effective.

What do I do to prepare for a livestream?

Prepare for a LIVE class in a few simple steps!

1. RSVP to the stream. You can do this right on the Livestreams page.
2. Download any software you need. Your RSVP email and the stream listing itself will tell you exactly what software you need. Tutorials are available to help you get going!
3. Sign in about 10 minutes before the stream is scheduled to start.
4. Navigate to the stream you RSVP'd to and download any project files.
5. Join the stream!

How do I cancel my subscription?

While logged in, click on the three vertical dots in the top, right-hand corner of the screen and select "My Account" in the drop-down menu. Navigate to the "Subscription" tab, and under "Your Subscription," click "Cancel Subscription."

If I cancel my Founder or Early Access subscription and come back another time, is it still the same price?

No. Founder or Early Access special pricing is forever, even after LIVE subscriptions are only available at the regular price, but only as long as the student is continuously enrolled. If you cancel the subscription and decide to resume later, you must purchase a subscription at the prices available then.