We Started With a Simple Question
Back in 2019, three of us were sitting in a cramped Barcelona apartment, frustrated. The game industry courses we'd taken felt disconnected from what studios actually needed. So we asked ourselves: what if we built something different?
How We Got Here
The Beginning
Three game developers met at a lighting workshop in Barcelona. We realized most educational programs taught theory but missed the practical stuff—shader optimization, real-time rendering constraints, art direction challenges that pop up during actual production.
First Experiment
We ran a pilot program with eight students. Instead of traditional lectures, we used case studies from projects we'd worked on. One student later told us it was the first time she understood why certain lighting decisions mattered beyond just looking nice.
Building Momentum
Our network grew. Former students started working at studios across Spain and shared what they'd learned. We refined the curriculum based on their feedback—what worked in class versus what they actually used at work turned out to be quite different.
Where We Stand
Today we're planning programs for autumn 2025 with a clearer vision. We focus on lighting and texture work because that's what we know deeply. Not everything—just this specific slice of game development where we can offer genuine insight.
What Changed Our Approach
In 2022, a student asked us why she should care about physically-based rendering when her favorite indie game used stylized lighting. Fair question. We didn't have a good answer.
That moment shifted everything. We stopped treating techniques as universal truths and started teaching them as tools with specific contexts. PBR matters for certain projects. Stylized approaches work better for others. Understanding when to use what—that's the actual skill.
Now our programs emphasize decision-making alongside technical knowledge. Students learn not just how to create realistic lighting but when realism serves the game and when it doesn't.
Who's Behind This
We're a small team based in Barcelona. Each of us spent years working on games before starting Serviceova Systems. That background shapes how we teach.
Elena Duarte
Elena spent seven years as a lighting artist at various studios before joining us. She's the one who pushed for including more troubleshooting scenarios in our programs because, as she puts it, "students need to know what to do when everything breaks at 3am before launch."
Our Teaching Philosophy
We don't believe in cramming everything into three months and calling it career-ready. Game development is complex.
Instead, we focus on building a solid foundation in lighting and texture work. Students graduate understanding core concepts well enough to keep learning independently.
Some former students find work within six months. Others take a year or more. We're honest about that. The game industry is competitive, and a certificate doesn't guarantee employment—just better preparation.
What Guides Our Work
Practical Over Theoretical
We teach concepts through problems you'd actually encounter—optimizing light baking for performance, balancing visual fidelity with memory constraints, adjusting texture resolutions based on platform limitations. Theory matters, but only when it connects to real scenarios.
Honest Expectations
The game industry isn't desperate for junior artists. It's tough to break in. We prepare students for that reality while helping them build portfolios that stand out. No promises about job placement—just focused skill development.
Continuous Refinement
Every program iteration gets adjusted based on industry feedback and student outcomes. What worked last year might not work next year. We stay flexible and keep improving our approach based on what we learn.
Based in Barcelona
Our programs run from a space near Avinguda Diagonal. It's not fancy—just a well-equipped studio with the software and hardware students need for lighting and texture work.
We're planning the next program cohort for autumn 2025. If you're interested in learning more about what we offer, reach out. We're happy to answer questions about curriculum, expectations, and whether this might be a good fit for your goals.
- Avinguda Diagonal, 397, 08008 Barcelona, Spain
- +34937885295
- contact@serviceovasystems.com