GAMES DESIGN
When we were developing the games design course, we spent a long time discussing the content with our extensive industry contacts. The key things our contacts asked us to concentrate on were the creation of a portfolio and the ability to clearly communicate.
The emphasis of this course is the ability to clearly articulate an idea from concept through production and on to a final product. Within the course we offer practical experience with the tools game designers use within the industry as well as exposing students to regular game design practices. Our focus on portfolio and exposing students to teamwork can be seen throughout the course.
Game design is a very team oriented discipline and we aim to offer students every chance to get a feel for working within a team, but we understand that companies require that students have an individual body of work available as a portfolio when they complete a course.
We strongly encourage individuals to also work outside of the course in order to enhance their personal portfolio and this allows them to sell their skills to prospective employers.
Key topics we cover are:
• content production
• the culture and history of games
• platforms and technologies
• games production
• games analysis
• games / level design
• usability testing
• playability testing
• business of computer games.
The games team have an extensive network of contacts in the games industry and arrange opportunities for students to either visit development companies or invite industrial experts to give guest lectures on the topic of games development and job opportunities.
In addition we have industry experts teaching on the course who know exactly what is required for a games design role.
The focus is team-based projects, with regular critique sessions with your peers and with members of the games team. All students are expected to work to a high standard and create a high quality portfolio of work.
MODULE STRUCTURE (BSc)
LEVEL 1: Games Scripting 1, Games Design 1, Games Art 1, Introduction to Synthesis and Midi, Games Evaluation
LEVEL 2: Level Design 2, Games Scripting 2, Computer Modelling & Art, Games Portfolio, Games Narrative, Project Skills
LEVEL 3: Games Design Theory, Games Scripting 3, Advance Visualisation Technology, Business of Computer Games, Games Design Team ProjectMODULE STRUCTURE (HND)
LEVEL 1: Games Scripting 1, Games Design 1, Games Art 1, Introduction to Synthesis and Midi, Games Evaluation
LEVEL 2: Level Design 2, Games Scripting 2, Computer Modelling & Art, HND Games Design Team Project
At level 3 (BSc) the students will also become a member of a games design project team which will conduct research into an area of games design. Your final year project will be a game which focuses on some advanced aspect of modern games, for example in-game communication, artificial intelligence, sound or a player’s emotional attachment to the characters.
UCAS INFORMATION
BSc (Hons) - 3 years
260 UCAS points or equivalent.
HND - 2 years
160 UCAS points or equivalent. Applicants should also have a GCSE pass at grade C or above in English.
EXPERIENCE
Here at the university we have over 9 years experience in the delivery of undergraduate subject specific games courses and over 13 years in the leisure computing industry.
Our experience covers games programming, games design and games art. We also have plans for a postgraduate MSc in games programming. These courses are taught by industrial experts from games companies such as Juice the developers of Juiced and Team 17 who developed Worms 3D as well as experienced academic staff.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Our focus is on giving students the opportunity to demonstrate a high quality body of work within a strong portfolio. We have found that this emphasis on portfolio clearly demonstrates the student’s commitment to their course.
There is a strong correlation between a high degree award and a high quality portfolio and our experience is that the higher quality the portfolio, the easier it is for students to secure a job within what is a very competitive industry. Our past students who have secured positions as designers have informed us that this emphasis on portfolio definitely helped them secure their first positions.
We could expect students to secure jobs initially as junior designers, level designers or quality assurance.
FOR 2010 ENTRY
UCAS INFORMATIONBSc (Hons) - 3 years
240 UCAS points or equivalent.
HND - 2 years
120 UCAS points or equivalent. Applicants should also have a GCSE pass
at grade C or above in English.
FOR 2011 ENTRY
UCAS INFORMATIONBSc (Hons) - 3 years
260 UCAS points or equivalent.
HND - 2 years
160 UCAS points or equivalent. Applicants should also have a GCSE pass
at grade C or above in English.