BA (Hons) Games Design and Development

Art and Visual Design: An Introduction

This module will introduce you to the basics of art theory, giving you the opportunity to create artistic work that demonstrates an application of these concepts.

You will investigate the foundations of art production through a series of projects that establish a fundamental understanding of visual communication.

Design Fundamentals

This module introduces you to the fundamentals of game design. You will learn about the foundational elements that comprise games and how these elements are used to create emotional player experiences.

Games Theory and Criticism

This course focuses on deconstructing theories from game studies and learning how to apply these concepts to practical games design work.

You will gain a critical vocabulary for analysing games both inside and outside of the classroom and a necessary theoretical foundation to draw on for future games design work or game analyses.

Introduction to 3D Art

This module serves as a foundation for developing a range of technical knowledge and procedural skills in the core concepts of 3D computer graphics using the appropriate industry-standard software.

Prototypes and Programming Principles

This module provides you with a fundamental level of knowledge and understanding of key prototyping and programming principles necessary for making rapid digital game prototypes.

Whether or not you have any prior programming experience, the module looks to bring you and your peers to a common level.

Working With 3D Engines

Throughout the course of this module, you will be introduced to an industry-standard 3D engine, learning about its core features and how it can be used to create digital games.

3D Animation & Visual Effects (VFX) for Games

This module provides an opportunity for you to familiarise yourself with the world of animation and visual effects in the context of contemporary computer games design.

You will explore boundaries of the many disciplines within the field of animation and visual effects and their specific place in production workflows.

Through practical workshops, you will be introduced to industry standard software with which you will engage for the duration of your studies as they develop original games concepts.

Game Studios: Supporting Roles

When picturing jobs within the the games industry, certain roles – like designers, programmers, and artists – likely feature prominently in most people’s minds. But what of the range of other roles that feature outside of these disciplines?

This module aims to explore one or more of these lesser-known game industry disciplines: their purpose, their responsibilities, and how to succeed if gaining a job in this area.

Games Design Project

On this practical module you will work in small groups to produce a computer game concept. You will learn to work as a teams, break tasks apart, and deliver a Games Design Document (GDD) to a set deadline, reflecting industrial practices and presentation expectations.

Games Production

This module examines a range of topics pertaining to games production – exploring the elements a producer must manage to ensure a successful game launch.

This module explores the game development process outside of the typical creative disciplines studied (e.g. art, code, and design) – instead focusing on project management skills and processes that apply both to games but also to similar roles in other creative industries.

Games: Social & Cultural Contexts

This module explores the social, historical and political context surrounding videogames, debating topics relating to their cultural development and impact.

The module will further develop your critical engagement with games studies, providing you with further theoretical frameworks to draw upon in games development projects.

Motion Capture Suit Technologies

The aim of this module is to develop a significant body of knowledge of a typical film and multimedia motion capture pipeline, from setting up cameras and capturing data, through to editing and transferring data to industry standard animation packages. This module offers the opportunity to develop a range of professional technical and procedural knowledge.

Narrative Design and Interactive Fiction

This module develops your understanding of fundamental theories, pipelines and processes pertaining to narrative design in videogames.

You will then learn to apply these theories in practical exercises that mirror the responsibilities of writers working in the contemporary games industry.

During the module, you will have the opportunity to create a piece of interactive fiction using the tools and techniques taught.

Writing for Games

This module examines the role of the screenwriter in the development of narrative based computer games.

You will explore the role the screenwriter plays in developing characters, dialogue and worldbuilding.

You will also be introduced to the debates around narrative vs Ludology and the tensions created between story and play.

Advanced Design and Development

This module further explores the processes of designing and developing a piece of interactive entertainment, further enhancing students’ skills in the use of 3D game engines and gameplay design.

Audio and Music for Video Games

This practical module develops your creative and technical skills in sound design, music composition and basic audio implementation for video games.

You will explore the creation of a broad range of sound assets and audio related content, as well as on non-linear adaptive processes and structures.

You are also introduced to industry standard middleware that enables sound designers and composers to implement their assets in game.

In addition, whilst working with one of our industry partners, you will receive individual mentoring and feedback on your final assessment tasks.

Final Year Games Design Project

In this independent, project-driven module, you will have the opportunity to pursue your own enthusiasms and specialisms.

You will begin the module by pitching a game idea to a panel for feedback. You will then generate associated pre-production documentation that covers all the key aspects of their proposed game and will be continually updated through the development of the final year project. You are then expected to provide extensive ‘proof of concept’ for a commercially-viable computer game.

Games Beyond Entertainment

In this module, you will explore purposeful games with goals that lie beyond entertainment. Exploring notable games from both the learning technology and non-commercial sectors, you will examine how games can be designed to transform the behaviours of those who engage with them.

Games Industry and Creative Careers

This module aims to develop your understanding of the creative sector as an industry, becoming aware of key dynamics within the sector and specific expectations related to employability, especially within the games development sector.

These include

• Discipline specific working practices
• Geographic spread
• Working structures
• Team working and inter-personal skills
• Freelancing and collaborative work
• Funding streams
• Developing portfolios / studio setup
• Taxation
• Regulation
• Law and ethics

You will get the chance to consider which career pathways align with your own personal ambitions, and develop an understanding of how best to prepare a strategy for employability, freelance work, or start-up.